Metal-Rules.Com – 4/5- When Darkness Calls Album Review

Reverence

When Darkness Calls

January 2013

Released: 2012, Razar Ice

Rating: 4.0/5

Reviewer: JP

 

As an older fan I am always delighted when these super-groups crop up made of old

Metal dudes. To me it demonstrates that the power of true Metal rages in their veins

and even though the bands they once gained recognition for are probably long gone,

these guys still make Metal for the love of Metal. It shows a purity of purpose that

comes from the knowledge the band will probably never been a commercial venture

that tours extensively and moves a lot of units. Nothing to loose, everything to gain

and the wisdom of experience means bands like Reverence can really make some

killer music.

 

Who are Reverence? A whole bunch of American Metal dudes who used to be in bands

like Savatage, Tokyo Blade, Crimson Glory, Burning Starr, that’s who! That is a pretty

impressive resume for a new band! Their debut release, WHEN DARKNESS CALLS has

a home on the young and upcoming label Razar Ice. The production is good and cover

art is pretty awesome too.

 

Pure American Power Metal is the order of the day for this magnificent 11-song album

that runs about 50 minutes. The lyrics are good Metal fare very ably delivered by Todd

Michael Hall who has some fantastic range and power. Check out the scream at about

the 1:38 mark of ‘Revolution Rising’. Spine-chilling stuff. He has a great voice forthis

type of Metal. I like his semi-spoken delivery of the stand-out cut ‘Bleed For Me’ with a

killer gang chorus. Musically, the guitar duo of Bryan Holland and Pete Rossi have no

shortage of great Metal riffs. The solos are alsowell executed. The pace is very quick

but doesn’t sacrifice heaviness or melody. They hit a sweet spot in terms ofsongwriting

sort of like Malice used to. The band slows down into ballad territory with a very somber

piece called ‘After the Leaves Have Fallen’ featuring a subdued vocal and some acoustic

guitar. Reverence finish the album a very strong note with a barnburner called ‘Vengeance

Is Mine’, leaving me wanting more.

 

Most of the time these all-star projects don’t last too long, (for example, Manic Eden,

Stream, Killing Machine, Destiny’sEnd, Blackthorne, Symfonia, DawnRider, etc) but for a

brief bright moment they make some truly spectacular albums.I’m not suggesting that

Reverence will break up or does not have the potential to make it, but I also realize the

market is limited, the audience for this style smaller, and most people don’t buy CD’s

anymore. I do believe that Reverence has what it takes and that WHEN DARKNESS CALLS

is a world-class debut and I hope they make many more great albums and you can help

make that happen by buying this album!