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BUDGET 3-GOLD DISC CD BUNDLE NEVERMORE - DREAMING NEON BLACK + ENEMIES OF REALITY + THIS GODLESS ENDEAVOR (2022, Brutal Planet Records)
1. NEVERMORE - DREAMING NEON BLACK
2. NEVERMORE - ENEMIES OF REALITY
3. NEVERMORE - THIS GODLESS ENDEAVOR
***We strongly encourage you to purchase hassle-free low cost insurance for your order at checkout. It will cover your entire order against damage, not just this item.
NEVERMORE - DREAMING NEON BLACK (*NEW-GOLD DISC CD, 2022, Brutal Planet)
- 1999 classic that's been officially licensed from Century Media
- Elite 2022 Remaster by Rob Colwell of Bombworks Sound
- Gold Disc CD to discourage disc rot and add beauty and elegance
- Every CD comes with a deluxe foil-stamped collector's card of Nevermore
- Expanded 16-page insert with lyrics and additional band pics
- Gold Disc border on the front cover - but the back of the booklet features the front cover with no Gold border around the edges
- Includes the bonus track, "Love Bites" for the first time ever
- Before Nevermore Warrel Dane had a band name "Sanctuary" in 1990 with 2 albums "Refuge Denied" and "Into the Mirror Black"
- Received 99% out of 100 review from MetalReviews.com
WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT DREAMING NEON BLACK
Nevermore's Dreaming Neon Black, is one of the most unique records I have ever heard. First, I cannot name another band that would sound exactly the same as Nevermore. They have a truly unique sound. Second, the atmosphere of this record is almost unmatched in metal, with maybe the exceptions of The Crimson Idol and Operation Mindcrime. And third, the atmosphere is not only impressive, it is downright scary. One of my friends said it best once: “I sweat every time I listen to this record”. Gloomy and murderously dark music has never sounded better than Dreaming Neon Black.
Aleksie @ MetalReviews.com
The riffs are towering monoliths of pain and brutality in the most epic classic mix ever plus the solos and leads are a taste blend of both atonal and melodic sensibilities with some masterful phrasing from one of the most underrated guitar gods out there.
Metal-Archives Reviews
The dark atmosphere this album creates makes it a unique entry into the field of concept albums. There is a bleak and tortured aura that is beautifully woven into every track. The standard of quality and consistency is upheld here more thoroughly than on any other Nevermore album, which is what makes it their best work as a whole. Add to that the greatest performance by Warrel Dane and you have an outstanding album.
MetalCrypt.com
The greatest aspect of this ambitious recording may not be the concept, rather the magnificent musical palette of colorful heavy metal here painted.
Jonathan “Doc” Swank, HM Magazine
ABOUT THE ALBUM
If you have followed Nevermore, you will know this album is as dark as a desert blackout. Dreaming Neon Black, originally released in 1999, is essential metal on several levels. This is the first Nevermore album to consistently feature the technical metal sound the band became prominently known for. Their two prior releases had heavy technical elements but also branched into industrial and some grunge. This album makes a clean cut from the then-current sound that dominated the late 90s.
Secondly, the band added former Forbidden guitarist Tim Calvert to the line-up, giving the band even more edge and guitar harmony possibilities. Jeff Loomis certainly proves he can wield a wicked axe but this takes the crushing maelstrom of melodic thrash to a new arena.
Love Bites is an added bonus track for this Gold Disc Edition. It was originally a bonus track on the 2006 reissue of The Politics of Ecstasy, which is apparent by its industrial drum sound. The highlight of this one is how effortlessly Warrel hit the high note at the end.
Dreaming Neon Black is the epitome of a well-crafted conceptual masterpiece from the technical metal genre. There are several other bands who have pulled this off, but none with as much darkness, well-crafted songs, and consistent passion. An inadmissible album for any metal collection.
Rob Colwell of Bombworks Sound provides an elite 2022 remaster, and every CD comes with a foil-stamped limited edition collector card. This jewel case release comes with an expanded 16-page booklet - to the delight of true collectors. Heavy Metal this masterful comes around a few times a decade if we are lucky. One of those treasures is here again, and we recommend being first in line to grab it, The 2022 Brutal Planet Records reissue takes all the magic of the original release and gives fans even more! Dreaming Neon Black takes special to entirely new levels.
TRACKS
1. Ophidian 0:47
2. Beyond Within 5:12
3. The Death Of Passion 4:10
4. I Am The Dog 4:13
5. Dreaming Neon Black 6:26
6. Deconstruction 6:40
7. The Fault Of The Flesh 4:55
8. The Lotus Eaters 4:26
9. Poison Godmachine 4:34
10. All Play Dead 4:58
11. Cenotaph 4:39
12. No More Will 5:46
13. Forever 2:34
14. Love Bites (bonus track)
DOWN THE LINE REVIEW - by Doug Peterson
Nevermore – Dreaming Neon Black (2022 Gold Disc Edition)
If you’ve followed Nevermore, you will know this album is as dark as a desert blackout. Dreaming Neon Black, originally released in 1999, is essential metal on several levels. This is the first Nevermore album to consistently feature the technical metal sound the band became prominently known for. Their two prior releases had heavy technical elements but also branched into industrial and some grunge. This album makes a clean cut from the then-current sound that dominated the 90s.
Secondly, the band added former Forbidden guitarist Tim Calvert to the line-up, lending the band even more edge and guitar harmony possibilities. Jeff Loomis certainly proves he can wield a wicked axe but this takes the crushing maelstrom of melodic thrash to a new arena.
Also noteworthy is the fact this is a brilliant conceptual album. Vocalist Warrel Dane (RIP) lost his long time girlfriend to a religious cult in Seattle, and later she went missing. Dane had nightmares of her drowning, hence the album content/cover art. Dane had some distance from losing her before recording this. Nonetheless this is a painful narration of a tormented man deteriorating into insanity and self-harm. In the truth is stranger than fiction category, four years after this album surfaced, it became news that Dane’s then girlfriend was murdered by the so-called ‘Truck Stop Killer’ in 1990. However, her body was not identified until 2003, four years after this album was made. You can not make this shit up!
Ophidian starts off with the spoken line, “Ask the darkness…It’s been waiting for you.” Following is a beeping heart monitor machine which then flat-lines, foreshadowing the end. The album’s narrative finds a broken and tortured man taking his own life thirty-four seconds in. There is no silver lining here, folks.
Beyond Within and The Death of Passion start the album furious and crushing like a wrecking ball on warp speed. The story is set with equal portions despair and concernment. “Tension, delirium, growing everyday…Welcome to the fall” and “I’m confusion and contempt, I am the void, You are the emptiness of black tomorrow, I feel so hollow.”
I Am The Dog is an absolute tempest of melodious aggression. “She was born in the year of the dog…Every night the dream is the same.” Our protagonist is having reoccurring nightmares and is slowly eroding into insanity with his loss.
Next, the title track is a song of lament, beginning with a chorus of acoustic guitars. Vocalist Christine Rhoades adds a short appearance as the protagonist’s lost lover, beckoning him to meet her in his reoccurring drowning dreams.
Deconstruction is another brooding ballad which evolves into groove-laden thrash. “The fallen that dreams suicide, Takes the needle, instead of the gun, The victim who self crucifies can’t realize, Christ is a weapon that chisels at our lives.” What does one do when the one whom they love has been brainwashed? Warrel finds it necessary to deconstruct, a death to any god who would poison his lost lover. The guitar work on this track is stunning, even with Flamenco laid down mid way through.
The Fault of the Flesh spirals further down into nihilism and despair with infectious thrash riffs. “We are but flesh and flesh is the weakness, We’re just spinning in this useless hole in time, On our way into the black unknown.” The chorus structure reminds me of the layered guitar harmonies of Big Wreck in their heavier moments.
Later, Poison Godmachine picks up the pace with rhythmic thrash. Religious TV media is addressed: “In subtlety we obey through ink and broadcast wave, The doubts and fears that shadow media decay, Deprogram this affliction and the Cathode ray unclean, I am the last nail, the empty soulless screen….” Warrel not only wants it exposed; he wants it wrapped around his axels.
Cenotaph is a goth-drenched metallic half-ballad that twists and turns. The tormented character realizes he is a slave to his dreams and attempts to build a cenotaph for his lost-lover. No More Will is bleak and dismal, peak playing with both vocals and guitars screaming.
Ending with Forever, this short subdued piece is the protagonist’s confession that he will be forever haunted by his lost lover, neon black being the re-occurrence of the drowning pool nightmares. “I know you’re dreaming, I know you’re at peace, I’ll meet you in the dreamtime, Whenever you call me I’ll go under, I’ll swim through you.” Disturbing and tragic.
Love Bites is an added bonus track for this Gold Disc Edition. It’s a Judas Priest cover that was originally a bonus track on the reissue of The Politics of Ecstasy, which is apparent by its industrial drum sound. The highlight here is how effortlessly Warrel hit the high note at the end.
Dreaming Neon Black is the epitome of a well-crafted conceptual masterpiece from the technical metal genre. There are several other bands who have pulled this off, but none with as much darkness, well-crafted songs, and consistent passion. An inadmissible album for any metal collection.
--Doug Peterson, Down The Line zine
Dreaming Neon Black REVIEW by Dr Jonathan Swank of HM Magazine
Nevermore doesn’t cease to amaze with their new release, a concept piece loosely based on both a dream and reality. Many will think that Dane is completely insane or on drugs after listening to this, but we know that the latter isn’t true because of his stance against those who choose to let drugs control their lives. However, after listening to this one could wonder if Dane is really grounded in reality. The greatest aspect of this ambitious recording may not be the concept, rather the magnificent musical palette of colorful heavy metal here painted. Stepping the production quality up just a notch from the excellent Politics, the low end here really stands out, which gives the music a dark and foreboding quality.
In addition, Dane comes to the forefront here, making this his best vocal performance to date – sounding like a fusion of Geoff Tate and James Hetfield. With each release he continues to develop his own unique timbre and style. Instead of screaming at the top of his register, he really focuses on the lower end, which again gives this a darker, more gothic quality. One cannot help but listen to the chorus in the title track and be reminded of Type O Negative.
Musically, Jeff Loomis and Tim Calvert create some incredibly heavy yet melodic riffs and twisted solos, but the approach is less thrash oriented than Politics and there is a sense that finesse was more important in the songwriting this time around. One listen to the divine “Deconstruction” or the progressive “Poison Godmachine” will confirm these assumptions. The drumming of Van Williams is not to be ignored either as this performance could easily rival Lars Ulrich’s performance on Ride the Lightning or Master of Puppets.
The theme seems to focus on the singer’s nightmarish loss of a girlfriend and how he deals with that reality. There are some dark spiritual themes presented here, which may surprise some of the bands more atheistic listeners, but Dane’s mistrust of established religion, government and the media are once again stated on the aforementioned songs.
Dreaming Neon Black remains one of the most powerful and gripping concept metal albums from the ‘90’s – the music and emotion still very intense, intricate and palpable all these years later.
- Jonathan “Doc” Swank, Heaven’s Metal Magazine
NEVERMORE - ENEMIES OF REALITY (*NEW-GOLD DISC CD, 2022, Brutal Planet)
***We strongly encourage you to purchase hassle-free low cost insurance for your order at checkout. It will cover your entire order against damage, not just this item.
- 2003 classic that's been officially licensed from Century Media
- Elite 2022 Remaster by Rob Colwell of Bombworks Sound
- Gold Disc CD to discourage disc rot and add beauty and elegance
- Every CD comes with a deluxe foil-stamped collector's card of Nevermore
- Expanded 16-page insert with lyrics and additional band pics
- Gold Disc border on the front cover - but the back of the booklet features the front cover with no Gold border around the edges
- Kelly Gray — QUEENSRŸCHE producer
- Before Nevermore Warrel Dane had a band name "Sanctuary" in 1990 with 2 albums "Refuge Denied" and "Into the Mirror Black"
- Received 8.5 out of 10 review from Blabbermouth.com
WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT ENEMIES OF REALITY
Every track is a virtual riff-fest with guitarist Jeff Loomis showing off his talents not only as a songwriter and rhythm guitarist but also as a great lead guitarist as well. Lots of shredding leads and other wild and fast riff changes can be found on almost every track. The band has maintained their trademark killer heavy but very abstract sound and Warrel Dane's performance is as good if not better than ever. I love his very charismatic scowl and prophetic vocal delivery that just seems to cut right through the band's wall of sound.
METALREVIEWS.COM
"Enemies Of Reality" is an astounding assault on the ears — a cavalcade of downtuned guitars and oppressive rhythms. It can be "modern" in its pummeling attack (the rapid fire opening title track) without losing the notion of several classic metal formulas.
BLABBERMOUTH.COM
Nevermore continues to produce quality metal time and time again. Enemies of Reality might be their best yet.
SEA OF TRANQUILITY.COM
Nevermore continued to craft their unique and aggressive blend of progressive thrash metal with Enemies of Reality.
Jonathan “Doc” Swank, HM Magazine
ABOUT THE ALBUM
The 2003 collection of metal madness from the rulers of modern progressive thrash Nevermore continues the trend of brutal yet melodic chaos started on Dead Heart in a Dead World back in 2000. This band was always super-heavy, but in the last few releases offered an intelligent sense of atmosphere and melody that started seeping into the music, and the nine tracks on Enemies of Reality shows the band maturing as songwriters, throwing in tons of brutally heavy riffs, complex arrangements, and catchy vocal passages.
Rob Colwell of Bombworks Sound provides at elite 2022 remaster, and every CD comes with a foil-stamped limited edition collector card. This jewel case release comes with an expanded 16-page booklet - to the delight of true collectors. Metal this masterful comes around a few times a decade if we are lucky. one of those treasures is here again, and we recommend being first in line to grab it, The 2022 Brutal Planet Records reissue takes all the magic of the original release and gives fans ever more! Enemies of Reality takes special to entirely new levels
Tracklist
Enemies Of Reality 5:11
Ambivalent 4:12
Never Purify 4:03
Tomorrow Turned Into Yesterday 4:35
I, Voyager 5:48
Create The Infinite 3:38
Who Decides 4:15
Noumenon 4:37
Seed Awakening 4:30
NEVERMORE - THIS GODLESS ENDEAVOR (*NEW-GOLD DISC CD, 2022, Brutal Planet)
***We strongly encourage you to purchase hassle-free low cost insurance for your order at checkout. It will cover your entire order against damage, not just this item.
NEVERMORE - THIS GODLESS ENDEAVOR (*NEW-GOLD DISC CD, 2022, Brutal Planet)
- 2005 classic that's been officially licensed from Century Media
- Elite 2022 Remaster by Rob Colwell of Bombworks Sound
- Gold Disc CD to discourage disc rot and add beauty and elegance
- Every CD comes with a deluxe foil-stamped collector's card of Nevermore
- Expanded 16-page insert with lyrics and additional band pics
- Gold Disc border on the front cover - but the back of the booklet features the front cover with no Gold border around the edges
- Before Nevermore Warrel Dane had a band name "Sanctuary" in 1990 with 2 albums "Refuge Denied" and "Into the Mirror Black"
- James Murphy (formerly of TESTAMENT and DEATH) lays down a solo on the minute-and-a-half instrumental "The Holocaust of Thought".
- Received 9 out of 10 review from Blabbermouth.com
WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT THIS GODLESS ENDEAVOR
"This Godless Endeavor" may just be the most complete and musically accomplished NEVERMORE album to date....anyone that's heard the last few NEVERMORE albums knows that the riffing is monumental and the soloing will make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up. If it's shredding you seek, look no further than the monster soloing on "The Psalm of Lydia"; the words "holy" and "shit" are sure to roll off your tongue.
Scott Alisoglu @ BLABBERMOUTH REVIEW
This Godless Endeavor indeed stands out of this sea of metal like a lightning rod with a storm approaching. A beacon that many other bands undoubtedly used for their bearings on today’s modern offerings. Nevermore created a haunting atmosphere of almost pagan proportions. An underlying menace that will finally get to you once you progress into its murky depths.
ROCKMUSICRAIDER.COM
Since 2005, This has been a favorite of mine. I see no flaws or imperfections. If you like heavy, progressive, melodic, intense, forceful and driving music with virtuoso performances, Then this is for you. I have not tired of this album for over 3 years, and will never do so. Utter ..... Perfection. 10 out of 10 Rating
GUITARMASTERCLASS.NET
While some may debate which Nevermore album is best, Godless is really the most mature, the most immersive, the most diverse, and certainly one of the most commanding and the songs have stood up well over the time span since this was originally released in 2005.
Jonathan “Doc” Swank, HM Magazine
ABOUT THE ALBUM
One listen to the 2005 magnum opus, This Godless Endeavor and you'll discover the classic NEVERMORE dark melodies are everywhere. "Final Product," "Born," "Bittersweet Feast," and "Medicated Nation" overflow with vintage NEVERMORE songwriting, all conveying that unexplainable feeling of sorrow, even despondency, characteristic of an album like Dreaming Neon Black. Spin this one a few times and you'll be hooked, no question about it. Seattle's Nevermore continue to prove that it is one of the best bands from the United States. Warrel Dane, Jeff Loomis and producer Andy Sneap have created a masterpiece that was one of the best releases overall in 2005 and still is today. Nevermore also added a second guitarist with Steve Smyth to support the solo master, Jeff Loomis. Warrel Dane's vocals continue to soar, along with the band's songwriting abilities. Every track on this album seems independent and special in its own way, while still supporting a common theme. "This Godless Endeavor" is kind of a prophecy--a harrowing portrayal of a dark future. With a towering wall of sound and the desperate, plaintive vocals of Warrel Dane, Nevermore laments the ills of American culture in powerful pieces like "Born," "Final Product," "Bittersweet Feast," and "Medicated Nation." They mold their distress into personal messages, as in "My Acid Words" and "Sell My Heart For Stones." They compose mysterious stories such as "Sentient 6" and "The Psalm of Lydia." But it all traces back to a common view of where we are today, and where we may end up tomorrow. This album does not necessarily lend itself to your understanding on the first listen. But that's part of what makes it special. This Godless Endeavor is arguably the greatest heavy metal release of 2005, if not an instant heavy metal classic. With an open mind and a little patience, you stand a good chance of finding the same beauty that we at Brutal Planet Records and many other metal fans have found in this CD.
Rob Colwell of Bombworks Sound provides an elite 2022 remaster, and every CD comes with a foil-stamped limited edition collector card. This jewel case release comes with an expanded 16-page booklet - to the delight of true collectors. Heavy Metal this masterful comes around a few times a decade if we are lucky. One of those treasures is here again, and we recommend being first in line to grab it, The 2022 Brutal Planet Records reissue takes all the magic of the original release and gives fans even more! This Godless Endeavor takes special to entirely new levels.
TRACK LIST
Born 5:05
Final Product 4:21
My Acid Words 5:41
Bittersweet Feast 5:01
Sentient 6 6:58
The Holocaust Of Thought 1:27
Medicated Nation 4:01
Sell My Heart For Stones 5:18
The Psalm Of Lydia 4:16
A Future Uncertain 6:07
This Godless Endeavor 8:55
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