NEVERMORE guitarist Jeff Loomis has opened up about the process of finding a new vocalist for the reformed band, revealing that over 700 submissions were reviewed before Turkish singer Berzan Önen was chosen as the ideal candidate.
Speaking with Brazilian outlet Heavy Talk, Loomis explained how the NEVERMORE reunion came together approximately two years ago, following the end of his decade-long tenure with ARCH ENEMY. "We kind of did things the old-school way. We basically just held an audition," he said. "And it's crazy because we ended up getting over 700 submissions. Going through each individual one took two or three months to give everyone the attention that it deserved."
Through that painstaking process, Önen emerged as the standout candidate. "Here's a gentleman that can really sing like Warrel [Dane], but he's kind of got his own thing at the same time, his own style," Loomis explained. "Because we weren't really looking for a Warrel Dane clone. We were looking for somebody that could carry the songs, but then do something on their own as well. So, realistically, he was really the perfect choice right off the bat."
The reformed NEVERMORE — comprising Loomis, drummer Van Williams, guitarist Jack Cattoi, and bassist Semir Özerkan alongside Önen — made its live debut on April 1 in Istanbul, Turkey, the new singer's home city. Late NEVERMORE vocalist Warrel Dane, one of metal's most distinctive voices, passed away in December 2017.
The band has yet to announce a new album, but the live debut has generated considerable excitement across the metal world.