NEVERMORE: Release Date Set For 'This Godless Endeavor'

Century Media Records has set a July 26 release date for the new NEVERMORE album, entitled "This Godless Endeavor". Creating metal's most progressively innovative, insidiously addictive, and blazingly entangled music, mesmerizing vocalist Warrel Dane, backed by guitar virtuoso Jeff Loomis and the jackhammer rhythms of bassist Jim Sheppard and drummer Van Williams are now joined by guitarist Steve Smyth (ex-TESTAMENT, DRAGONLORD),who marks his NEVERMORE recording debut. Smyth toured extensively with the band throughout 2003 and 2004, including a U.S. tour with DIMMU BORGIR and CHILDREN OF BODOM, and performance at Germany’s prestigious Wacken Open Air Festival.

Traveling to England's Backstage Studios (ARCH ENEMY, KREATOR),the band reunites with production wizard Andy Sneap (OPETH, MACHINE HEAD) who "provided an atmosphere conducive to creativity," says Dane. "This album contains the trademark NEVERMORE songcraft you have either come to love or hate," he continues, "and some of the most ripping guitar work we’ve recorded." Stark artwork by Hugh Syme (RUSH, MEGADETH) incorporates the "theme we've developed over the last few albums of everyone wearing a mask," he explains. With the title, "This Godless Endeavor", being a discussion on, as Dane sees it, "the ongoing struggle between science and religion." Psyched to be part of this summer's Gigantour alongside other main-stage acts MEGADETH and DREAM THEATER, Dane is ready to let fans experience the immediacy and urgency that have played such a huge part in their songs' mind-boggling sophistication. MEGADETH mainman and guitarist Dave Mustaine commented about including the band on Gigantour's main stage: "Having produced SANCTUARY's album 'Refuge Denied', it’s obvious that I would appreciate anything that Warrel and Jim were doing. The fact that Shawn and Glen Drover (MEGADETH, EIDOLON) are also their friends and huge NEVERMORE fans made it an easy choice."

In 1994, NEVERMORE rose from the ashes of cult metal band SANCTUARY, catching fans' attention with acclaimed early releases "Nevermore" (1995),the "In Memory" EP (1996),"The Politics of Ecstasy" (1996),and "Dreaming Neon Black" (1999). The four releases were recorded by celebrated producer Neil Kernon (JUDAS PRIEST, QUEENSRŸCHE),and the band was joined by guitarists Pat O' Brian (CANNIBAL CORPSE) on the two 1996 releases and Tim Calvert (ex-FORBIDDEN) for their 1999 conceptual masterpiece. "Dead Heart In A Dead World" (2000),produced by Andy Sneap, moved Loomis' guitar work to the production’s forefront, and while touring tirelessly, songs "Narcosynthesis" and "Inside Four Walls" became anthemic fan favorites. Followed by Outburn magazine's "must-have album of the year," 2003's release "Enemies of Reality" further showcased their mature musicianship. Containing "opuses that often reach dark symphonic peaks" (Guitar One),the album was recently remixed and remastered by Andy Sneap.