Nevermore – The Obsidian Conspiracy

I’ve just been checking out the new album, The Obsidian Conspiracy, by Nevermore. If you are not familiar with Nevermore then they are well worth checking out, particularly if you like your extreme music progressive. The band don’t really fit into any particular genre of extreme music as, to me, they sound totally trans-genre. My, oh my, can this band play!

Track listing:

1. The Termination Proclamation
2. Your Poison Throne
3. Moonrise (Through Mirrors of Death)
4. And the Maiden Spoke
5. Emptiness Unobstructed
6. The Blue Marble and the New Soul
7. Without Morals
8. The Day You Built the Wall
9. She Comes in Colors
10. The Obsidian Conspiracy

Listen at Spotify – http://open.spotify.com/album/7j7tAsWboyxgxEXzaFC41p

Let’s check a bit of Jeff getting all shreadtastic at Musikmesse Frankfurt 2010. Cool!

 

 

Reviewed at:

AngryMetalGuy – http://www.angrymetalguy.com/nevermore-the-obsidian-conspiracy-review/

Sputnik Music – http://www.sputnikmusic.com/album.php?albumid=53432

Bloody Disgusting – http://www.bloody-disgusting.com/news/music/723

The New Review – http://thenewreview.net/reviews/nevermore-the-obsidian-conspiracy

Danger Dog – http://www.dangerdog.com/2010-music-reviews/nevermore-the-obsidian-conspiracy-review.php

 

Genre(s):

• Progressive Metal
• Heavy Metal
• Trans-genre

 

Similar artists:

• None!

 

Further info:

@MySpace – http://www.myspace.com/nevermorefans

@Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/pages/Nevermore-band/34097738619?ref=ts

@Twitter – http://twitter.com/nevermoreband

@Wikipedia – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nevermore

@JeffLoomis.com – http://www.jeffloomis.com/

Classic Rock – 10 Essential 00s Prog Albums

I have been flicking through the February issue (141) of Classic Rock magazine which I picked up on import. This issue has a section which looks back at the 00s and part of this ‘review’ includes a number of ‘essential albums’ lists. Here’s the one for Prog:

• Radiohead – Kid A (2000)
• Porcupine Tree – Deadwing (2005)
• Opeth – Ghost Reveries (2005)
• The Mars Volta – Frances The Mute (2005)
• Van der Graaf Generator – Present (2005)
• Muse – Black Holes And Revelations (2006)
• Rush – Snakes And Arrows (2007)
• Oceansize – Frames (2007)
• Riverside – Rapid Eye Movement (2007)
• Dream Theater – Black Clouds And Silver Linings (2009)

Orphaned Land – The Never Ending Way Of ORWarriOR

 

Track listing:

Part I: Godfrey’s Cordial – An ORphan’s Life

1. Sapari
2. From Broken Vessels
3. Bereftin the Abyss
4. The Path Part 1 – Treading Through Darkness
5. The Path Part 2 – The Pilgrimage to Or Shalem
6. Olat Ha’tamid

Part II: Lips Acquire stains – The WarriOR Awakens

7. The Warrior
8. His Leaf Shall Not Wither
9. Disciples of the Sacred Oath II
10. New Jerusalem
11. Vayehi Or
12. M i ?

Part III: Barakah – Enlightening the Cimmerian

13. Barakah
14. Codeword: uprising
15. In Thy Never Ending Way (Epilogue)

If you are a big fan of Opeth, Dream Theater or Porcupine Tree then you will find nothing to disappoint on Orphaned Land’s fourth album, The Never Ending Way Of ORWarriOR. Within the progressive music of Orphaned Land both Middle Eastern and Western sounds and textures meld together effortlessly. Sit down comfortably, put on the headphones, close your eyes and take a journey to exotic lands. Ahh, I can smell the campfires already.

All hail the progressive ‘shred’!!!

Reviewed at:

Rocksound – http://www.rocksound.tv/reviews/article/orphaned-land-the-never-ending-way-of-orwarior

Sputnik Music – http://www.sputnikmusic.com/album.php?reviewid=34333

Angry Metal Guy – http://www.angrymetalguy.com/2010/01/08/orphaned-land-the-never-ending-way-of-orwarrior-review/

Lords Of Metal – http://www.lordsofmetal.nl/showreview.php?id=15465&lang=en

Mantra – In Vain

Track listing

1. Captivating Solitude
2. Mannefall
3. Ain’t No Lovin’
4. On The Banks Of The Mississippi
5. Circle Of Agony
6. Wayakin (The Guardian Spirit Of The Nez Perce)
7. Dark Prophets, Black Hearts
8. Sombre Fall, Burdened Winter

On In Vain’s second album, Mantra, the band, in my opinion, have captured a complete listening experience. I would strongly suggest setting aside enough time to listen to the album all the way through, in a single sitting, as listening to individual tracks or part of the album does not get the full effect. The album has very high production values and has a wonderful crushing sound when the band go full tilt. However, amidst the bands effortless combination and execution of Black, Doom and Progressive Metal are bluegrass/folk and some of the most wonderfully melodic phrases I have heard on an extreme metal album. If you are in the UK/Europe and have a membership, you can check it out on Spotify.

Reviewed at:

Sputnikmusic – http://www.sputnikmusic.com/album.php?reviewid=34513

Noisecreep – http://www.noisecreep.com/2010/01/20/in-vain-mantra-album-art-of-the-week/

Encyclopaedia Metallum – http://www.metal-archives.com/review.php?id=259208

Shining – Blackjazz

Track listing:

CD version
1. The Madness And The Damage Done
2. Fisheye
3. Exit Sun
4. Exit Sun
5. HEALTER SKELTER
6. The Madness And The Damage Done
7. Blackjazz Deathtrance
8. Omen
9. 21st Century Schizoid Man

 

 

 

LP version
Side A
1. The Madness and the Damage Done
2. Fisheye
3. Exit Sun
4. Exit Sun
Side B
1. HEALTER SKELTER
2. The Madness and the Damage Done
3. Blackjazz Deathtrance
Side C
1. Omen
2. 21st Century Schizoid Man
Side D
1. Fisheye [Extended Version]
2. RMGDN

With so many boundaries crossed and new sounds on this album, I thought my brain would explode with intense musical pleasure. I cannot begin to explain who this band even sound like as there are so many musical reference points and any comparison would do no justice. If you like music that challenges the norm then check them out, if not, then stay well away, you’ll hate it.

Reviewed at:

No Ripcord – http://www.noripcord.com/reviews/music/shining/blackjazz

The Omega Order – http://www.theomegaorder.com/SHINING-NOR-Blackjazz

Blistering.com – http://www.blistering.com/fastpage/fpengine.php/link/1/templateid/18229/tempidx/4/menuid/2