Nevermore

Nevermore fuses power metal, classic heavy metal, and current hard rock while rejecting the exaggerated stage antics typical of the power metal circuit in favor of a gloomier mood, all while harnessing melody and the soaring vocal range of frontman Warrel Dane. The Seattle group traces its beginnings to Sanctuary, the band with whom Dane and bassist Jim Sheppard cut two albums. Sanctuary ranked among the scant late-’80s thrash acts to land a major-label deal and even recruited Megadeth leader Dave Mustaine to helm their first record. Label delays eventually froze the outfit, and one member left to chase grunge-oriented projects. Three musicians from Sanctuary’s final lineup regrouped as Nevermore, signed a worldwide contract with Century Media Records, and delivered their intense self-titled debut in 1995. The next year brought the well-received EP In Memory, which mixed cover songs with Sanctuary tracks that gratified longtime fans.

Their second full-length, The Politics of Ecstasy, emerged as a dense, technically accomplished work that spotlighted guitarists Pat O’Brian and Jeff Loomis along with drummer Van Williams. Yet it was the brooding, concept-driven Dreaming Neon Black that truly drew the notice of heavy-music listeners and earned praise from the metal press. Many publications crowned the 1999 album Album of the Year; the record highlighted Dane’s expansive vocal reach and introduced Tim Calvert, formerly of Forbidden, who replaced O’Brian after the latter joined Cannibal Corpse. Following fruitful tours with Iced Earth and Mercyful Fate, the band understood the difficulty of matching such acclaim. Now a four-piece after Calvert’s exit, Nevermore entered a Texas studio with producer Andy Sneap and shaped an album that merged contemporary heavy sounds with traditional metal. Dead Heart in a Dead World arrived in 2000 and was promoted via a full U.S. run alongside Swedish metal band In Flames and labelmates Shadows Fall.