Nevertel - No Reverse Review

WARNING! The video embedded in this article contains profanity. Reader discretion is advised.

On Halloween Tampa, FL-based Nevertel dropped a new song entitled “No Reverse.” This single comes paired with a remix from Raul Lopez, the band’s guitarist/vocalist. Blending Rap and Post-Hardcore, Nevertel have a small backlog of experimental, inventive music that is a diamond in the rough. Rarely do genre-blending bands manage to thrive with such a risky sound, but Nevertel combines the meticulous flow of Rap and the emotive power helmed in Post-Hardcore.

“No Reverse” is a strong outing for the band, which has a Hip-Hop-tinged verse working in tandem with a catchy, bold chorus. Structurally, the song feels a bit on the short side, but this is not a bad thing, as it leaves the listener wanting more. After two choruses, Nevertel pulls off one of their signature bridges, which sets them apart from other bands in the genre. The track could benefit from a post-chorus and an outro, but it remains short and sweet at less than 3 minutes.

The remix compliments the single with a longer run-time and a dissection of the original song. The most compelling part is the tonal shift at 1:27, where the rap accompanies a dark, somber mood. This differs from the first half of the song that comes off as more bright and melodic. Considering this re-imagining was done by a band member, it is fitting to see why Raul further experiments with genres and breaks conventions.

Compared to Nevertel’s discography, “No Reverse” is a welcome addition. This song is more rap-heavy than their other works, which usually have vocalist Jeremy Michael singing an R&B-tinged melody in the verse. In this track, it is strictly rapping, a departure from what is familiar for them. Jeremy’s soaring vocals cover the choruses, which signify the end of the end of a relationship, with “no reversing”, even though the vocalist “tried to help you breathe” and “begged for you to stay”. What makes the conglomeration of these differing genres so magical is that they are mutually beneficial. The rapping in the verse sets up the story as its rise and fall, and the Post-Hardcore chorus is the climax/resolution.

Releasing with a remix further helps this song’s lasting power, as it takes the best moments of the single and shines them in a new light. If one were to listen to both back-to-back, the run-time is six minutes. While one would generally consider six minutes of the same song exhausting, the explorative nature of the remix makes for an enthralling listen. One would most definitely miss out if they only listened to the first song.

Is this the leading song off of a new Nevertel album? At the time of this writing, Nevertel announced on their Facebook page that they are in the studio to “deliver something special this month”. Assuming that Raul Lopez is taking on production duties for the band as he typically does, we can expect at least another Nevertel track in the next month. If it is anywhere near as imaginative and thrilling as “No Reverse”, then our ears will soon be sated with more Nevertel goodness.