Send "Nevermore " Ringtones to your Cell 
| Sputnikmusic |
 If you were to explore the discography of any established band, it is almost certain that you would come across at least one substandard album. There are many reasons for a band to eventually release an inferior album, but it probably all comes down to burnout. After years of following the same musical blueprint, artists are bound to feel like they’re stuck in a rut and eventually that’ll lead to complacency. Over the past sixteen years, Nevermore have released six well-received metal albums that have consistently surpassed expectations, but there has been a downside too. The problem is that the band have faithfully adhered to a certain formula in order to constantly improve on it, and that has finally lead to The Obsidian Conspiracy – proof that they have lost some of their fire and are just going through the motions. The problem begins with the barebones musical approach. Under the guise of “opening up the music” for Warrel Dane’s vocals, everything has been simplified and restrained. With few exceptions, the music has been reduced to basic riffs, minimal solos and predictable structures. The primal thrash and quick death metal influences have largely been replaced with standard traditional metal riffs that lack any real punch or identity. This is further exacerbated by the fact that the complex, semi-progressive arrangements have been marginalized in favor of a simple verse/chorus format. Even the opening track (a position traditionally saved for one of the band’s strongest songs) fails to live up to the high standards that Nevermore have set with past albums. It begins well enough, but as soon as things are “opened up” for Warrel Dane’s vocals it all devolves into simple riffs that collapse even further when they transition to a more melodic stance for the chorus. This seamlessly leads us to another problem with the album – Warrel Dane’s vocals....full text |
| Angrymetalguy |
| Nevermore has always held a special place in the metal community with both fans and other bands alike looking up to and respecting them. It isn’t hard to see why they command this level of respect, with world-class guitarist Jeff Loomis and vocalist extraordinaire Warrel Dane both calling Nevermore home. Because of this high profile and superb talent, a lot is expected from Nevermore and for the most part, album to album, Nevermore have consistently delivered the goods. Therefore, the arrival of a new slab of metal from these guys is always a pretty big deal and after waiting five years since The Godless Endeavor, we finally get The Obsidian Conspiracy. Right off the bat it becomes obvious The Obsidian Conspiracy is a bit of a departure for Nevermore. While the trademark Nevermore elements are all still present, long-time fans may notice this is less complex and more accessible than The Godless Endeavor and other older works. Now, before diehard Nevermore fans get their panties in a bunch and jump out a window, this is still classic Nevermore and a very technical album with some very heavy moments. Additionally, this is far from some pop metal album. When I say accessible, I mean in the context of past Nevermore albums, which could be very dense and heavily technical and require patience to get into. Here however, the songs are all shorter in length than on previous albums, some tracks are instantly memorable and others quickly become so. For example, both “Emptiness Unobstructed” and “And the Maiden Spoke” jump out and stick in your head very quickly. I don’t recall this being the case with earlier albums, especially The Godless Endeavor. Perhaps the added accessibility comes from a growing maturity as songwriters or maybe some of it bled over from Dane’s solo album. Whatever the cause, the result is a collection of well crafted songs which ebb and flow very well from mood to mood....full text |
| Thenewreview |
| I’m not sure everyone gets Nevermore, but I do. From their early days where they fled the grunge scene up until 2005’s This Godless Endeavor they have proven themselves to be a band who continues to build on their unique style, which is the metal equivalent of Bruce Lee’s Jeet Kune Do, the style of no styles. From their 1995 self-titled debut, their Alice in Chains-esque twisted riffs evolved into a sound similar with prog, tech, and thrash, yet still dark and warped. I respect that. This year’s The Obsidian Conspiracy continues their evolution. It’s a crafted album, as only true artists can do. Obviously Nevermore took their time writing the songs and they all track perfectly from beginning until the abrupt end. While not a true concept album, it plays best as a whole. There are stand-out songs, but this is one album I find hard to break apart. But just for you, I will. The opening track, “The Termination Proclamation” is probably my favorite just for the opening salvo. Jeff Loomis is a guitar technician in the best sense. By the middle of the song, just before the short solo, the riffs contort into some impressively disturbing hooks. It was there I remembered why I liked Nevermore so much in the past: their songs build on a theme and then turn it upside down and back again. This pattern continues through each song. “Your Poison Throne” is pretty straightforward thrashing, but right at the end they turn it around. By the time you are in “Moonrise (through Mirrors of Death)” you realize you’re on a ride and they are driving. “And the Maiden Spoke” is Loomis’ showcase song on this album. I listened to this song several times just to figure out what was going on melodically with the guitar. I figured out the key ingredient was a healthy helping of bad ass. Other stand-out songs are the dark-but-inspiring “Emptiness Unobstructed”, the thought-provoking “The Day You Built the Wall”, and the big ending of “The Obsidian Conspiracy”....full text |
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