Metal Blade Records, September 2022
Music: Death / Thrash Metal
Website:
https://www.revocationband.com/
https://www.facebook.com/Revocation/
Duration: 44:45
Country: United States
There are songs or albums, which even during the first listen you immediately know that you found a perfect match. Sometimes the music has to grow in you and you discover it’s greatness in time. The more you listen to it, the more you like it. In case of Revocation’s eighth full album it was not the case. I felt it the moment I started listening to “Netherheaven” that there is this ‘something’ which fits my idea of outstanding metal album.
Album opener “Diabolical Majesty” is a good introduction of what we can expect from the whole package. Fast and crushing riffs, powerful growls surrounded by precise drumming. It was actually the first single and video to promote “Netherheaven”. It does not matter how we label the band and it’s music, the thing is that the album is full of complex and multi-layered songs which smoothly rush forward with great ideas, unconventional solutions and style changes. “Galleries of Morbid Artistry” is a perfect example. It starts with great intro which turns into heavy atmospheric riffs. Then the guitars from the refrain could be heard in some of Black Metal anthems from Norway and they are perfectly contrasted with slow part in the middle section which has some jazzy feel. “The 9th Chasm” is another pearl on the album – an instrumental song with some progressive, twisted riffs and time signatures. It has quite long guitar solo with some bluesy elements – definitely far from traditional death metal type of lead.
Talking about solos, they complement each song and add extra value to each one. Some of them intensify the power of already killer songs like in “Nihilistic Violence” or “The Intervening Abyss of Untold Aeons”. Other ones are more spacious and melodic which refer more to Heavy Metal type of approach, but with David Davidson’s ‘touch’ – examples: “Strange and Eternal”, “Re-Crucified” and above all “Godforsaken”. It is another proof how versatile and talented David is as a composer and guitar player.
The album is well balanced when it comes to the order of the songs – super fast thrashers are followed by mid-tempo ones which keep the listener focused. The production is great, with raw and organic sound. If you look for fresh and guitar oriented Extreme Metal you should definitely have a listen.
Tracklist:
1. Diabolical Majesty
2. Lessons in Occult Theft
3. Nihilistic Violence
4. Strange and Eternal
5. Galleries of Morbid Artistry
6. The 9th Chasm
7. Godforsaken
8. The Intervening Abyss of Untold Aeons
9. Re-Crucified
Line-up:
David Davidson – Guitar / Vocals
Brett Bamberger – Bass / Vocals
Ash Pearson – Drums
Rate: 9/10
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