Artist: Nevermore
Label: Century Media
Release Date: 10/17/00
Average Rating: 5
Go to Judgment Committee Reviews of this Album
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Title: Dead Heart in a Dead World Artist: Nevermore Label: Century Media Release Date: 10/17/00 |
There are currently 5 Reader Reviews of this album.
Average Rating: 5 Go to Judgment Committee Reviews of this Album |
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Submitted by Steve (11/9/02):
One of THE best metal albums of all-time! Certainly one of my top ten all-time faves, at least!This album makes fake metal bands like Cocksmack and Shitknot look like poster boys for birth control.
Submitted by Ryan (11/8/01):
This album actually surprised me. I thought this would be dogshit compared to 1999's masterpiece Dreaming Neon Black. This is by far the best album I bought all year. Still though, Dreaming Neon Black will always be my favorite. What I love most about this album is the guitar work. I know you're probably thinking, "What about Warrel"? Well, in my eyes, Warrel is an outstanding vocalist who can only be thought of as not being all that great anymore due to the amazing-as-hell voice he had in Sanctuary that he no longer uses. Don't get me wrong though, Warrel to me sounds just as good as he ever has. He even tries to inject old Sanctuary shit into his present music. My favorite song on the album would have to be "The River Dragon Has Come." The guitar work is brilliant all throughout this track. Actually, I like every song, just "River Dragon" is the standout one. "The Heart Collecter" would have to be my second favorite for many reasons (which I won't get into). To sum it all up, If you don't have this album, you are missing out on a truly great experience.
Submitted by Micc (6/6/01):
This record has it all: dark, heavy, melodic and intense. This band's previous releases have been great but nothing close to this! DHIADW is musically genius, songs like "We Disintegrate" and "Engines of Hate" are such masterpieces, and once again Warrel's lyrics keep the high standard! Don't hesitate-- buy this record at once!!!
Submitted by Ian Yæger (Set Abominae)(11/20/00):
Overall: 10/10
Lyrics: 10/10
Production: 10/10
Songs: 10/10
Musicianship: 10/10
Vocals [Singer]: 10/10
Originality: 10/10
Style: Melodic Power / Speed Metal
Bottom Line: A Nevermore masterpieceTrack Listings
1. "Narcosynthesis" = 10/10
2. "We Disintegrate" = 10/10
3. "Inside Four Walls" = 10/10
4. "Evolution 169" = 10/10
5. "The River Dragon Has Come" = 10/10
6. "The Heart Collector" = 10/10
7. "Engines Of Hate" = 10/10
8. "The Sound Of Silence" = 10/10
9. "Insignificant" = 10/10
10. "Believe In Nothing" = 10/10
11. "Dead Heart In A Dead World" = 10/10Standout Tracks: All songs
My thoughts on it: Nevermore blew me away with Dead Heart in A Dead World more than they did with Dreaming Neon Black. Dead Heart in a Dead World states, in eloquent fashion, Nevermore's claim to the title of "Best Band on the Planet" and they are up there with Demons & Wizards (Iced Earth/Blind Guardian side-band), King Diamond, Halford, and any other Metal bands that brought out a cd in 2000. DHiaDW, more less, picks up where Dreaming left off; sonic aggression, built on complex song structures, intelligent lyrics, and top-notch musicianship. The CD starts out, guns blazing, with "Narcosynthesis," "We Disintegrate," and the politically charged "Inside Four Walls." It slows down a bit, for the grinding "Evolution 169," and then is off to the races again with "The River Dragon has Come." The CD slows down, once again, for "The Heart Collector" (I love the ballad). This track, as well as "Insignificant," and "Believe in Nothing," showcase the band's more commercial tendencies. And while these are well written songs, the CD is rounded off quite nicely by the powerful "Engines of Hate," Nevermore's eerie rendition of the Simon & Garfunkel classic, "Sound of Silence" (wished it was Doom Metal sound like they did with their song "Evolution 169"). The Title Track is the most awesome sounding Nevermore song I ever heard.
Submitted by Dave R (10/15/00):
The newest release from Nevermore finds them a four piece for the first time since their self-titled debut in 1995. Guitarist from Dreaming Neon Black, Tim Calvert left the band for personal reasons before the recording of this album. Perhaps in lieu of a new guitar player, Jeff Loomis has moved to a seven-string guitar. I hear they have a second guitar player for live concerts, but no word on a permanent replacement yet.I would like to preface this review by stating that Nevermore is my favorite band, but I think that just sets my expectations higher, although I could just be biased. PS: If the song lengths are wrong, I apologize, but I did not get a final copy of the CD to review, & am basing it on MP3 files.
{All songs written by Jeff Loomis & Warrel Dane, except, “The Sound Of Silence”, written by Paul Simon & Art Garfunkel.}
“Time, the healer, the great concealer. Please salvage my soul.”
“Narcosynthesis” (5:31)
The first track on the newest offering from Nevermore, “Narcosynthesis” opens the album off with a thrashy, stutter-step riff, which starts & stops in a rhythmic pounding that will get your head moving in a hurry. The verses are built over this riff, & towards the bridge, & chorus, they slow things down, but get no less heavy. A great way to start off a record.“Are we ever free, or slaves to technology?”
“We Disintegrate” (5:09)
Track two finds Nevermore going back to its thrash roots, with a vocal performance that reminds me of Warrel’s singing in his old band Sanctuary. He doesn’t use the falsetto for the entire song, but only in certain places, & if you’re not looking for it, you may miss it. It flows seamlessly within the song, & never seems like they’re forcing it. Even the solos have a similar tone to the first Sanctuary release, Refuge Denied. In no way, a retro song, it takes elements from all of Nevermore’s past, & blends them into a sonic masterpiece that ends with an “epic” sounding outro that brings to mind an ancient Gypsy Caravan.“Inside four walls, my friend, they took away your freedom, and the pigs still preach their lies.”
“Inside Four Walls” (4:39)
A song about a man thrown in prison for a drug offence who sees murderers, rapists, & child molesters set free long before he is set to be released. A condemnation of our current judicial system & its “mandatory minimum” drug sentences. A very angry & aggressive, yet melancholy song, that would have fit in very well on the album The Politics Of Ecstasy.“And one by one we crawl, and two by two, into the mouth of madness, we seek the perfect view.”
“Evolution 169” (5:49)
Musically very similar to the slower songs on Dreaming Neon Black, “Evolution 169” has an almost “Doom Metal” feel to it, but I’m sure fans of that genre would disagree.“Today, the warning came in the flood. Architects & fools never cared for poor mans’ blood.”
“The River Dragon Has Come” (5:07)
Based on the book of the same name by Chinese dissident Dai Quing, “The River Dragon...” is about the Three Gorges Dam project in Mainland China. The Chinese government is building a mega dam on the Yangtze River that will create a giant lake in the Three Gorges area. This lake will displace millions of Chinese, & destroy countless ancient archaeological sites. It is a hot topic in Communist China, & Dai Quing spent 5 months in solitary confinement for her previous book, Yangtze! Yangtze! This is probably my favorite song on this CD, & features some really cool guitar work throughout.“'Nevermore to feel the pain.' The Heart Collector sang, and I won’t be feeling [hollow] for so long.”
“The Heart Collector” (5:58)
A ballad in the truest Thrash/Speed Metal tradition, this song is filled with acoustic passages, & heavy thrashing, not to mention Nevermore’s trademark sound.“Will you watch the Hate Machine spit evil, or will you walk away, and plead apathy again?”
“Engines Of Hate” (4:44)[/b]
Ahhhhhhhh, THRASH!!!! Nevermore Thrash. Angry, mean, aggressive, ‘nuff said.“The words of the prophets were written on the subway walls, & tenement halls.”
“Sound Of Silence” (5:14)
“In like a lamb, out like a lion.” This song starts slow, & ends being possibly the fastest song Nevermore has ever recorded, even incorporating blast-beats into their already eclectic sound. I’m sure Simon & Garfunkel would be proud! [sarcasm mode off] I, for one, hear nothing but the lyrics left from the original. What a Metal cover of an old folk tune should sound like.“The color of sundown, of crimson sky, the beauty that breaks down, and gives the day unto the night.”
“Insignificant” (4:59)
A very moody, dark & introspective song, “Insignificant” takes you on a journey inside a man’s own mind, to realize he means nothing. “...just a speck in the spectrum, insignificant am I.” Conveying hopelessness & sorrow to the listener, this song will be a favorite of many, I’m sure.“Nothing is sacred, when no one is saved, nothing’s forever, so count your days.”
“Believe In Nothing” (4:23)
Being the closest thing Nevermore has recorded to being commercially viable, I hope they release this as a single, & shoot a video for it. The masses might open their eyes for once & see that there is more to music than the mindless drivel MTV & the media have shoved down their throats. Maybe I’m just a hopeless idealist, but that’s me, the eternal optimist. Don’t get me wrong; this is NOT a boring “mainstream” song. It is still Nevermore, & they have not compromised one thing in their sound.“To see the emptiness as we decay, I see the world is dead, I am betrayed.”
“Dead Heart In A Dead World” (5:09)
Opening with a bass riff reminiscent of “Coma” by Overkill, or “Defender” by Manowar, the title track is a lovely little slab o’ Metal! The lyrics, “Burn your Gods, & kill the King...” sums up the mood of this song quite well. A great way to close off the album, & leave the listener wanting more!OVERALL
A great album, buy it now!!! 11/10, 10 stars out of 5, etc... Some may find this record too slow, but all I ask is that you listen to “Sound Of Silence”, or “Engines Of Hate”, & call them “slow”!!!
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