Nevermore Ranked

If you’ve never heard the fast (and furious) riffing of Nevermore, then you’re doing something wrog with your life. Warrel Dane, Jeff Loomis, Jim Sheppard and Van Williams should be household names where metal is popular. Sadly, the band ceased to exist after their 2010 effort, The Obsidian Conspiracy, which still to this day released with one of the best ever special editions known to man. Jeff Loomis decided to call it a day and has since gone on to release a couple of solo albums and become the permanent  guitarist for Arch Enemy, where his wizardly skills are being wasted to some extent. Anyway, I thought I should rank the band’s seven studio albums, from worst to best, because why not?

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7: The Obsidian Conspiracy

Sadly, Nevermore’s last studio album was their worst. It’s simpler than what came before it, not containing quite the wizardry we came to know of Nevermore’s sound. There are a couple of great tracks on here, but this is Nevermore at their most basic and uninspired. It’s still solid, mind.

6: Dreaming Neon Black

Nevermore’s third album is good, but it’s a little too one-note in its lyrics. It’s a concept album full of slower, more brooding songs. It’s a tragic album that gives Warrel Dane a little more emotion to play with in his vocals, but I don’t think the concept album was worthwhile for Nevermore, who never really returned to the idea.

5: Dead Heart in a Dead World

Dead Heart in a Dead World is a good album, but it doesn’t quite have the impact of the best of Nevermore. “The River Dragon Has Come” and “Narcosynthesis” are both incredible songs, and there are more than few good ones here. The album is just a little more dull than the best Nevermore has to offer.

4: Nevermore

The band’s first album is stunning. It opens with the timeless, heavy masterpiece of “What Tomorrow Knows” – one of Nevermore’s finest ever tunes. It still gives me goosebumps today. The raw sound of the record is less refined than what comes later, but it is effortlessly awesome.

3: The Politics of Ecstasy

Just as with Nevermore before it, the band’s 1996 effort, The Politics of Ecstasy features one of Nevermore’s best ever tracks. “Next In Line” is dark, heavy and supremely catchy. The Politics of Ecstasy is a stonkingly good record – a little more refined than the band’s debut.

2: This Godless Endeavor

If you like your music to be fast, dark and heavy, then This Godless Endeavor is for you. This is where Jeff Loomis’ wickedly good seven string playing is truly let off the hook. It’s a wild, thoroughly entertaining album full of energy, passion and storming riffs. It doesn’t get much better than this.

1: Enemies of Reality

Enemies of Reality is an aggressive album. It’s heavy, fast and unforgiving. Just listen to the title track – it’s the best the band has ever released. “Tomorrow Turned into Yesterday” is a progressive beast of a track, it’s fast, heavy, but always building to a tremendous crescendo. Indeed, across Enemies of Reality we are treated to nine perfect metal tracks – a true ten out of ten record.