The fourth in a list of solid releases from
Nevermore,
Dead Heart in a Dead World is possibly the group's most accomplished recording. For the first time,
Jeff Loomis handles all the guitar duties himself, giving the disc a musical continuity that was sometimes lacking on prior efforts.
Nevermore co-founder
Warrel Dane (vocals), Jim Sheppard (bass), and Van Williams (drums) join
Loomis on this 2000 Century Media offering. All four members demonstrate great command of their instruments, but
Loomis' guitar playing stands out. Bold and inventive, the combination of nu-metal and '80s golden-era metal riffing propels
Dead Heart in a Dead World and
Nevermore ahead of the American indie metal pack. "The River Dragon Has Come" and "We Disintegrate" are just two superior examples of
Loomis' dissonant, detuned grooves.
Dane's moaning almost sinks mellower numbers like "Insignificant" and the title track, but
Loomis provides the buoyancy these otherwise dull songs need to become listenable -- in fact, they're almost interesting. The members of
Nevermore were always ready to challenge themselves, and
Dead Heart in a Dead World confirms the wisdom of that ethic through the realization of the band's massive potential. ~ Vincent Jeffries