NEVERMORE is officially back, well, kind of.
Founding guitarist Jeff Loomis and drummer Van Williams have confirmed the iconic prog-thrash outfit will return in 2025 with a new lineup. Though it goes without saying, the lineup is still being kept firmly under wraps.
In a new post, Loomis said the group had wrapped a lengthy audition process and locked in a full lineup. “We’ve assembled a lineup that honours our legacy while forging a new path forward,” he wrote. “There’s a lot coming your way soon.”
It’s the first solid movement from the band since Warrel Dane’s death in 2017. And while a revival seemed unlikely for years, Loomis recently confirmed to Metal Magnitude that leaving Arch Enemy was partly to focus on resurrecting NEVERMORE.
“I wanted to be behind the driver’s wheel of my own music again,” he said. “We’re gonna revamp the band, and it’s gonna be bigger and better than it ever was.”
While a front-person and bassist still haven’t been named yet, Loomis seems confident they’ve found the right fit.
Still, not everyone’s stoked. Original bassist Jim Sheppard, who co-founded NEVERMORE with Dane in 1991, did not mince his words in an earlier statement made. He called the reunion “completely disrespectful” and criticised the lack of communication. He later softened his tone, saying: “I’m disappointed no one reached out to me concerning the name NEVERMORE, a name that means blood, sweat, and tears. With that said, I wish them the best.”
So far, Loomis and Williams haven’t addressed Sheppard’s comments directly, but they’ve made it clear this isn’t just a nostalgia trip. If anything, it sounds like they’re aiming to write a new chapter. Only this one will have sharper edges and something to prove.
All signs point to more news soon. Whether longtime fans accept this version of NEVERMORE or not, one thing’s certain: Loomis isn’t looking back.
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