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Nevermore - The Obsidian Conspiracy Review

We say :- You know how every so often an album comes along that is just so laiden with killer hooks and catchy riffs that you can't help but like it ? Well Seattle metalers Nevermore have released one of those in their latest offering 'The Obsidian Conspiracy'. Stuffed full of sing along choruses and top notch shredding, this is an album which burrows into your brain (in the good, non parasitic way) and stays there.

Fans of Nevermore will already be familiar with the bedrock on which their sound is built, namely great songs, Jeff Loomis' fantastic guitar and Warrel Dane's voice but in this release there is a change of emphasis. Although the technical guitar work is still outstanding on this album more space has been left in the orchestration to allow Warrel to excersise his not inconsiderable vocal range. This he does in a way that hasn't been heard to this extent since the days of Sanctuary.

And does it work ? Well that really depends on what your take on Warrel's vocal abilities are. I really like his voice so, for me, yes it does.

Of course technical excellence is nothing if it can not express itself in well written songs, and it is the quality of the tracks on 'The Obsidian Conspiracy' that makes it what it is. Having already seen many of these songs performed live it was nice to see that the anthemic, catchy hooks which made the concert such an experience were all present and correct on the CD.

'The Obsidian Conspiracy' has a well balanced mix of fast and slow tracks. Although Nevermore are usually described as progressive metal the tracks on this release also display very accessible 'classic' heavy metal and power metal influences mixed in to great effect.

The bands musical abilities are best showcased in 'The Blue Marble And The New Soul'. This is a slow track where Warrel excesisies his voice as seldom heard before, while the guitar work is restrained but fits the track perfectly.

There is genuinely not anything to dislike about this album. Well writtien songs, excellent musicianship and Warrel's finest vocal outing to date make this one of the albums of the year so far.

Dizzy

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