Nevermore – The Politics of Ecstasy – Review

Nevermore

The Politics of Ecstasy (Century Media)
by Scott Hefflon

With the resurgence of dramatic, melodic metal, Nevermore couldn’t have chosen a better time to release The Politics of Ecstasy. With Bruce Dickinson off somewhere crooning himself into total obscurity, anyone weaned on second-phase Iron Maiden will appreciate the warbling of Warrel Dane. And those who cursed Queensrÿche’s leap to arena mediocrity via watered-down Floydian ballads will get a thrill from Dane’s hawkish yelps and snarling enunciation. The layering alone in the title track is astounding, the crisp phrasing could saw through cold steel, and the foundation musicianship is not something often heard today. Without being gratuitous prog-rock, the guitar and bass riffs are inhumanly tight and brilliantly contrasted – harmonizing, screeching feedback, with layers of spiraling scales and chugging rhythms, with bass and drums booming like a doomsday warning. Without relying on it, Nevermore uses a few samples, and some other studio gimmicks to pull off the larger-than-life sound. With a full-on budget at their disposal and Neil Kernon (Rolling Stones, Dokken, Queensrÿche) again in the producer’s chair, the team up captures a glorious recording of probably one of the tightest, heaviest, most diverse melodic metal bands on the scene today. Far exceeding their self-titled debut, which turned many a head last year, The Politics of Ecstasy has the kind of depth that keeps a record relevant for years.