NEVERMORE Guitarist STEVE SMYTH Offers Update On THE ESSENESS PROJECT, Health Status

NEVERMORE guitarist Steve Smyth (ex-TESTAMENT) has issued the following update:

"Hey, everybody!!! Well, it's been a while since I've posted an update, so figured I would take the time and do just that for y'all!

"To be honest, July was a month of slaving on THE ESSENESS PROJECT album, and the result is... we're now four songs away from being done! Eight songs are now completely finished, and I have had samples posted on here for all to hear. Steve (Hoffman) and I are sharing five songs with you guys at this point, and discussing possibly streaming a few others off THE ESSENESS PROJECT site; granted, if I can learn to mix! Three words: rough-mix samples!!! Seriously, bear with me on this one... I have produced my own stuff before, recorded myself on numerous albums and projects, I have sat in on numerous mix sessions, but when it comes to doing my own stuff, I don't trust myself enough to do it, and neither does Steve Hoffman!

"So, they're rough mixes folks — pretty rough, if I do say so myself. Without getting too technical, they're mixed a little, but not the way they need to be, just enough to get a taste of what's on the album. Hope you guys enjoy it! Let us know what you think! We want to hear some feedback, rather than the kind we've been hearing coming out of my amp for the last several months, making this album!

"A couple of words on the song 'Can You See What I Hear?' — that was recorded largely at the end stage of my kidney functioning... you can feel the struggle on some parts of it, but I'm thinking of keeping it, for that reason. Maybe.

"On the health front, not much has changed — I am on dialysis three times a week, three hours at a time. It sucks. Not fun. Quite boring, actually, so I usually fall asleep/read/listen to rough mixes/watch TV during it. It's not painful, contrary to what some of you may think, especially those I have ran into recently out there!

"Man, by the way I got looks from some people I have seen, you would have thought I should be on my deathbed, choking for air or something. Not the case, not the case at all. In fact, I have been encouraged to begin exercising, and have gotten the 'green light,' as it were, from all of my doctors (and consultants) to get back out and jam if I wish.

"In the meantime, my chosen hospital for treatment has received 1/3 of the people who came forward for me and offered their kidney for donation! Thank you guys so much! Words cannot begin to express the gratitude I feel for your kind and selfless action! Thank you all very much! The next step is finding out who's a match, but there's still the other folks that came forward who I haven't heard from. If you're reading this, please contact me! I need to talk to you! 'Only Time Will Tell' who the match will be, I suppose. Fitting title for that song, even though I came up with the title 17 years ago, and had no idea what the hell it could mean, until now!

"Well, on other fronts, expect me to start up the internet lesson program I was talking about by mid-September. I am tracking THE ESSENESS right now, but am aching to get back on teaching again. It's been a while since I've been able to do it. The last thing being when I was starting a teaching position at The Academy of Conteporary of Music, in Guildford, England, while I was living in London with my fiancee ( back in Cali now, getting treatment for this disease of mine, if any of you ACM students are reading this!). I have a list of all of you who wrote with the interest of doing this lesson endeavor with me, and I promise you, I will be e-mailing at the end of this month to start things up, get you the info on how it will be run, etc. Main goal right now, gotta get this album done, it's been waay too long for Steve and I! We're already writing a second one!"

As previously reported, Smyth was diagnosed with end-stage kidney failure last fall, the result of a congenital birth defect.

NEVERMORE will be supporting DISTURBED across Europe this fall. After their touring activity the band will be taking time off to write the follow-up to last year's critically acclaimed album "This Godless Endeavor".