Reverence
Artist / Group: Reverence
CD: When Darkness Calls
Release Date: May 2012
Label: Razar Ice Records
Style: Heavy Metal
Chronicler” Blaster of Muppets
Score: 15/20
Launched on the initiative of vocalist Todd Michael Hall (Harlet Burning Starr) and guitarist Bryan Holland (ex-Tokyo Blade), soon joined by drummer Steve Wacholz (ex-Savatage, ex-Crimson Glory), bassist Ned Meloni (Burning Starr) and guitarist Pete Rossi, Reverence was born in 2010. What to expect from this new group and their first album? Heavy metal, real, one is tempted to say, given the line-up revealed above. Bingo! So When Darkness Calls, with forty-nine minutes racy heavy and solid, American … lovers combos such as Metal Church or Crimson Glory should appreciate.
When Darkness Calls, the song starts as some old composed of Annihilator, with some notes of a guitar disturbing saturated yet but will be soon. The atmosphere is dark, a heavy riff tumbles sharp, clear voice and very confident Todd Michael Hall alights on the start of the heavy, double bass drum comes the chorus … The whole is square and is a good introduction, classic but effective. Bleed For Me confirms this impression. Riff square, good acceleration and very nice vocals on the chorus, solos full of melody and dexterity … it is clear, it is not shocking originality but these gentlemen know their stuff on the fingertips. It’s catchy and catchy. Phantom Road gives the up-tempo led by a solid rhythm section and a sharp riff. On this track, the song recalls the early years in Joey Belladonna of Anthrax (Spreading The Disease time). Same remark about the song for Devil In Disguise, another effective way suggesting that this album looks really gratifying. And in short, let’s immediately, the rest is of the same ilk. No surprise, no slowdown, When Darkness Calls is a successful album from beginning to end. The riff Too Late heavy metal sounds very European, it is thought Primal Fear even for a few seconds, the composition proves just as effective as the previous although I must admit that, at times, singing acute Todd Michael Hall get tired a little. This is also the most vocal line is in question because the rest of the album, the vocalist tends to convince me.
The second half of When Darkness Calls proves as enjoyable as the first batch of songs with his direct, sharp but always melodic (Gatekeeper and Vengeance Is Mine with their vocals a bit thrashy), riffs and solos convincing, and even a ballad entitled After The Leaves Have Fallen, which although it is not really not memorable, has the good sense not to fall into the marshmallow. The interpretation of the musicians is strong and compelling to the end of the trip, the production is good even if it favors the guitars and singing (I would have liked a more massive drum sound), and the whole album gives a heavy traditional but not old-fashioned, perfectly controlled and therefore quite commendable. We can always say that Reverence does not renew the genre. Not false (we sometimes think of Vicious Rumors of Metal Church or some riffs reminiscent of old Savatage albums …) but fans of this type of metal will appreciate the fact that this group does not throw dust in the eyes . It relies on the strength of his riffs, melodies, its singer and not a mega-production for hiding composed anemic. Admittedly, at first listen, this is not necessarily taping, but back to basics is finally much good. Only remains to see what all it gives on stage. Gentlemen, this is when you want!
When Darkness Calls tracklist:
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
http://auxportesdumetal.com/reviews/Reverence/reverence-whendarknesscalls.html
