Well, this seems to be the last Nevermore review to be done on Metalreviews until we are up to date with their discography. What can you say about this album? Well, for one, it is the heaviest album they have put out in my opinion, and also my 2nd favorite (Dreaming Neon Black would be my first). It has everything I could want out of a Nevermore album, and on top of that, it also has great production in my opinion as well. This is the album that got me into Nevermore, as a friend let me hear it in his car one day and when I heard the opening part of "42147" (my favorite Nevermore song), I was hooked.

As the name hints, this album does have some political themes involved. "The Seven Tounges of God" is first, and quite frankly, I have no idea what it is about, I just know it is pretty damn heavy and hard hitting. "The Sacrament" is next, which has a very prominent Overkill at the very beginning with the bass sound of Jim Sheppard. The next song is called "Next In Line", which has a very "death metally" beginning guitar part, which is funny because the other guitarist on this album besides Loomis, Pat O'Brien, later left Nevermore to join Cannibal Corpse (WHY OH WHY DID HE DO THAT?!). "Passenger" is next, which is the first "break" you get on the album, it isn't a ballad by any means, it is just really heavy and not too fast. "The Politics of Ecstasy" is next, and it is Warrell's lashing out at the current state of the government whenever he wrote it, 1995 I'm guessing, since the album came out in '96. "Lost" is the next song on the album, and it is one of those songs that Warrell writes that I just can't understand what it is all about. The next song is about the infamous Tiananmen Square incedent in 1989, "The Tiananmen Man". It is basically about a Chinese student who was tired of the Communist system in China, who decided to stand up for what he believe in by standing in front of an oncomming tank in the square. "Precognition" is next, and it is basically just a little break before the next song. It is all acoustic and really shows Loomis' and O'Brien's talents as guitarists. My favorite Nevermore song ever, "42147" is next, and it never fails to slay everytime I hear it. "The Learning" closes out the album, and is a great song to do it with. It allows Warrell to really show his talents as a melodic vocalist.

I am surprised that this one wasn't already reviewed here, as I consider it a classic of the American metal movement of the 90's. It really shows the extent of the techinal writing skills and the talent that these guys possess, that only have gotten better over the years. I would have to agree with some people that have said it, Jeff Loomis is one of the most underrated guitarists in metal. He definitly has the potential to stand on the pedistal with the big boys of metal, and hold his own. Hell, with that said, Nevermore is one of the most underrated bands in metal. They are all excellent musicians and songwriters, and they refuse to compromise for anyone.