First things first.

The sound.

King Never's sound is hard hitting, atmospheric and expansive, while maintaining strong melodic hooks. Output varies from ambient soundscapes to vibey modern rock and progressive pop songs with an experimental/shoegaze edge.

The name.

Taken from a captivating passage of Fyodor Dostoevsky's classic novel Crime and Punishment.

The story.

Circa 1995. King Never begins its conceptual life as an outlet for guitarist Matt McCabe's explorations in real-time looping techniques following the demise of Able Cain. With the help of some borrowed equipment, Ambient Guitar Noise: Volume 1 was recorded in 1996.

During the Summer of 1996, King Never broke free from the confines of the studio and shattered the relative calm of Chico, CA's Bidwell Park. An unsuspecting public was treated to a rare live performance as part of the "Shakespeare in the Park" pre-show production.

In 1998, King Never cemented its notoriety in certain ambient and modern rock circles with the release of Farewell To Juliet's Grace & Dire Circumstances. The release featured King Never's haunting ambient loops tucked into the mix and a blistering guitar solo on "Bittersweet."

Also in 1998, King Never contributed a track for the Looper's Delight Volume 2 Compilation CD. "EndLoop" begins with a peaceful ambient soundscape that is eventually intersected with a sustaining guitar melody. This melody eventually morphs into an emotionally charged and almost atonal guitar solo before coming to a crashing halt.

Following the successful release of Ambient Guitar Noise: Volume 1 in 2000, King Never was asked to contribute a track for the forthcoming Mannequin Oddio Media Voices & Machines compilation CD. The CD, finally released in 2002, gained positive reviews for King Never's mellow ambient track, "The Waiting."

With the help of a few valued collaborators, King Never released Orphans, Misfits & Fragments in 2004. The album received critical praise for its song-based compositions that ranged from ambient soundscapes to modern rock songs with an experimental edge.

Today.

A return to the original manifesto!  King Never just released an album of ambient guitar loops and textures entitled Lullabies & Sleepless Nights.

Additional information and links:

The original King Never Manifesto.

Matt McCabe's Index of Guitar Rigs.