This is a band it is hard to avoid the
buzz about. On a major alternative metal label, appearing at huge
intentional festivals, and having a few highly recommended albums
under their belts. You do get the sense that they don't
feel penned in by expectation or genre boundaries and just get the
fuck on with making music that makes them happy.
The new self-titled album from American hybrid metal outfit Revocation.
This may be so, but there is one
blatant overreaction to this record already. Let me stipulate: the review is spot on and fairly convincing, but
5/5 is too much. With a perfect album you can't wait until your next
listen, it makes you want to break the speed limit when you are
driving – and sadly Revocation does neither. This is one of
my favourite genres too, so I should be the one over-exaggerating.
Its easy to get excited about a band or a niche genre too easily when
there's not much else to get excited about.
The opening riff on 'Scattering the
Flock' is an absolute beauty, a monstrous, twisting destructive
force, but then the mid
paced-tedium sets in for a bit, and the song doesn't really go
anywhere until the uplifting chorus comes in during the second
half of this song, 100% worth the wait though! Dave's smooth and sultry solo at the
third track 'Archfiend' almost makes up for any irritations and
inadequacies this far in and even has a hint of Akerfeldt or Amott
magic about it even if it is too short. The earlier part of the song
seems more satisfying when knowing it is building up to that moment.
The insane twiddles and sporadic blasting are merely appetisers for
the climax.
There are so many influences and
inspirations but everything here seems fresh. There is song apart
from opener 'The Hive' that is purely verse chorus verse chorus solo
chorus, and this works very well for Revocation as it has in the
past. I only mention this because you feel the foot could stay on the
pedal easily with this particular style of modern progressive Death
and Thrash metal, and just rely on speed and heaviness rather than
creativity and innovation.
The banjo intro to 'Invidious' is
hilarious, but does stick out a little. The song it makes way for is
an interesting mix of ideas, much as we've come to expect. It starts
as a fairly kicking thrash number and then has a bit of hardcore
style gang vocals followed by a very fresh progressive section and
ending with a tacked-on metalcore style break down. A fun listen but
very muddled indeed. Talking of fun the instrumental 'Spastic' is
reminiscent of the sound of one of the jollier tunes from Rust In
Peace. Like the previous song it has occasional dirty down-tuned
riffs and a break down, which gives more mixed signals.
Revocation might seem a bit linear at first, but
delve just a little bit deeper and there are plenty of little cute
and addictive riffs. There is also a massive sense of urgency on this
album. No loitering that's for sure. To deny this band their praise
would be wrong, the solos and progressive elements are stratospheric
in terms of scale and creativity. The big 'but' is maybe trying to
juggle too much at once and dropping some balls here and there.
Anyway have a listen, tell people, and for metal's sake – form your
own opinions!
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