New NEVERMORE Members Speak Out: The Response From Fans Has Been 'Overwhelming'

New NEVERMORE members Berzan Önen (vocals),Jack Cattoi (guitar) and Semir Özerkan (bass) spoke to Germany's Thicker Than Blood podcast about the band's reformed lineup, which also includes guitarist Jeff Loomis and drummer Van Williams. Regarding how he approaches singing the parts originally written and recorded by late NEVERMORE vocalist Warrel Dane, Berzan said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Well, Warrel is a huge, huge influence on me, on not just my singing style, but my writing — the lyrical part of me as well has been shaped by his work a lot. So it comes naturally to me. And I've been singing NEVERMORE songs for so long that, like I said, it feels second nature to me. But, of course, as I'm not trying to imitate him, I put my own twist and my own voice and my own taking of the songs in there as well. And you will see, once we get this new [NEVERMORE] album on the way, my lyrical style as well."

On the topic of how the NEVERMORE lineup has been received by the fans, Berzan said: " Oh, dude, it was overwhelming. Because for all of us, these are huge, huge shoes to fill 'cause NEVERMORE, it's not like any other band. It's a special band. So you need to respect that. And as a fan, I probably wouldn't have welcomed the new guys. Yeah, I have to be honest… Yeah, of course, NEVERMORE fans are different than other fans as well. They're much loyal, because, like I said, it's really special, special music that these guys have created. A special genre in its own. So to receive this many positive feedback, it was overwhelming. Personally for me, because I adored Warrel. So, like I said, if I were not the one getting the job, I wouldn't have accepted anyone at first. So I understand that perspective. But I'm so thankful that the fans have accepted me immediately, actually. It's still unreal to me. It's beautiful, man."

Added Jack: "It was incredible for me seeing people I looked up to, even my friends, they were reaching out to me, and that just makes my heart full every time I think about it. I was getting messages from some of my biggest inspirations on the guitar about this, and it's incredible to be in this. And it's still just crazy."

Semir chimed in: "I think there was only a couple of bands for me, including NEVERMORE and ALICE IN CHAINS. Then ALICE IN CHAINS found a new singer. Then I said, 'Fuck this shit, man. I'm not gonna listen to this.' Because I was just so emotionally connected to the first albums. But I like the new guy, man. The new album is great. So when NEVERMORE announced, in 2025, they're gonna find [new members], I'm, like, losing my mind. I'm walking around the room, trying to get my head together. Because in my head, [it was], like, 'How is this possible, man?' I was, like, 'Who's gonna sing Warrel's part?' Because for us, Warrel is like our dad or something. But that's how I feel sometimes. Because I'm in high school listening to this song, like, getting crazy drunk and crying on the corner. But when this happened, man, I wanna thank everybody."

He continued: "I just want everybody to know we're fans just like everyone, man. We love this band more than... It's literally my all-time favorite American band. Because me and Berzan, when we grew up in Turkey, so a lot of bands were European bands. And then American bands were so far away for us. So, NEVERMORE, I will say NEVERMORE and SLAYER was probably top two, three bands. METALLICA was so close to us. When NEVERMORE broke up, man, I was heartbroken, man. And then Warrel died — when Warrel passed away, I drank all week. Literally, I feel like I lost somebody that I know. So this is very, very special that everybody's so thankful and be accepting us, because I feel like we just joined up people that we already know almost, in a way. We're just fans, big fans."

In a recent interview with Brazil's Headbangers News, Loomis stated about how the new NEVERMORE lineup came together:  "It definitely took — it took some doing. It took a while to get everything fine-tuned to the way we liked it, to make sure that it was even going to be possible. And that happened with finding the right people to complete the job. And we had to audition quite a few people to make sure that we found the right people that could actually do it. So, we're very, very fortunate that we have Mr. Berzan Önen on vocals, Mr. Semir Özerkan on bass, and Mr. Jack Cattoi on guitar. So these are the three new members. And [our first show] went really, really well. The crowd was phenomenal. They sang along to all the songs and really just made us feel welcome… So we're really, really excited."

Addressing the fact that NEVERMORE's current lineup doesn't include Dane, who died in 2017, Jeff said: "The initial talks, back when Van and I first started talking about [putting NEVERMORE back together], was, can it be done? And I think so. If you can find the right people that can perform the songs in the correct way, it can be done. We weren't looking for a Warrel Dane clone either. We were looking for somebody that could still sing the songs, but also had his own personal style. So that's what we were looking for from the very beginning, and that's what I believe we found. And we're very happy."

Asked how the involvement of three new musicians will affect NEVERMORE's overall sound going forward, Loomis said: "The core of the NEVERMORE sound is not ever really going to go away. And I think that the core, you could say that that would be me and Van, where we're writing in the style of NEVERMORE and it's still holding its own weight there. But I think when it comes down to longevity in bands, you'll always notice that everybody contributes. Like a band like RUSH, for instance — everybody's contributing something in that band. And we don't wanna have NEVERMORE just be the Van-and-Jeff show. We wanna have the other guys contribute as well. We wanna have Berzan contribute lyrics. We want him to contribute lyric melodies. We want Jack and Semir to contribute riffs. So, will that change the core sound of NEVERMORE? I don't really think so. I think it's just gonna add to the dynamic and make it cooler, 'cause there's gonna be other little elements of cool musical passages that are gonna be available now to use. And I think it's just gonna be that much more interesting for the listener. It'll still have the same core elements as it did back in the day, but it'll be new and interesting with a new vibe, so to speak. And that's kind of what we're looking for for the new NEVERMORE."

Forged in the aftermath of SANCTUARY, NEVERMORE carved out a sound defined by precision musicianship, fearless songwriting, and emotional intensity. From their self-titled debut in 1995 through landmark releases such as "Dead Heart In A Dead World" and "This Godless Endeavor", NEVERMORE built a global following and a reputation as one of modern metal's most distinctive voices.

Following the band's disbandment, Jeff released the acclaimed solo albums "Zero Order Phase" and "Plains Of Oblivion", co-founded CONQUERING DYSTOPIA and spent nearly a decade as a member of ARCH ENEMY, contributing to releases, including "Will To Power" and "Deceivers". Van remained active through projects such as ASHES OF ARES and GHOST SHIP OCTAVIUS. Dane continued creating until his passing in 2017, leaving behind a body of work that continues to inspire musicians and fans worldwide.

Dane died in in December 2017 in São Paulo, Brazil while recording his posthumously released solo studio album, "Shadow Work". The musician reportedly had a heart attack during the night and could not be revived.

According to guitarist Johnny Moraes, who played in Warrel's solo band, Dane had a history of addiction and other health issues. "His health was already very weak because of his diabetes and his problems with alcoholism," he said.

The instrumental parts for Dane's follow-up to 2008's "Praises To The War Machine" solo album were almost completed and he had begun laying down his vocals shortly before his death.

Image and video credit: kronosprojekt