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intothewellsabyss
Nov 5, 20223 min read

Nevermore - The Politics of Ecstasy (1996)

FROM THE CRYPTS - CELEBRATING PAST ALBUM RELEASES in the HISTORY of HARD ROCK & HEAVY METAL…


This masterpiece is celebrating the 26th anniversary of its release today! What are your favorite tracks and how did you feel about the album in general?



On November 5, 1996 Nevermore released their second full-length studio album The Politics of Ecstasy via Century Media Records.


The album is named after Timothy Leary's book of the same name. The first chapter of the book is titled The Seven Tongues of God, which is the title of the first song on the album. There is a spoken word sample in the track Next in Line from the Adrian Lyne movie Jacob's Ladder.


Background:

Second guitarist Pat O'Brien joined the band prior to the release of the EP In Memory and also took part in the recording of The Politics of Ecstasy, both from 1996. O'Brien left Nevermore to play in Cannibal Corpse and Curran Murphy from Shatter Messiah was enlisted as a touring guitarist for the band until Tim Calvert (who played for the band Forbidden) was able to join the band.


Their second full-length Nevermore album would take the band from the underground and plant them firmly, standing tall with the upper echelon of Metal juggernauts of the day. Yet the music industry of 1996 was still quite chaotic, with attention still being paid to the Grunge movement, and groups like Marilyn Manson and Metallica having a firm grip on the hearts of the music buying masses. Metallica would release Load that same year, ultimately keeping groups like Nevermore from reaching more people due to all of the media attention afforded them. The Politics of Ecstasy is chocked full of intellectual content as well as armed with a razor sharp tongue and a plethora of political commentary on tracks like Seven Tongues Of God and Tiananmen Man. Songs such as Next In Line and The Sacrament are still as fresh today as when they were first released! Let’s not forget about the song Passenger, a moody number which spins a tale of regret and woe that I believe many of us can relate with.


The Politics of Ecstasy is an excellent album, and when you really listen to the words, it makes one think about the world around you. The remastered edition includes one bonus track, a cover of Judas Priest's Love Bites that was originally released on the Century Media compilation Tribute to Judas Priest: Legends Of Metal. As with any cover Nevermore have done, they truly made this classic Priest track their own. There is also a video of the Next In Line so this comes off as a must have for the Metal library even if you are someone new to this bands sound.



Critical Reception:

In a review for AllMusic, Steve Huey stated;

“Nevermore's The Politics of Ecstasy is a solid Power Metal album, with touches of Speed, Thrash, and Progressive Metal mixed in. The band demonstrates both its political consciousness and stellar musicianship throughout.”

Personal Note:

I saw Nevermore live while they were touring with Flotsam and Jetsam in support of The Politics of Ecstasy. I met Jim Sheppard before the show and later met Warrel and Van before the show. Sheppard was more awestruck than I think I was, over the fact that I knew who he was. The whole band (Nevermore) hung out after their set and I got autographs from everyone, including Tim Calvert. Warrel and Van were both, humorous and humble. - E.N. Wells


NEVERMORE Setlist:

The Seven Tongues of God

This Sacrament

Next in Line

Silent Hedges / Double Dare

Optimist or Pessimist

Sanctuary

The Learning

The Tiananmen Man


NEVERMORE Lineup:

Warrel Dane (03/07/1961 - 12/13/2017) - Vocals

Jeff Loomis - Guitar

Tim Calvert (11/07/1965 - 04/30/2018) - Guitar

James Sheppard - Bass

Van Williams - Drums



Note: The reviews shared here are for historical reference. The views and opinions expressed within are not always supported (in full or in part) by Into the Wells. — E.N. Wells



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