NEVERMORE have shared audition videos from their new vocalist Berzan Onen, showcasing his takes on classic tracks "Born" and "Sentient 6" -- two songs that sit among the most vocally demanding in the band's catalog. The Turkish singer demonstrates impressive range, emotional depth, and raw power, honoring the towering legacy of the late Warrel Dane while bringing an unmistakably personal identity to the material that avoids the trap of mere imitation.
Dane, who passed away in December 2017 at the age of 56 while recording a solo album in Sao Paulo, Brazil, left behind one of the most distinctive vocal legacies in progressive metal. His operatic range, dark lyrical poetry, and commanding stage presence made NEVERMORE's music uniquely atmospheric -- finding a replacement was always going to be the reunion's most scrutinized decision. The audition videos suggest that Onen, while different in timbre and approach, possesses the combination of technical ability and emotional weight necessary to do justice to NEVERMORE's complex compositions.
Guitarist Jeff Loomis, whose virtuosic fretwork has been the band's musical backbone since their formation in Seattle in 1991, praised Onen's abilities enthusiastically, saying the new album currently in development will be "heavy, with all the NEVERMORE qualities you would expect." The reunited lineup -- completed by drummer Van Williams, bassist Semir Ozerkan, and guitarist Jack Cattoi -- held initial rehearsals in January 2026 at Swans Neck Soundworks in Sweden, documented in a recently released short film directed by guitarist and filmmaker Ola Englund.
The band's first live show is set for April 1 in Istanbul -- fittingly in Onen's home country of Turkey -- with major festival appearances at Wacken Open Air and Bloodstock Open Air confirmed for the summer. The signing with Reigning Phoenix Music provides the infrastructure for new recordings. However, the reunion has not been without controversy -- founding bassist Jim Sheppard has publicly called the comeback "disrespectful," stating he was never contacted about the plans.