Graham Bonnet recently clarified the status of his previously announced collaboration with former Arch Enemy and current Nevermore guitarist Jeff Loomis. He addressed the project’s current hiatus in an interview with Different Stages Radio.
The veteran vocalist explained the reasons behind the temporary pause. He also shared details about the material they’ve already created together.
“[The project is] on pause, because Jeff [Loomis] is doing his own thing right now with his band [Nevemore]. He’s getting that together. And he got in touch with us very recently. ‘Cause I said to him, ‘I’m gonna do this,’ because I’ve written seven songs with him already, which I did a year ago, when we were gonna get it together,” Bonnet said.
Bonnet praised Loomis’s musical abilities. He also discussed the creative challenge the collaboration presented.
“I’ll tell you something: [Jeff is] great. His arrangements are fantastic. And it takes you in another place… It actually is a guy playing guitar, like Michael Schenker. Michael Schenker has a certain way of playing which is very recognizable, and so does Jeff. And I was really pleased to have actually worked with him because it gave me a bit of an adventure and gave me a challenge to write words and melody to these songs that were quite long,” he continued.
Despite the current pause, Bonnet expressed optimism about completing the project in the near future.
“So, [the songs are] all ready to go. I wish I could sing ’em to you now, or play them or something, but they’re ready to go. And Jeff, he still wants to do it even after all his time when he’s been getting his own band together and getting back on the road again or whatever. So I really hope we can do it soon, hopefully next year,” he concluded.
This collaboration represents an intriguing meeting of two distinct musical legacies. It brings together Bonnet’s decades of hard rock experience with Loomis’s technical metal prowess.
Loomis has built his reputation through various influential projects throughout his career. XS Rock reported that he previously showcased his virtuosic style in the instrumental duo Cacophony alongside Marty Friedman. They released Speed Metal Symphony (1987) and Go Off! (1988) on Shrapnel Records, which launched both guitarists’ careers—Friedman to Megadeth and Loomis eventually to his work with Nevermore and Arch Enemy.
The guitarist’s technical abilities and distinctive playing style have made him a sought-after collaborator in the metal community. His work spans from the progressive metal landscapes of Nevermore to the melodic death metal territories of Arch Enemy. This demonstrates his versatility across different subgenres.
Bonnet’s comparison of Loomis to Michael Schenker highlights the guitarist’s unique musical identity. Both musicians possess instantly recognizable playing styles that have influenced countless guitarists. However, they operate in different spheres of the rock and metal spectrum.
The collaboration remains on hold while Loomis focuses on his work with Nevermore. Both musicians appear committed to completing the project when schedules allow. The seven completed songs represent a significant body of work that fans of both artists eagerly anticipate hearing once the project resumes.
