In the year of 2000, despite not having a second guitarist. Nevermore manages to release an album the year after their "acclaimed" masterpiece, Dreaming Neon Black. Wow, I bet people were totally shocked when they were digging DNB and then to come out the next year is this album, Dead Heart in a Dead World.
The music style on this album compared to that of Dreaming Neon Black is dramatically different. One dramatically noticable change that one is to find if listening to Nevermore albums chronologically, is that from DNB to Dead Heart in a Dead World is that the album title is significantly longer...
Haha obviously that was just a joke, but seriously the main change that Nevermore made making this album is the guitar line-up. Gone are the two guitarists that flourished nevermore's sound throught out the years. Jeff Loomis managed to write for two guitars, because he knew in his mind that Nevermore is truly a twin-guitar band.
Another notice that is to be stated, is another major one. One, that probably could be noticed when the first flurry off riffing off of Narcosynthesis is that there is a deeper sound. A deeper sound that is very low and heavy. Yes, this is the turning point for Nevermore, because Jeff Loomis switched to using a monstrous black seven string guitar.
Seven string guitars for me personally made me think of Korn and their korny playing of their instruments. When I was researching this band through the taste of Iced Earth, I read reviews that had stated that Jeff Loomis is using a seven string guitar. Negative thoughts flushed in my mind. Until I gave the first track Narcosynthesis a couple of spins.
I'm going to admit that when I first heard something off this album, being my first Nevermore album as well, I did not like it too much. It almost gave me the impression like it was nu-metal. But I kept listening to it, and I realized- there isn't three guitar solos in a nu-metal song, PERIOD. So I was like, this is pretty good so I decided to listen to some more of this album.
Then another track that needs to be spotlighted, is Engines of Hate. I can safely say that this song is what got me to start liking Nevermore. I kept listening to it over and over. Something I don't usually do with music. Jeff Loomis unleashes, imho, the most sinister mixed-tapping solo that I have ever heard up until this day, no... not even Final Product of This Godless Endeavor. Okay, maybe I'm stretching it there, but that solo does not sound sinister like this one I'm talking about.
Ahh, there are many other things to relish in this albums glory. Bass players? Well, there are some pretty groovy basslines on this album, especially in the River Dragon has Come. That is another highlighted song on here. Especially how it's standard time, and then in the pre-chorus, the tempo and time changes to 12/8ths and the music makes me feel like I'm running away from the flood that the song talks about.
Lyrically this album speaks strong. From wrongfully incarcerated coke dealers, to being all alone and insignificant, and to killing kings for your own suffering. Yes, this album touches some dark and sinister subjects and the music perfectly reflects upon the subjectivity of the songs themselves.
Another highlight for this album is a remake of Simon and Garfunkel's 'Sound of Silence,' execpt instead of pacifying way the original is, Nevermore's version immediately stumbles into trepidation abashing any hopes of a clone-remake. It is very genius and unlike the original, but it isn't original though. The concept musically is original. How can you abstract one song to a polar difference and expect it to sound good, well I believe that these guys did it. It may not be your cup of tea and you may be in favor of the original, but I like them both...
Now the self-titled album closer starts with a arpeggiating bass riff played through what sounds like a cheap amplifier, until a while and then the brevity of Jeff Loomis's seven-string skills shines brightly. Also to be noted in this song, is Van Williams amazing drumming. His bass drum shuffle patterns are amazing and original to me at the time I first heard this. His drumming style period, not just this album, but all of them just mean with polyrhythms. Mike Portnoy couldn't shake a stick at this guy, but thats me personally- I'm not here to try to persuade your opinion, I'm here to give you a personal recollection of a stellar album that slept and gets overshadowed sometimes by it's predecessor.
Overall I'd give it a 4.9/5.0 because there is no such thing as a perfect album. I personally don't like "believe in nothing" too much and it makes the album lose -.1 off the perfect score.
Definitely a classic in my library for many years to come...
Nevermore was on this album
Warrel Dane - Vocals
Jim Sheppard - Bass
Jeff Loomis - Guitar(s)
Van Williams - Drums (beast!!)
