Nevermore

Enemies of Reality (Century Media)
by Martin Popoff

Nobody attacks a vocal like Warrel Dane – on record or live – and the man’s back cast for Enemies of Reality most definitely gives the man the soundtrack and support he needs to spew a venom that has earned the band such a hallowed spot amongst the metal masses. Absolutely resolute and solitary with their own, seemingly effortlessly achieved, sound, Nevermore, in crude terms, are a thinking man’s thrash band with a doom vocalist. And this record is the thrashiest of them all, for better or worse.

There are a couple of flaws here, starting with the shockingly treble-void production, the band taking thick, warm knob-job values to new extremes, perhaps too far. As well, the album’s only 40 minutes long, and those 40 minutes rarely let go of a roiling metal mash, one that works arguably acceptably here, but not so good live, the lack of hooks, the strange sense of monotone, and the wall of drums, bass and low, grinding guitars wearing the patience. Warrel seems to be thrashing in the quicksand of it all, and even the mellow tracks seem showered in a buzzing blue haze. Make no mistake, few demonstrate their knowledge of metal like these angry technicians (is Lamb of God the new Nevermore?), and this album – or perhaps The Politics of Ecstasy – may one day be viewed as the band’s Reign in Blood, the punk rock album of a long catalogue of mostly sweeping epic productions.
(2323 W. El Segundo Blvd. Hawthorne, CA 90250)