With their stunning new album "The Obsidian Conspiracy" hot off the press Seattle Thrashers Metalchaos spoke to Jeff Loomis to gain some insight into the world of NEVERMORE!!! 

It's a much different CD for us this time around. The songs are shorter and the choruses come in much faster. We could have done a Godless part 2 CD, but we wanted to take a newer approach and see if we could do something else. It still has all the elements of a Nevermore CD as far as the aggressiveness, so fans will still understand it.

We spent a lot more time with our producer Peter Wichers on the arrangements of the songs. I would bring in a demo of an 8 minute tune and we would chop it down to 3 or 4 minutes. I also spent much more time on the solos.....the solos tell more of a story and fit the songs much better rather than just playing at a million miles an hour like i usually do.

I usually just write all the songs in my studio at home and come up with a general arrangement. I put drums and bass on it to make it sound close to the way I like. I'll than just send an mp3 of the song to Warrel so he can start writing vocal melodies and lyrics to it. We then take it ti rehearsal as a whole band and hash out all the little details.

Lyrically where are the influences drawn from and do you feel this is a cathartic experience being able to express yourself through song?

I never really have a pre conceived idea of where the songs will go. I just write from my heart and soul and the music seems to just flow after a while. Lyrically? Warrel would have to answer this question!!! And I'm not him.

The album was produced by Soilwork guitarist Peter Wichers, how did you guys decide Peter was the man for the job? What did he bring to the process?

Warrel had a good working relationship with him when he did his solo CD and he thought he might be a great choice for the new Nevermore CD. We had a great time with Peter. He is very patient and had many killer ideas in the studio that would not have happened without him. He helped us greatly with many of the arrangements of the tunes.

Andy Sneap again had a hand in the mixing of the record for you guys, what is it about Andy that makes his talents so desired?

Andy is kind of like the 6th Nevermore member! He knows how to get the sounds we want as a band and the separation as well. He is just so talented at his craft.....we would not have it any other way. He is the man!

You guys also recorded 2 cover versions which will be included within the limited edition of the album, "The Crystal Ship" by The Doors and "Temptation" by The Tea Party. How did you come to select these 2 songs and how difficult is it to put the Nevermore stamp onto someone else's music?

It wasn't difficult to choose the tunes. Warrel and I have been a fan of these two bands for years. It WAS difficult to put our own stamp on it to make it sound interesting. I love the way that the Tea Party uses exotic sounding middle eastern scales in there music. So it was fun for me as a guitarist to mess around with that kind of stuff in the studio.

The box-set will also include guitar-less and guitar-only versions of "Your Poison Throne" and "The Obsidian Conspiracy", accompanied by play-along videos with guitar-playing instructions from your good self, and guitar tabs for both songs. How did this idea come about?

It was an idea from CM. I think that since I have been doing guitar clinics everything has kind of exploded with the whole guitar thing and Nevermore. They thought it would be a good idea to add something like that on the deluxe version. I also have a new guitar DVD coming out from Rock House that explains my playing in greater detail.

"The Obsidian Conspiracy" is your seventh release and your seventh release via Century Media Records. There must be a special relationship between you and the record label to have such a long-standing relationship. What makes these guys the right label for you?

Because they give us our freedom when it comes to our songwriting. They trust us to come up with good tunes and i think that trust is what has kept us together for so long. The staff at CM is also really great! Both the L.A office and in Germany!

The album art work again comes from the hands of Travis Smith, how did the concept come about, and how much input to the final look did the band have?

The band has a number of European off shows planned across the Spring and Summer, any shows you're particularly looking forward to?

What are your thoughts on touring? A real pleasure or a necessary evil? How do you go about keeping yourself focused during the downtime you guys have?

It can be difficult. You start to miss home and your family....you're in some place you have never been before on the other side of the world....it's weird. I read a lot and spend time with my instrument. I like to venture out and find new foods to eat as well. I find that if you can get out and see a new part of the world, it can be a really awesome thing. A necessary evil? Yes sometimes....a real pleasure? Most of the time yes.

Given the bands longevity and relatively stable core line-up over this time, what makes for a creative and solid working relationship in your opinion?

Being in a band is like being in a marriage. You have your ups and downs all the time....you just have to learn to have respect for one another. I think that's why we ended up taking a break in 2007 after the Godless tour. Things started to get kind of ugly in all directions of the band. It was either take a break or break up......we choose wisely!

Do you feel your musical influences have changed over the years, what's in you CD player these days?

They are constantly changing! I still listen to metal of course, but I listen to Jazz and Classical too. At the moment I'm listening to the new Alice in Chains and the new Slash CD.