NEVERMORE
Islington Academy, London, UK - 18th May 2010
Line-up: Nevermore + Death Angel
Review by Mike Exley
The Academy is quickly assuming the same kind of London live status as was afforded several years ago to The Underworld… What with Max Cavalera and Soulfly gracing its boards the night before, and Seattle’s Nevermore gracing its boards tonight, it has become a ‘Mecca Of Metal’ to many Londoners, packed to the rafters with metal dudes and ‘dudettes’ who possibly assume that Death Angel are just another support band passing through.
Little do they know! This band has had a long and illustrious relationship with London, and every time the band returns it has something up its sleeve to give any band touring with them a run for their money. Slightly down on well known faces – only Mark Osegueda (v) and guitarist Rob Cavestany remain from the original Bay Area combo that terrorised the clubs here back in the heyday of debut The Ultraviolence.
The band has slipped down a notch or two on the speedometer, but when Cavestany begins that indomitable beginning to The Ultraviolence or the band rip through 'Kill As One' (tonight dedicated to long-term friend, and Bay Area manager supreme, Debbie Abono who passed away the same night as Ronnie James Dio) you can feel the finger nails moving down the blackboard...in your very bones.
'Seemingly Endless Time' sees new drummer Will Carroll (Vicious Rumors, etc.) shine, but with limited space and the immense hair of Osegueda to contend with, it is Cavestany who leads the band to glory on this short, but groove driven night.
A new track 'River Of Rapture' bodes well for the new era and new album - the first without either Pepa brother or long-term drummer Andy Galeon who have all moved off to pastures new - so there’s plenty to talk about in the bar afterwards.
Nevermore on the other hand are wrapping up a chapter in their long-term careers tonight, just before a new album hits the streets. In fact, not only does singer Warrel Dane actually make reference to the fact the crowd possibly know the new album’s lyrics better than him - the band reveal that they are recording a DVD this evening. This kind of makes it easier to understand my initial feelings that they are being over-cautious, perhaps stilted with newie The Obsidian Conspiracy barely out of the boxes in the warehouse prior to its release.
All is revealed in 'Emptiness Unobstructed' which is played twice when Dane ‘forgets the words’….. There’s no cutting room floor waiting to open up for this one here fella!
Aside from this, the band is on fine form. Jeff Loomis (g) was never a shredder or a thrasher, the band’s heaviness coming largely from a key understanding of pace and technical musicianship rather than bluster, but tonight, the man rules. Knowing that the sound is the key obviously helps, but Loomis’ riffing in tracks like 'Inside Four Walls' and 'Born' is outstanding and a fine balance to the sometimes overworked Dane who seems to drop off a few too many times for our esteemed video director in the wings!
The crowd seem undeterred however. The reaction to 'The Heart Collector' almost carries Dane with it over the finishing line, and the roar when the band encores with 'Enemies Of Reality' is heart warming. Realistically, with the festival season approaching, this band can and will do better. It’s a warm up for better nights to come for certain and I doubt you’ll see much of this show on the ensuing DVD.
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