Nevermore‘s new lineup has officially been announced. Guitarist Jeff Loomis and drummer Van Williams chose to relaunch the group in late 2024, embarking on a search for musicians to replace their late vocalist Warrel Dane and estranged bassist Jim Sheppard. While the duo noted last May they had found their men, it is today, February 12th, that they have finally pulled back the curtain.
Newly joining the progressive metal outfit on vocals is Berzan Önen (Inner Urge, My Torment, etc.), guitarist Jack Cattoi and bassist Semir Özerka (Oceans of Slumber, Necrofier, etc.). In a joint statement, Loomis and Van Williams had the following to say of this resurrection of the band and their signing with Reigning Phoenix Music:
“We are thrilled to announce that Nevermore has officially signed with Reigning Phoenix Music! It was obvious from the start that they were the perfect partner for the new era of Nevermore. Their passion for metal music combined with the extensive industry pedigree of their team made the choice easy. We can’t wait to get back on stage in front of our fans in Istanbul on April 1st, and we are just as excited to finish writing and putting together the new Nevermore album!”
A new documentary film focused on the band and their comeback with this new roster was directed and produced by Ola Englund (The Haunted). It also showcases rehearsal sessions, including performances of “The River Dragon Has Come“, “Engines Of Hate” and “The Heart Collector“, filmed in January of this year.
When it came to new music, Williams shared the following tease of what’s to come: “If the new music had to be described by one word, that would have to be delicious. Because it’s so good it’s gonna leave you hungry for more.”
As for recruiting Berzan, Loomis stated:
“He really stood out strong in so many ways upon a first listen. I could really feel the emotion and passion when I heard him sing for the first time. He wasn’t just going through the motions. I could tell right away that he was a fan of Warrel‘s singing just by the way he delivered and said certain words. I was really blown away at first watch.”
The band’s first show back will take place April 01st at the IF Performance Hall Besiktas in Istanbul, Turkey.
