| This Godless Endeavor | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | July 26, 2005 | |||
| Studio | Backstage Recording Studios, UK | |||
| Genre | Progressive metal, [1] Thrash metal [2] | |||
| Length | 57:18 | |||
| Label | Century Media | |||
| Producer | Andy Sneap | |||
| Nevermore chronology | ||||
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This Godless Endeavor is the sixth studio album by American heavy metal band Nevermore, released on July 26, 2005. The album was produced by Andy Sneap and is distributed by Century Media Records.
Guitarist Jeff Loomis revealed in an interview that This Godless Endeavor is not a concept album but a "topic-to-topic" album, with all the songs addressing "real-life issues" that can "allegorically refer to the loss of identity, the system that we live in, the meaning of life, the denouncement of God as a solution to all the problems caused by the conflicts initiated by various religions in different parts of the world. It's basically about human beings."
Notably, the track "A Future Uncertain" has very similar lyrics and a main riff to the track "World Unborn" from their 1992 demos.
In the middle of the song "Sentient 6," there is a message played backwards that states, "I am the bringer of the end, fear me, I am the beast that is technology." "Sentient 6" refers to a robot or android programmed to annihilate humankind but ultimately envies humanity for their possession of emotion and a soul. The content is paradoxical and written from the perspective of the machine. The song also picks up lyrically where "The Learning" left off in The Politics of Ecstasy. Additionally, it appears to have many parallels with the story of V'ger from Star Trek: The Motion Picture .
The music video for "Born" premiered on the January 27, 2006 edition of Headbangers Ball . It was shot by acclaimed director Derek Dale, resulting in what the band considers "a thought-provoking conceptual piece." [3]
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [4] |
| PopMatters |   [5] |
| Anti Music | [6] |
| Chronicles of Chaos | [7] |
| Metal Eater | [8] |
| Rock Hard | [9] |
| Sea of Tranquility |  [10] |
| Maelstrom | [11] |
| Metal Crypt | [12] |
| Metal Storm | [2] |
This Godless Endeavor ranked at number 2 in Unrestrained! magazine's top 20 albums of 2005. [13] It was also ranked #88 on the October 2006 issue of Guitar World magazine's list of the greatest 100 guitar albums of all time. [14]
AllMusic's Eduardo Rivadavia praised "the soaring vocals of Warrel Dane and lead guitar heroics of Jeff Loomis" as "twin beacons shining out from the band's gloriously metallic bulk." He declared, "Don't forget the near-nine-minute title track, which culminates in what must surely stand as one of Nevermore's most consistent LPs in suitably epic fashion. Indeed, American-bred heavy metal doesn't get any better than this."
The album's review in PopMatters noted the complex influences, highlighting "traces of '80s progressive metal greats such as Queensrÿche, Savatage, and Fates Warning," as well as "monstrous doses of European elements, such as blazingly fast tempos, tautly performed arrangements, and unrelenting blastbeats." In one of PopMatters' only complaints, the song "Bittersweet Feast" was considered "one track too many on an otherwise extraordinary album." Overall, within Nevermore's catalog, This Godless Endeavor was touted as "yet another chapter in what has become one of the more impressive album streaks in recent metal history."
The German Rock Hard voted it "Album of the Month" and called it "the best and most intense metal album of the decade." [15] The album was later ranked number 256 in their book The 500 Greatest Rock & Metal Albums of All Time.
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Born" | Jeff Loomis, Warrel Dane | 5:05 |
| 2. | "Final Product" | Loomis, Dane | 4:21 |
| 3. | "My Acid Words" | Loomis, Dane | 5:41 |
| 4. | "Bittersweet Feast" | Steve Smyth, Dane | 5:01 |
| 5. | "Sentient 6" | Loomis, Dane | 6:58 |
| 6. | "Medicated Nation" | Jim Sheppard, Dane, Loomis | 4:01 |
| 7. | "The Holocaust of Thought" (Instrumental) | Sheppard | 1:27 |
| 8. | "Sell My Heart for Stones" | Smyth, Dane | 5:18 |
| 9. | "The Psalm of Lydia" | Loomis, Dane | 4:16 |
| 10. | "A Future Uncertain" | Smyth, Dane | 6:07 |
| 11. | "This Godless Endeavor" | Loomis, Dane | 8:55 |
In the Marvel comic Runaways , the character Chase Stein mentions the track "The Psalm of Lydia" to a co-worker as a flirt while at his job at a radio station.[ citation needed ]
Nevermore:
Guest musicians:
Production:
| Chart (2005) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Dutch Albums Chart [16] | 73 |
| French Albums Chart [17] | 134 |
| German Albums Chart [18] | 26 |
| Swiss Albums Chart [19] | 63 |
| US Independent Albums [20] | 23 |
| US Top Heatseekers [20] | 11 |
Sanctuary is an American heavy metal band, formed in 1985 in Seattle, Washington. They were broken up from 1992 to 2010. The band consists of Lenny Rutledge (guitar), Joseph Michael (vocals), George Hernandez (bass), and Dave Budbill (drums). The lead vocalist position was held by Warrel Dane until his death in 2017. They have released four studio albums and one live EP.
The End of Heartache is the third studio album by American metalcore band Killswitch Engage. It was released on May 11, 2004, through Roadrunner Records. It is the first album to feature lead vocalist Howard Jones and drummer Justin Foley. It received positive acclaim from critics.
Warrel Dane was an American musician and the lead singer for the heavy metal bands Sanctuary and Nevermore. He was a natural baritone; though he was initially known for his high-pitched vocals with Serpent's Knight and on the first two Sanctuary albums. Later in his career, Dane became more recognized for his distinctively deep, dramatic voice.
Enemies of Reality is the fifth studio album by American heavy metal band Nevermore, released in 2003 by Century Media. Due to the mixed reception of the album's production by Kelly Gray, it was remixed and remastered by Andy Sneap in 2005.
Dead Heart in a Dead World is the fourth studio album by American heavy metal band Nevermore, released in October 2000. In a style comparable to a darker, heavier Queensrÿche, its songs range topics such as criticism of drug possession penalties to rejection of religion. The album also features a cover of Simon & Garfunkel's hit, "The Sound of Silence". It is also notable for being Nevermore's first record utilizing seven-string guitars.
Jeff Loomis is an American musician, best known for his role as lead guitarist in the progressive metal band Nevermore during its existence from 1991 to 2011, as well as brief tenures in its precursor, Sanctuary. In 2014, he joined Swedish melodic death metal band Arch Enemy, and in 2021 he joined Graham Bonnet's Alcatrazz as well. He left Arch Enemy in 2023. As a solo artist he has released two albums and one EP.
Steve Smyth is an American musician who is currently the guitarist for metal band One Machine. He has previously played guitar with many metal bands including Vicious Rumors, Testament, Nevermore and Forbidden.
Van Williams is an American musician, best known as the former drummer of heavy metal band Nevermore. He hails from New York where he began his music career in various bands, later relocating to Seattle, Washington in 1993. After auditioning for Nevermore they were soon signed onto Century Media Records. He used to play drums for Ashes of Ares and Armageddon, and as of 2024, he currently drums for Ghost Ship Octavius, musical project Pure Sweet Hell, and Alcatrazz.
Dreaming Neon Black is the third studio album released by American heavy metal band Nevermore, and was released through Century Media in 1999. Unlike its predecessor, The Politics of Ecstasy, Dreaming Neon Black contains many slower, emotional songs.
The Politics of Ecstasy is the second full-length studio album by American heavy metal band Nevermore, released in 1996. 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.
In Memory is an EP by American heavy metal band Nevermore. It was recorded in April and May 1996 and released on July 23, 1996. It features a Bauhaus medley. It was re-issued in 2006 with 5 bonus tracks, which are all demos of songs from the next full-length album, The Politics of Ecstasy.
Nevermore is the debut studio album by American heavy metal band Nevermore, released on February 14, 1995, by Century Media Records. It was singer Warrel Dane and bassist Jim Sheppard's first release after disbanding their previous band, Sanctuary, in 1992. Having recruited drummer Van Williams and former Sanctuary touring guitarist Jeff Loomis, they formed the band Nevermore and began anew.
James Patrick Sheppard is an American musician. He was the bassist and founding member of the progressive metal band, Nevermore, and its predecessor, Sanctuary. He and singer Warrel Dane are certified chefs, and formerly owned an Italian restaurant in Seattle. In 2020 James married Brazilian Priscila Sheppard.
Praises to the War Machine is the debut solo release/album by heavy metal vocalist Warrel Dane from Nevermore, released on April 25, 2008. The album was produced by Peter Wichers, who was tapped by Dane to work on the album while Wichers was still a member of Soilwork. After leaving that band in 2007, Wichers co-wrote the album with Dane and played on eight of its tracks. Soilwork drummer Dirk Verbeuren and former Himsa guitarist Matt Wicklund also played on the album. Nevermore guitarist Jeff Loomis and James Murphy make guest appearances. Chris Broderick was supposed to contribute a solo to the track "Obey" but was unable to, due to other obligations. Praises to the War Machine includes two cover songs, The Sisters of Mercy's "Lucretia My Reflection" and "Patterns" by Paul Simon. Dane had previously covered a Simon song on Nevermore's album Dead Heart in a Dead World.
Zero Order Phase is the debut solo album by former Nevermore guitarist Jeff Loomis. It was released on September 30, 2008 through Century Media Records. The album was produced by Neil Kernon and features guest appearances by guitarists Ron Jarzombek, Pat O'Brien, and the jazz bassist Michael Manring. An instrumental album, Zero Order Phase was recorded in March 2008 at Robert Lang Studios in Seattle, Washington. In addition to Loomis on guitar, keyboards and bass, the album features ex-Nevermore member Mark Arrington on drums.
The Year of the Voyager is a double DVD/CD by American heavy metal band Nevermore. It was released in Europe on October 20, 2008, and in North America on November 25, 2008, via Century Media. The set covers the This Godless Endeavor touring cycle, starting with live footage from the U.S. Gigantour 2005, the Metal Mania festival 2006 in Poland, the Wacken Open Air festival in 2006 in Germany and the main DVD show recorded at the Zeche in Bochum, Germany. Bonus material includes two songs from Century Media USA 10th Anniversary Party 2001, all promo videos and an interview with singer Warrel Dane which was recorded at the Roax Film Studios in Berlin in the spring of 2008.
The Obsidian Conspiracy is the seventh and final studio album by American heavy metal band Nevermore. It was released on June 8, 2010, in North America by Century Media and at the end of May in Europe. The band's previous album, This Godless Endeavor, was released in 2005, making the five-year gap the longest between two consecutive Nevermore albums.
Manifesto of Nevermore is a greatest hits compilation by American heavy metal band Nevermore. It contains tracks from the first six Nevermore albums as well as their In Memory EP in reverse chronological order except one song taken from their double DVD/CD live album The Year of the Voyager released in 2008 as the last track on the compilation. It was released in Europe and the UK on March 2, 2009.
Nevermore was an American heavy metal band from Seattle, Washington, formed in 1991. The band has been inactive since 2011 due to personal issues among the members. Vocalist Warrel Dane died in December 2017, ending hopes for a reunion.
The Year the Sun Died is the third studio album by American heavy metal band Sanctuary, released on October 6, 2014, in Europe, and eight days later in North America. It is Sanctuary's first studio album in 24 years, since 1990's Into the Mirror Black, and their only release with former Forced Entry guitarist Brad Hull, making it the band's first studio album without guitarist Sean Blosl, as well as their final release with bassist Jim Sheppard. The Year the Sun Died is also the first Sanctuary album released on Century Media Records, making it their first album not to be released on Epic Records, and the final one with original material to feature vocalist Warrel Dane before his death in December 2017.
