To me, progressive music today implies a lot of non-necessities. Be it unnecessary solo sections, unnecessary "check out what I can do" drumming, etc.

Everything in never's sound is entirely necessary.

From the delicate strains of "Swallow" to the steady grind of "The Sceptre is Shot", the four piece manage to make technical song craft look and sound so easy. Groupings of 11 and 7, moments of modal tonality, and intricate time signature changes permeate their sound, yet the band make it all sound so natural.

Guitarist Andy Farrell works in a very unique context, ranging between using interesting chord voicing in somewhat typical Tool inspired riff work and an effects-laden approach to clean guitar. Bassist Cat Andrews compliments the guitar work nicely, using an almost always modal scale approach, driving the songs onward while drummer Rudi Weber, who most Brisbane metal fans will recognize as the frenetic drummer from Japunga, gets a chance to really stretch into more complex territory. Vocalist Rowena Specht-Whyte also turns in an incredible vocal performance, her vocals sounding natural and low, especially in the female register, which just blends into the songs so well. Anyone left a little cold by the standard (and as it seems; lack) of female musicianship in Brisbane, especially in the hard rock scene will be captivated by both the never girls' performances.

While this is a style which has been appropriated a lot in recent years, a female vocalist and a focus on excellent song craft push never head and shoulders above the Tool clones, and I hope onto bigger things.

Level headed, thoroughly introspective and not for the musically faint of heart, not here is as cohesive a work as you'll hear anywhere in Australia.

www.never.com.au
www.myspace.com/thebandnever

The MP3 tracks included in this review are for streaming purposes only and may not be downloaded, recorded, reproduced, copied or distributed.