Nevermore

Nevermore were formed in Seattle in 1992 by vocalist Warrel Dane and bassist Jim Sheppard, both formerly of Sanctuary, together with guitarist Jeff Loomis. Drummer Van Williams completed the line-up that would remain the core of the band. The self-titled debut Nevermore appeared in 1995, followed by The Politics of Ecstasy in 1996.

The band often worked with a second guitarist; Pat O’Brien played on The Politics of Ecstasy before leaving for Cannibal Corpse. The concept album Dreaming Neon Black followed in 1999, then Dead Heart in a Dead World (2000), Enemies of Reality (2003) and This Godless Endeavor (2005).

As a quartet of Dane, Loomis, Sheppard and Williams, the band recorded their seventh studio album, The Obsidian Conspiracy, in 2009 with Soilwork guitarist Peter Wichers as producer. Released by Century Media in 2010, it arrived five years after its predecessor and turned out to be the last album of the original era.

In 2011 Loomis and Williams left the group, after which Nevermore became inactive. Warrel Dane died of a heart attack in São Paulo, Brazil, in December 2017, at the age of 56.

In late 2024 Loomis and Williams announced the band’s return and launched a public search for a new singer and bassist; Jim Sheppard was not part of the reunion. In February 2026 Nevermore revealed a new line-up with vocalist Berzan Önen, guitarist Jack Cattoi and bassist Semir Özerkan, and signed with Reigning Phoenix Music.

The new line-up played its first show in Istanbul on 1 April 2026, followed by summer festival appearances that included Bloodstock in the UK. The band have said they are working on a new studio album.

Line-up: Berzan Önen (vocals), Jeff Loomis (guitar), Jack Cattoi (guitar), Semir Özerkan (bass), Van Williams (drums)