Nevermore – The Obsidian Conspiracy

• Country: United States
• Style: Progressive metal / Thrash metal
• Label: Century Media Records
• Release date: 28 May 2010

Nobody knew at the time that this would be the last Nevermore album with Warrel Dane, who died in 2017. Heard with that knowledge, The Obsidian Conspiracy carries more weight than it did on release, but it should also be judged for what it is: the most direct record the Seattle band ever made.

The change came from the producer’s chair. Peter Wichers, the Soilwork guitarist who had worked on Dane’s solo album, produced it, and the songs came out shorter and catchier than usual. Andy Sneap handled the mix again, so the sound still connects with earlier records. But where Dead Heart In A Dead World and This Godless Endeavor spiralled into dense, technical passages, these ten songs mostly stay under five minutes and go straight for the chorus. “Emptiness Unobstructed”, which got a video, is the clearest case: a hook Dane delivers with real warmth.

Loomis still finds room for solos, and “The Termination Proclamation” opens with genuine aggression. The closing title track and “She Comes in Colors” hint at the old ambition. If you came to Nevermore for the labyrinth, this will feel a little light. As a farewell nobody planned, it is a dignified one.

Best tracks:

The Termination Proclamation
Emptiness Unobstructed
She Comes in Colors
The Obsidian Conspiracy

Author’s rating: 7.9/10