(Translated from Dutch)
Reverence – When Darkness Calls
Razar Ice Records
Nima : Reverence is a new band featuring seasoned metal musicians. The band consists of vocalist Todd Michael Hall and bassist Ned Meloni (both Jack Starr’s Burning Starr), ex-Tokyo Blade guitarist Bryan Holland, ex-guitarist Pete Rossi and Sanxtion ex-Savatage/ex-Crimson Glory drummer Steve Wacholz. When I was informed of the existence of this band was my interest alone tickled by the involvement of Hall. I was very impressed by his voice on the Burning Starr albums ‘Defiance’ and ‘Land Of The Dead’ and was very curious about what he Reverence to come.
Well now, when the album pops out of the speakers with the title track I sit on the edge of my seat and kept there until the last second of valve, “Vengeance Is Mine”. If you look at the musical history of the men, you know you can expect heavy metal, which is exactly what we get on this album; hearty traditional heavy metal, which does not currently dated or corny sounding. Moreover, they come with a completely different approach and has ensured that they have nowhere right away to compare. Think of a combination of bands like Judas Priest, Primal Fear, Crimson Glory, Vicious Rumors and similar bands with a modern approach and you know roughly where you should look.
Each song on the album is a highlight in itself and full of powerful, catchy riffs, ditto vocals, great solos, and both instrumental and vocal, everything just perfect. Most of the songs are up-and mid-tempo, and have a very high headbang content. Only ‘After The Leaves Have Fallen “is a quiet, sensitive and most beautiful (semi) ballad, as only a good metal band who can write. There’s the rest little to say about this record, because everything is in the right place.Add a great, powerful, bright and contemporary production with an old world charm to the whole, and you have a strong album that you like heavy metal fan should not miss in your collection.
Rating: 91/100 ( details )
http://www.lordsofmetal.nl/showreview.php?id=22211
