"Enemies of Reality" the remix

[General Zod]

As the official Nevermore fanboy of Royal Carnage, I felt compelled to start a thread on this.

When "Enemies of Reality" was released, I thought that it was a decent enough album, but that the production was shit. I chalked up the inferior songwriting to all the wierdness of their ongoing negotiations with Century Media. So, while I was curious to hear what Andy Sneap would do with the mix, I thought it would only make average songs more listenable. However, I totally misjudged this release.

Having finally got my hands on the actual remixed CD this weekend, I popped it into my player and haven't taken it out since. The additional clarity in Warrell's voice, Jeff's guitar and Van's drumming really gives these songs new life. I find myself humming these songs when I'm not listening to the CD itself. While this music represents a departure in style from the previous release (as do all Nevermore releases), I'm really digging it. The songs on "Enemies" represent some of the most crushing material Nevermore has ever composed.

I can fully appreciate someone not wanting to buy the same CD twice. If you're a fan of the band, you should definitely give this new version a chance. If you're among those to whom Nevermore hasn't appealed to, give this CD a listen if you have a chance. There's some really phenomenal, powerful music here.

Zod

 

[IOfTheStorm]

Oh c mon its not "phenomenal". Only "Noumenon" is. Its a GOOD album, nothing more, nothing less. Its a GOOD album and Nevermore's least good. Simple as that. The remixed edition does not change a riff/melody/vocal tune, yes it changes its sound, but not its quality.

 

[JayKeeley]

I haven't heard the remix job, but I really liked Enemies of Reality. Perhaps it's a bit more accessible, perhaps it's more aligned with my tastes, who knows, but regardless of production, I NEVER had a problem with the song material on the record.

 

[dorian gray]

ehh, i liked the production on the original. i realized it's "bad" but i just figured that was on purpose. good album. i put some of the songs on my San Andreas "user tracks" so I wouldn't have to drive around listening to gansta rap (although most of it is quite amusing).

 

[General Zod]

Oh c mon its not "phenomenal". Only "Noumenon" is. Its a GOOD album, nothing more, nothing less. Its a GOOD album and Nevermore's least good. Simple as that. The remixed edition does not change a riff/melody/vocal tune, yes it changes its sound, but not its quality.

You're entitled to your opinion.

Zod

 

[Dark One]

Looks like I need to pick this up on cd. I, as well, found myself not throwing on EoR on a regular basis even though I dug the cd. Perhaps this will change things.

 

[IOfTheStorm]

You're entitled to your opinion.

Zod

The "a good production doesnt change the quality of a riff" is not an opinion, its just a fact. Better production doesnt alter inspiration

 

[lizard]

true. but to me, a crappy production job distracts from my listening pleasure, and may even conceal some worthwhile facets of the song.
don't get me wrong, I thought it was dead wrong to issue the original the way it was, and by remixing it, its obvious that Century Media as much as admitted it.

 

[Erik]

I don't care about this band, but I would like to hear two MP3's of the same song from the old vs. new one to see what the big deal about the production is about... I mean, it's gotta be REALLY bad on the original for them to take measures like this...

 

[Reign in Acai]

Post a sample. If the difference is really big, I'll sell my current copy and get the remixed version.

 

[circus_brimstone]

but to me, a crappy production job distracts from my listening pleasure, and may even conceal some worthwhile facets of the song.

Agreed. Btw, is lizard or lurch70 named Cody? Whichever one of you is Cody needs to friend me on MySpace dammit.

 

[lizard]

okay that's me...what's your name on myspace

edit okay you must be Jason I just added you.

 

[JayKeeley]

I mean, it's gotta be REALLY bad on the original for them to take measures like this...

People are making a big deal out of this I think, it really was not that bad at all to begin with (relatively speaking). It's just that previous Nevermore albums couldn't be more polished and 'machine' sounding if they tried, and THAT is part of the appeal, and that is why CM re-released it -- for all those fans expecting more on that mechanical production perspective.

Then you take someone like me, who doesn't mind a homemade 16-track analog sound (and it wasn't even that low grade -- it was proTools), and it sounds a bit more 'natural'.

I agree with IoftheStorm, in that better production doesn't change the songs themselves, but I never had a problem with the songs or production. One of the reasons why I don't like previous Nevermore all that much is because of that over-produced sound. Go figure.

 

[jimbobhickville]

the difference is huge. I really dug the songs on the original release, but I couldn't listen to it for long 'cause of all the static hisses and pops throughout the CD. The remixed one is getting as much play time as "This Godless Endeavor" at the moment. It's easily Nevermore's most aggressive release.

Definitely gonna pick it up in my next haul, whenever that may be.

 

[NAD]

You know what would fucking rock? If someone uploaded a song from this album in both the old and new production/album formats. That would fucking rock.

I don't think I've ever seen such a huge issue w/ a remix album ever before.

 

[Demonspell]

What I've heard of the corrected version is a huge improvement and I'll definitely take advantage of CM's offer to owners of the original, but not enough to change my opinion that it's Nevermore's weakest release to date.
Adrian: The original was an act of sabotage from a label who was waiting for their contract to expire, and now that they've reconciled they consented to release a remix for the additional money it would bring in. Not entirely, but this is CM we're talking about.

 

[General Zod]

People are making a big deal out of this I think, it really was not that bad at all to begin with (relatively speaking).

Disagree. It's god awful.

It's just that previous Nevermore albums couldn't be more polished and 'machine' sounding if they tried, and THAT is part of the appeal, and that is why CM re-released it -- for all those fans expecting more on that mechanical production perspective.

That's only true of "Dead Heart". "Dreaming" couldn't possibly be less "machine sounding". I doubt CM would go to the trouble of paying to have a CD remixed, going to the expense of re-releasing it, simply because it wasn't "machine sounding" enough for the fans.

Then you take someone like me, who doesn't mind a homemade 16-track analog sound (and it wasn't even that low grade -- it was proTools), and it sounds a bit more 'natural'.

If you dig that sort of production, that's cool. I know some here think a lesser production can somehow add atmosphere to a release. I'm not one of them. A Nevermore release doesn't need to have any sort of "machine sound" to it for me to enjoy it. However, the production on "Enemies" was as bad as I've ever heard, with the budget, albeit reduced, that they had.

I agree with IoftheStorm, in that better production doesn't change the songs themselves, but I never had a problem with the songs or production.

I agree with IoftheStorm as well. The riffs haven't improved with the production. However, now I can actually hear the riffs and I think they fucking slay. If someone disagrees with that, that's their prerogative.

One of the reasons why I don't like previous Nevermore all that much is because of that over-produced sound. Go figure.

In all seriousness, have you heard "Dreaming" or "Politics"? I honestly don't know how anyone could compare the production on those two CDs, especially "Dreaming", to "Dead Heart". Different producers (Kernon, Sneap), completely different sounds.

Zod

 

[J.]

LOL at people that judge an album based on the production. A song is either shit or it isn't.

 

[jimbobhickville]

That's normally true, J, but when the production is so horrible that it distracts you from listening to the music, it makes a difference. Seriously, I've heard indie demos with much better sound quality than the original EoR. I always said the songs were cool, I just couldn't listen to the CD for long 'cause it was too annoying to hear all that static all the time.

 

[Nate The Great]

Here's the new version of Ambivalent:
http://mp4.centurymedia.com/audio/Nevermore_Ambivalent.mp3

I'm too lazy to find the old version (or to upload it). So if somebody could do that for me, that'd be great. Thanks.

The old version just sounds more like a Napalm Death style production. Everything is kind of dry and crusty and smashed together. Nothing wrong with it, as far as I'm concerned. I love the old version. I loved it from the beginning. I can't comprehend what the big deal is with all this production uproar. I will admit, though, that the new production is WAY more clear, and it probably fits Nevermore much better.