The Witching Hour – 8/10 – When Darkness Calls Album Review

From United States comes the first work of Reverence, a “supergroup” with members of Savatage, Jack Starr’s Burning Starr or Tokyo Blade. What we have is possibly the best work of the year in terms of power metal is concerned. With a purely American sound, although capturing elements of thrash and hard rock, making a record fresh and varied.

The carefully cover artwork Jobert Mello, who has worked among others with Iron Fate, Primal Fear or Sabaton and recording took place in studies Metro 37 with production of Todd Michael Hall and Bryan Holland and subsequent mixing and mastering was Sid Garcia work in studies Sight 16.

And putting us squarely on the songs of plastic first thing we notice is mainly two things, first, the stunning vocal work of Todd Michael Hall, who already knew of his career in the band Jack Starr, Burning Starr and secondly the equally amazing guitar work of Pete Rossi pairing and Bryan Holland.

As for the actual issues, we found the dark (never more appropriate) introduction of “When Darkness Call” theme that baptizes work, the immense chorus of “Bleed For Me”, rapid and powerful “Phantom Road” where highlights the work of the rhythm section composed of bassist Frank Saparddi session (ex – Tokyo Blade) and drummer Steve “Doc” Wacholz (ex – Savatage, ex – Crimson Glory) or hard rock “Devil Disguise” or “Too Late “was the first single from this work.

“Gatekeeper” is for me the real gem of the album, an issue of lifting the fist chanting the chorus, and along with “Revolution Rising” is possibly the most inspired. Down the stretch we found the ballad “After The Leaves Have Fallen” and “Vengeance Is Mane” masterfully closing plastic.

Eleven cuts of pure American power metal, with gestures to Crimson Glory, Savatage and style bands, a debut album that stands as one of the best albums of this style in 2012.

Rating: 8

Jose Ruiz