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In an interview with Brazil’s Headbangers News<\/a>, guitarist Jeff Loomis<\/b> spoke about the new lineup of NEVERMORE<\/b>, which made its live debut on April 1 at IF Performance Hall Be\u015fikta\u015f in Istanbul, Turkey. Joining Loomis<\/b> and drummer Van Williams<\/b> in NEVERMORE<\/b>‘s current incarnation are the band’s latest additions, Jack Cattoi<\/b> on guitar, Semir \u00d6zerkan<\/b> on bass, and new vocalist Berzan \u00d6nen<\/b>.<\/p>\n Regarding how the new NEVERMORE<\/b> lineup came together, Jeff<\/b> said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET<\/b>): \u200a”It definitely took \u2014 it took some doing. It took a while to get everything finetuned to the way we liked it, to make sure that it was even going to be possible. And that happened with finding the right people to complete the job. And we had to audition quite a few people to make sure that we found the right people that could actually do it. So, we’re very, very fortunate that we have Mr. Berzan \u00d6nen<\/b> on vocals, Mr. Semir \u00d6zerkan<\/b> on bass, and Mr. Jack Cattoi<\/b> on guitar. So these are the three new members. And, of course, it’s still me and Van<\/b> \u2014 me on guitar and Van<\/b> on drums. And, yes, we just had our first show just a few days ago in Istanbul. And it went really, really well. The crowd was phenomenal. They sang along to all the songs and really just made us feel welcome. And now we’re coming down to South America to do some more shows. So we’re really, really excited.”<\/p>\n Addressing the fact that NEVERMORE<\/b>‘s current lineup doesn’t include singer Warrel Dane<\/b>, who died in 2017, Jeff<\/b> said: “The initial talks, back when Van<\/b> and I first started talking about [putting NEVERMORE<\/b> back together], was, can it be done? And I think so. If you can find the right people that can perform the songs in the correct way, it can<\/i> be done. We weren’t looking for a Warrel Dane<\/b> clone either. We were looking for somebody that could still sing the songs, but also had his own personal style. So that’s what we were looking for from the very beginning, and that’s what I believe we found. And we’re very happy.”<\/p>\n Asked how the involvement of three new musicians will affect NEVERMORE<\/b>‘s overall sound going forward, Loomis<\/b> said: “The core of the NEVERMORE<\/b> sound is not ever really going to go away. And I think that the core, you could say that that would be me and Van<\/b>, where we’re writing in the style of NEVERMORE<\/b> and it’s still holding its own weight there. But I think when it comes down to longevity in bands, you’ll always notice that everybody contributes. Like a band like RUSH<\/b>, for instance \u2014 everybody’s contributing something in that band. And we don’t wanna have NEVERMORE<\/b> just be the Van<\/b>-and-Jeff<\/b> show. We wanna have the other guys contribute as well. We wanna have Berzan<\/b> contribute lyrics. We want him to contribute lyric melodies. We want Jack<\/b> and Semir<\/b> to contribute riffs. So, will that change the core sound of NEVERMORE<\/b>? I don’t really think so. I think it’s just gonna add to the dynamic and make it cooler, ’cause there’s gonna be other little elements of cool musical passages that are gonna be available now to use. And I think it’s just gonna be that much more interesting for the listener. It’ll still have the same core elements as it did back in the day, but it’ll be new and interesting with a new vibe, so to speak. And that’s kind of what we’re looking for for the new NEVERMORE<\/b>.”<\/p>\n Loomis<\/b> also talked about the possibility of fans hearing some new NEVERMORE<\/b> material in the not-too-distant future, after it was recently announced that the band has signed a deal with Reigning Phoenix Music<\/b>. He said: “Now we’re just focusing on new music. So, we’re gonna spend much of May and June and July putting the new record together. And we’re hoping by the first quarter of ’27 we’ll have new music done and ready for people to hear, if not just a new single, at least. So that’s what we’re working on right now.”<\/p>\n Forged in the aftermath of SANCTUARY<\/b>, NEVERMORE<\/b> carved out a sound defined by precision musicianship, fearless songwriting, and emotional intensity. From their self-titled debut in 1995 through landmark releases such as “Dead Heart In A Dead World”<\/b> and “This Godless Endeavor”<\/b>, NEVERMORE<\/b> built a global following and a reputation as one of modern metal’s most distinctive voices.<\/p>\n Following the band’s disbandment, Jeff<\/b> released the acclaimed solo albums “Zero Order Phase”<\/b> and “Plains Of Oblivion”<\/b>, co-founded CONQUERING DYSTOPIA<\/b> and spent nearly a decade as a member of ARCH ENEMY<\/b>, contributing to releases, including “Will To Power”<\/b> and “Deceivers”<\/b>. Van<\/b> remained active through projects such as ASHES OF ARES<\/b> and GHOST SHIP OCTAVIUS<\/b>. Dane<\/b> continued creating until his passing in 2017, leaving behind a body of work that continues to inspire musicians and fans worldwide.<\/p>\n Dane<\/b> died in in December 2017 in S\u00e3o Paulo, Brazil while recording his posthumously released solo studio album, “Shadow Work”<\/b>. The musician reportedly had a heart attack during the night and could not be revived.<\/p>\n According to guitarist Johnny Moraes<\/b>, who played in Warrel<\/b>‘s solo band, Dane<\/b> had a history of addiction and other health issues. “His health was already very weak because of his diabetes and his problems with alcoholism,” he said.<\/p>\n The instrumental parts for Dane<\/b>‘s follow-up to 2008’s “Praises To The War Machine”<\/b> solo album were almost completed and he had begun laying down his vocals shortly before his death.<\/p>\n Photo credit: Ola Englund<\/b><\/p>\n https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=videoseries<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n