Never To Return is a Namur based band of young Belgian musicians which was started up in July 2009 under its original monicker of Spirit Burns.
But the beginnings of the band must be seen to start a month earlier, as guitarist Alexandre Pire and bassist Antoine Moons met during weekends to play covers of their favourite Heavy Metal and Punk songs. The two some had heard of this very young guitarist Pierre Laforet (only 12 at the time), and invited him over for a jam, to find him essential to the positive development of their band. Eventually Antoine called on his friend François Ernoud to come play the drums, and with the band complete they decided to start composing songs of their own. So in came Pierre with some of the ideas he already had, and being on a same par with Alex, adapted them to a Heavy Metal style. But in doing so the guys dissociated themselves from their rhythm section, end eventually new members had to be searched. They were found in Louisien Lebrun and Guillaume Malempré (respectively bass & drums), and for a while at least the line-up seemed stable. So again, the band went into the stage of composing its own songs, and it's with the aforementioned line-up (without a singer, because in spite of a couple of auditions, no suitable person was found) that Spirit Burns played its very first gig in March 2010, performing at their hometown's Maison de la Culture. They are picked up by Rock's Cool, who allow the band to play some shows during April, and also have them play at Namur's Wallonia Days Festival.
In May 2010 the band underwent a new line-up change, as Louisien moves to another country, and Guillaume falls in disagreement with the others about the chosen musical direction (then still Heavy Metal). First to enter the fold is drummer Alexandre Rollmann, whom had already occasionally replaced Guillaume for gigs at moments when the latter was not available. Originally playing gigs with a stand-in (an acquaintance of the guys), the band then eventually pulls in Alexandre's brother, Jean Rollmann, to take over bass duties on a permanent basis. The rest of the year was rather successful as far a s shows goes, and the serenity among the band members allowed 'em to compose new songs (still in the Heavy Metal vein) at a quiet pace. The guys also adopted their current bandname, and as such participated to the Imagine contest, which had them play at a somewhat bigger venue (Studio 4 in Brussels), and won the band a studio session. However, toward the end of the year the drummer announces his forthcoming departure from the band for personal reasons.
As no bad feelings were involved in their drummer's decision, the latter's departure hits the remaining members extra hard, and after a last show with Alexandre (at the youth center in Rixensart) follows some deep search in their own inner self. They soon pull themselves together though, and start looking for a replacement drummer...whom they find in Charles Degolla...well, in a way, at least! Because Charles also happens to be drum tech for Belgium's one and only Channel Zero, and so he agrees to be NTR's session drummer only...leaving the drum situation unsolved. Evidently, this resulted in very few shows during 2012, but in turn the year became a positive changing point in the band's history. First of all, the guys write the song “Possessed By Music”, and this leads the guys to revert their previous Heavy Metal sound to one focused toward Hard Rock. Also, 2012 is the year when guitarist Alexandre Pire finally steps to the plate, turning the formerly instrumental band into one sporting a singer, and in December the guys forge a partnership which is to see NTR play a “weekend tour” in Aalborg, Denmark (including at a festival there) during the second part of January 2013!
However, New Year's festivities were hardly digested, when Jean quits the band due to not being able to attend rehearsals and shows as he used to. Undaunted, Charles calls in his bass playing friend Angel Watté, whom learns all is parts playing only two rehearsals with the band within the two weeks prior to the Aalborg shows. Aalberg becomes an absolute success: being cheered by the audience, the organizers swiftly invite the boys to come back the next year. Further successes include Charles' decision to take on the drum position full-time, and subsequent shows being done as support to such like as Firedown and KomaH, while festivals attended as playing band included Bloodstock, Music Festivities, Louvain La Neuve 24H Cycling, and again the Wallonia Days Festival. The end of 2013 becomes extra special for the band, as they entered the famed Noise Factory studio to record the two songs for this single with Nicola Lomartire (known from work with Age Of Torment, Goliath, Sirius Plan, The Link, and more), whom co-produced the little gem in collaboration with the band.
So, here we are, and there it is! You can listen to both songs on the “BandPage” section at (www.) facebook.com/ntrband. Cited influences including The MC5, Roky Erikson, Degial, The Doors, The Who, Watain, Popol Vuh, The Rolling Stones, GG Allin, Joy Division and The Devil's Blood, I'm curious as to what yoù make of it! To me personally, it's a bit too polished, but then I usually am somewhat averse to things with certain commercial qualities/ possibilities. I can see how a lot of people will love this, and I therefore stress that the rating is a strictly personal thing!