Nevermore - This Godless Endeavor

Year of Release: 2005
Label: Century Media
Catalog Number: CD 8210-2
Format: CD
Total Time: 57:16:00

It's been a while since I listened to Nevermore, as I've yet to hear Dead Heart In A Dead World and Enemies Of Reality (though I have both). However, on This Godless Endeavor the band seems heavier, darker than I heard on Dreaming Neon Black, where I "left off" (and started, actually). So I do have quite a bit of catching up to do, starting here.

I wasn't enthralled with This Godless Endeavor when I first heard it. It didn't grab me in the same way as Dreaming? did. But after several months of listening to this CD (finally), I see that, while it seems different, darker, harsher (even if it isn't), it has its own "charms" and surely holds its own. It is a concept album, the underlying theme suggesting that mankind is bringing about its own end, each "side" so determined to prove their faith "right" that no one "wins." The godless endeavor of the theme isn't about God, but rather about what is being done "in the name of God," the evils of organized (disorganized?) religion. It's not a new, or startling, revelation? I think some (most? all?) of us know that already. Of course, not all of the evil we perpetrate on each other is drawn from a conflict of faiths, but even that notion "sells papers."

Ah, but this about the album and whether at all you should buy it, because no matter how eloquent or profound a concept album may be - and I'm not saying that it is? or isn't? ultimately, it doesn't mean much if it sounds like crap - and I'm not saying that it is? I do want to conclude with this thought: this isn't just about war and terrorist bombings, but you will find generalized references to conflicts and tragedies on the African continent, such as Darfur, Rwanda, etc., the seductiveness of drugs?

The first four and last tracks -- "Born [The Retribution Of Spiritual Sickness]," "Final Product," "My Acid Words," "Bittersweet Feast," and "This Godless Endeavor" can be described thusly: whirlwinds of relentless fury driven by Van Williams' rapid-fire, hammering drums and percussion, and Warrel Dane's often snarling vocals. Although "Bittersweet?" throttles things back a bit. "Final Product" puts the intertwining guitars of Jeff Loomis and new member Steve Smyth in the forefront; "My Acid Words" has a twisting, chugging arrangement (on bass, Jim Sheppard). In two of the three ("Born" and "Acid"), there are memorable choruses to boot. Not that they are happy, sing-a-long choruses; rather they are dark, epic, gothic-like choruses, yet they stick (mostly those in "Born"). "Godless" is the dirtiest of the quintet, with the buzz of dark and throaty guitars; and let's not fail to mention the tempest of speedy lead guitar runs. At it's start, it contains a combination of all the elements heard throughout the album - acoustic guitars, heavy guitars and bass, epic choruses. Although it starts out at a slower piece, somewhat funereal, except for the soaring guitar solos, where it ends, is how the album is: a whirlwind. And how it ends is abruptly, leaving one hanging. That's planned; the human species has extinguished itself ("Welcome to the end my friend, the sky has opened," is the concluding lyric). Sonically, one is expecting something more, an instrumental passage maybe as epilog or epitaph.

Where things shift is with track 5, "Sentient 6." This is a comparatively mellow piece; restrained, understated. It's here that we find still present a bit of Queensryche in their sound. Well, Queensrÿche on steroids, if you will. I'd say it was a Washington State thing, except that wouldn't explain grunge, Hendrix or Heart, now would it? And speaking of Hendrix, there's a line here "and their sky cries Mary," a reference to Hendrix' "Wind Cries Mary," but it's not an homage that's played out in any way. I'd say Loomis and Dane liked the phrase? and it's enigmatic in this context. Along with a touch of classic Queensrÿche, the swell of distorted, orchestral guitars that come at the piece's apex recall Queen. It's a mellow piece at least until the last minute or so, when it explodes into intense darkness of chugging bass and guitars and haunting vocals.

This is followed by "Medicated Nation" -- swirling eddies of percussion and bass, with silkily evil vocals from Dane. Lyrically, this fits the delivery; the first line is "Slithering slow and serpentine coiled around your spine" -- gotta love alliteration. In "The Psalm Of Lydia," a piece characterized by "classic" guitar solo wizardary -- sharp tones, speedy runs -- Dane sounds diabolical.

Acoustic guitars and vocal harmonies begin "A Future Uncertain," a wheeze of a harmonica (or at least what sounds like) and we're off to the races again, though not without a few stumbles. There's an odd hesitation in the arrangement that breaks up the pace. But, as we got with the album's start, it's a pummeling a few punches shy of the brutality of black metal. There's even a brief mellow section towards the that recalls Rush.

It's no lie to say that This Godless Endeavor is dramatic. I like the passion with which Dane sings, and there is a fervent energy in the music, insistent. It's a good release, and like it, though I don't love it. It is something that doesn't really stake out any new territory. It delivers what it promises, but nothing more. It's an above average release from a band that has become a standard bearer for the genre.

Tracklisting:
Born [The Retribution Of Spiritual Sickness] (5:05) / Final Product (4:21) / My Acid Words (5:41) / Bittersweet Feast (5:01) / Sentient 6 (6:58) / Medicated Nation (4:01) / The Holocaust Of Thought (1:27) / Sell My Heart For Stones (5:18) / The Psalm Of Lydia (4:16) / A Future Uncertain (6:07) / This Godless Endeavor (8:55)

Musicians:
Warrel Dane - vocals
Jeff Loomis - lead, rhythmn and acoustic guitars
Steve Smyth - lead, rhythmn and acoustic guitars
Jim Sheppard - bass
Van Williams - drums

Discography:
Nevermore (1995)
In Memory (ep) (1996)
The Politics Of Ecstasy (1996)
Dreaming Neon Black (1999)
Dead Heart In A Dead World (2000)
Enemies Of Reality (2003)
Enemies Of Reality (remixed/remastered) (2004)
This Godless Endeavor (2005)

Genre: Progressive-Power Metal

Origin US

Added: October 2nd 2006
Reviewer: Stephanie Sollow
Score:
Artist website: www.nevermore.tv
Hits: 3273
Language: english