| Reverence: When Darkness Calls | |
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At first glance, the CD cover reminds me of the 80’s thrash and power metal bands from before, well…before power metal was really recognized (sadly, it still is not as popular as it is in Europe). I am glad to say the cover is not misleading. The band is made up of remnants of Tokyo Blade, Jack Starr’s Burning Starr, Savatage, Crimson Glory and Funny Money.
The CD opens up with a slow melodic tune, “When Darkness Calls,” which delivers good, solid guitar and impressive vocals. It builds into an epic crushing of guitars and a familiar Metallica-type riff, and then goes Testament-style with a bunch of other influences from the power metal circuit and others that gave birth to the genre. Queensryche, Blind Guardian, Helloween, Dio, and, of course, Judas Priest, are among the older influences. You can hear Iced Earth and some of the influence of the new music from the European power metal scene. The solos are very precise and technical, and the singer’s powerful scream is like that of Ronnie James Dio, Jeff Tate or Rob Halford. The next song, “Bleed for Me,” is one of my favorites and starts off with furious riffs and soaring vocals. It contains some serious solos that will definitely make you want to raise your fists in the air and shout along with the chorus. Their music reminds me of early Anthrax, but you can also hear, of course, some Megadeth-style riffs and solos throughout the CD, as well as the double bass made famous by Iron Maiden. And it’s clear that Reverence’s drummer is one of the founding members of Savatage (which later became Trans-Siberian Orchestra).
I also really liked “Devil in Disguise,” “Gatekeeper” (which reminded me of the ’80s), and “The Price You Pay.” By the middle of the CD, I just wanted to thank the band that made this possible – let’s face it, there is not much of a power metal scene in the US. Sure, there are a few bands, but not many. One good thing about this CD as a whole, there is not one song you want to skip – not even the ballad, “After The Leaves Have Fallen.” Well, some people might not appreciate that one, but I think it’s a fine example of the same formula used in the great metal ballads of the ’80s. The CD finishes off with the venomous “Vengeance is Mine.” Overall, When Darkness Calls is an amazing debut by an array of accomplished musicians from different backgrounds. I give this CD a 10/10. If you strongly desire a good power metal band and have not heard these guys, you should definitely check them out.
Songs to consider: When Darkness Calls, Price To Pay, Gatekeeper, Devil in Disguise, After The Leaves Have Fallen
http://shockwavemagazine.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1200%3Areverence-when-darkness-calls&catid=40%3Aalbums&Itemid=85
