2 years after their debut album “Reversing Time”, the Greek/Turkish Progressive Symphonic Melodic Metal band Dreamtone & Iris Mavraki´s NEVERLAND returns with their second album “Ophidia”, a strong effort that is just waiting to be discovered.

"Ophidia" tells the story of evil lurking within the society and in general the evil within mankind”,  the band explains. The fantasy touch of the debut is gone as the band is heading towards more reality-based topics with this new release. So no wonder the new material has become more heavy but surprisingly also more melodic. Expect an excellent mixture of catchy tracks, complex progressive songs and epic symphonies that can hardly be compared to other bands. The passionate vocals of Oganalp Canatan and Iris Mavraki lift the whole material to a new level while rhythm and solo parts deliver to the very best. “Ophidia” is an album that you have to listen to several times before you hear all the details.

Recordings this time took place at the Garaj Studios, but again with engineer Erim Arkman. By the addition of (permanent) new keyboard player Guney Ozsan the NEVERLAND sound also changed overall. Another nice addition were the guest musicians: “Mountain King” Jon Oliva (Savatage, Jon Oliva´s Pain), Angra/Almah singer Edu Falschi and Urban Breed (ex-Tad Morose, Bloodbound) followed the invitation and record some amazing parts.

Undoubtedly ”Ophidia” is the most ambitious work from the young band yet. Highly recommended to fans of Blind Guardian, Dream Theater, Shadow Gallery, Angra and Fates Warning!
 
In the year 2006 two musical entities from two different countries came together to form a brand new force. Greek female singer Iris Mavraki and Turkish Prog/Power Metal act Dreamtone formed the band NEVERLAND, a brave venture into the waters of fantasy driven melodies and songs of magical places that come alive every time we close our eyes.

The challenge was more than fascinating for the band as Iris basically came from a rather different, albeit not completely different, background than that of metal music. With a long musical past on her shoulders (from local concerts to touring Turkey with entire symphony orchestras), it is no secret that in 1981 Iris met with Nick Mason and David Gilmour of Pink Floyd, at their Britannia Row studios in London for an audition. The invitation came after previously having heard a demo tape of Iris. Dreamtone on the other hand is one of Turkey’s most famous Metal acts, having opened concerts for such renowned bands as Megadeth, Dream Theater and Blind Guardian (with whom they’ve also toured Turkey).

The cooperation between Iris and Dreamtone progressed rapidly into what both parts had only dreamt of up to that point. Songs were written, ideas were created and forged. The decision was taken. Both sides were going to channel all their musical dreams through NEVERLAND. The debut CD features great guests from the world of Metal such as Hansi Kürsch (Blind Guardian), Tom Englund (Evergrey), Mike Baker and Gary Wehrkamp (R.I.P.) of Shadow Gallery, as well as the Philarmonia Istanbul Orchestra.

NEVERLAND then brought their musical vison on stage at the European Prog Power Festival. But don´t expect this to remain the only live apperance of this fascinating band: with a new booking agency taking care of NEVERLAND you will surely see the Turkish/Greek connection rock the stages of Europe with their new record “Ophidia”.

Style: Progressive/Symphonic Melodic Metal -
Release Album: March 26th, 2010

© 2010 AFM Records GmbH

01. This Voice Inside
02. Silence The Wolves
03. Ophidia
04. Will Of God
05. Invisible War
06. Places Unknown
07. No One Leaves The Hive
08. Speak To Me
09. Ashes To Fall
10. Final Odyssey
11. The Forests Of Hope *
12. Dying Threads *
13. Into The Horizon