It may be the Catholic upbringing, but guilt, regret, shame are all an integral part of the experience of life. At nearly 40, I’ll still replay moments from my childhood with the lens of “what if” and wonder what else could have happened. Hell, the concept is even baked into the game of golf (non-professional edition) with the mulligan, and do-overs are everywhere in the world, if you have the option. Sometimes, deep in your own metaphorical woods, you just have to take a different turn and see what happens next. Nevertel take that notion literally with their first for Epitaph. Start Again is a wholly different album from the musical polymaths. Taking influence from video games, hip hop, nu-metal, pop-punk, and a newly found appreciation for metalcore, Nevertel sound fully rejuvenated, as if their 15-year career needed that reset. Fans of modern metal will have a lot to appreciate, but it’s the sense of songcraft and the focus on stellar hooks and boundless energy that elevates this far beyond other peers. Vocalist Jeremy Michael shares that the mindset was everything for the band:
“This album sort of wears its message on its sleeve and for good reason. The record being named Start Again is very intentional and something that we felt summed up everything the record was talking about in just two words. This record is a story of struggle, of realization, and pain. But most importantly, it’s a record about perseverance, self-awareness, and hope. The hope that no matter what life throws at you and what it turns you into, you can always reset and start again. Even when life comes crashing down on you, and it feels like the end of the world is on your doorstep, there’s always a way out. Even if it means losing everything you thought you knew and loved. You can start again and rebuild yourself better than ever. We firmly believe in second chances and learning from past mistakes. Only when you’ve lost it all do I feel like you truly find out who you are and what really matters to you. Every song is a piece of our story and journey personally and as a band of breaking everything down to reinvent ourselves and start fresh. We wanted the visuals, the art, and the music to reflect our story and it’s only the beginning for us.”
“We all met in high school and grew up learning and playing music together since 2009. We bonded over a love of music and video games. The music we loved back then was so very prevalent in the games we played, and it was always our dream to make music that not only we thought sounded good but would also be used in some of the video games we liked to play. As simple as it may seem, that core principle still drives us to this day. We just want to make music that we think sounds cool and unique to us that inspires people or moves them the way music did to us when we were kids. We always try to let that inner child drive our decisions creatively and be as authentic and honest as we can with our music. That is what gives us goosebumps and makes us excited about music.”
Start Again is out Friday, and you can preorder it from Epitaph Records. Follow Nevertel on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for future updates.
Photo Credit: Bryan Kirks
