Nevermore - The Politics of Ecstacy

Continuing the progression made from Sanctuary to Nevermore, Politics is a stunning mix of the last two generations of metal. The whole album has a very mechanical feel, dominated by robotic double bass barrages which lie underneath some incredible axework. Loomis and O'Brien manage to let flow some really amazing leads. Almost inluenced by bands such as Helmet, the stop/start approach works well, only adding to the force contained within. Biggest change to my ears though is Dane's vocal delivery, which is heavily effected, and mixed much lower than on his previous work. Not a detriment, the mix actually allows everyone breathing room on this beast, forming a bombastic mass of molten power (whew!). AS with both the S/T and Sanctuary, the album starts of strong, but begins to meld together towards the end. First few tracks are killer though, and again, the lyrics (all penned by Dane) are all top-notch, adding a point in my book. A definite step forward, The Politics of Ecstasy is a crucial power metal album to have, hold and cherish.