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ARTIST: Reverence
ALBUM: When Darkness Calls
LABEL: Razar Ice Records
SERIAL: –
YEAR: 2012
SPONSOR: Bryan Holland
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: 
LINEUP: Todd Michael Hall – vocals * Bryan Holland – guitar * Pete Rossi – guitar * Ned Meloni – bass * Steve Wacholz – drums
TRACK LISTING: 01 When Darkness Calls * 02 Bleed For Me * 03 Phantom Road * 04 Devil In Disguise * 05 Too Late * 06 GateKeeper * 07 The Price You Pay * 08 Monster * 09 Revolution Rising * 10 After The Leaves Have Fallen * 11 Vengeance Is Mine
RATING: 
WEBLINKS: http://reverencemetal.com |
Background
Coming to light earlier in the new decade, American band Reverence must surely be a super-group in stature, considering the pedigree of all concerned. With personnel sourced from Tokyo Blade, Savatage, Crimson Glory and Jack Starr’s Burning Star, this just lives, breathes and smells heavy metal.. all the way through.As much as I enjoyed the recently reviewed Knight Fury release from last year, Reverence turn it up a notch, with big guitars, big drums (Mr Wacholz, what do you expect?) and big.. just about everything. Did I mention it sounds big? Released on their own Razar Ice Records (cool name) at the end of May 2012, ‘When Darkness Calls’ leads the way in traditional power metal in 2012, showing all the new kids on the block and modern pretenders how to do it properly.
The Songs
The title track ‘When Darkness Calls’ leads off. Kinda epic beginning not unlike Armored Saint‘s entrance to ‘Can U Deliver’; a similar intent and attitude but with a totally different outcome. Good anthemic metal to start us out.
‘Bleed For Me’ is just wickedly good metal that stands head and shoulders over a lot of so-called great metal which in retrospect is made to sound very ordinary when compared to these guys. Todd Michael Hall sings up a storm on this one. Check the video below for evidence.
Dr Killdrums is all feet on the double kick-drum special ‘Phantom Road’, a hard driving number with the pedal pressed to the metal and the speedometer going off the scale.
‘Devil In Disguise’ moves in a Judas Priest like direction, though it’s full of other inspirators too. I like how they’ve divided the rhythm guitars in the left-right speaker space, giving both guitarists plenty of room to mix on either side of the divide.
‘Too Late’ demonstrates the mood and vibe are a killer-punch for Savatage. You’ve probably seen this one on video too, which gives a good indicator as to what Reverence are all about.
Just listen to the fantastic grinding guitars on ‘Gatekeeper’, plus the big chanty shout-out chorus. It’s got a definite Vicious Rumours feel to it I think..
‘The Price You Pay’ keeps to the mid-tempo, and grinds away relentlessly. The solos match the dense climate of this track, not heading into the dizzying array of speed as we’ve heard on other tracks but keeping things in check.
There are some big riffs emanating out of ‘Monster’, both Holland and Rossi trying to bring the best out of each other. It really is a guitar fest all round.
‘Revolution Rising’ is a staggered affair with a handful of subtle time changes within. Everytime I hear the word ‘revolution’ in a metal song I’m always reminded of Queensryche. Thankfully Reverence crack the stone on that one.
With a title like ‘After The Leaves Have Fallen’, you can guess it’s going to be a power ballad.. right? You betcha, and a goodie it is too. High flying guitar solos head out the back door as fast as you can say ‘Dad, there’s a Bible Basher coming up the drive!’
The finisher on the album is ‘Vengeance Is Mine’. Chugging guitars, pinch harmonics and wild solos all abound.. the lyrics ‘tick tick, the clock is clocking’ sounds like a countdown of sorts. It is 2012 after all.. gulp..
In Summary
If a mix of Judas Priest, Savatage, Metal Church, Vicious Rumours and Primal Fear is your bag, then Reverence are your calling card. Don’t believe me? Check out all their You Tube videos. Head on over to their website and discover what makes this band one of the HM highlights of the year.
http://www.glorydazemusic.com/articles.php?cat_id=98&article_id=4843
