Album Type : Full Length
Date Released : 6/8/2013
Label : Relapse Records
Revocation, album track listing:
1. The Hive
2. Scattering the Flock
3. Arch Fiend
4. Numbing Agents
5. Fracked
6. The Gift You Gave
7. Invidious
8. Spastic
9. Entombed By Wealth
10. A Visitation
2. Scattering the Flock
3. Arch Fiend
4. Numbing Agents
5. Fracked
6. The Gift You Gave
7. Invidious
8. Spastic
9. Entombed By Wealth
10. A Visitation
Bio:
One of the most exciting modern metal bands on the planet, REVOCATION return with their fourth full-length and most mind-blowingly impressive album to date. Displaying an unprecedented level of musicianship, the quartet shred and slaughter their way through ten insane tracks of guitar wizardry, stunning dexterity and next-level songcraft. This self-titled masterpiece combines all of the band's trademark elements and cranks them up to 11. Thrashing, virtuosic melodies, top-notch technical drumming and an all-out vocal assault take the listener on a lightning ride through the hallowed halls of heavy metal. REVOCATION have proven that they are here to stay and miles above their peers
Line-up:
Phil Dupois – Coyne, Drums
David Davidson, Guitars, Vocals
Dan Gargiulo, Guitars, Vocals
Brett Bamburger, Bass
Review:
Revocation’s brand new album has just crashed into my aural mansion like a truck full of explosives and cans of Monster. These guys are currently tearing up the States as part of the Summer Slaughter tour with The Ocean, Dillinger Escape Plan, Cattle Decapitation and an armada of other righteous metal bands and, judging by this sonic offering, they can stand alongside their peers as equals.
‘The Hive’ kicks off with some discordant droning and sound effects, leading into a riotous chunk of riffery that slams and pounds like a demonically-possessed bulldozer. The pinch-harmonics hook into you with barbarous malice and drag you along like you are freshly-caught prey. Which you are. From the moment you put this album on, you belong to Revocation: but don’t worry, you’re in good hands with your new masters.
You are then dragged unceremoniously into ‘Scattering the Flock’, a balls-out metal party filled with truly despicable vocals, violent guitar attacks and some really evil drumming. If you had these guys play at a house party, I’m sure this song would not only raise the roof, but also blow out the windows and boil your house pets in their own skin. The temperature then simply gets raised with ‘Arch fiend’’s feedback-driven appearance: the music is spikier than a Legion of Doom Appreciation event, and the melodies are simply gut-burstingly furious. Even the surprise inclusion of some flamenco-style acoustic guitars near the end fits in with the gripping intensity this song has: magnificent.
‘Numbing Agents’ is a somewhat ironic title: it will not nicely subdue you or give you a gentle euphoria, but rather pummel you into submission with its snarling strikes. It feels like David Davidson, Dan Gargiulo, Brett Bamberger and Phil Dubois have made it their mission to cause as much sonic harm as possible with their latest release, and that’s never more apparent than with ‘Numbing Agents’. It’s just brutal, double-barreled anger aimed straight at your head. Prepare to get blown away. ‘Fracked’ chugs its way onto the scene with a body-moving rhythm that really gets your blood pumping and your synapses snapping. Watch out for the tremendous solos midway through the song: otherwise they’ll give you a right-cross that’ll send you pin wheeling to the floor.
The slow, deliberate start to ‘The Gift You Gave’ gives way under the tide of guitars that wash over you with such irresistible force. It’s such a mighty tune it feels almost orchestral, it’s that full to the brim with sound and scope. The change midway through really adds to the dynamism and energy, and again the solo on display just oozes musical confidence and talent. The drums just hammer down on ‘Invidious’, then some crazy thrash banjoing happens. Yes, you heard right: thrash banjo. Then a crushing, Mustaine-esque guitar tirade pounds in and some semblance of normality is restored. ‘Invidious’ feels like a nod to the classics given to us by the Big Four, with a healthy dose of new-age heaviness added to the sonic brew.
‘Spastic’ is an odd tune: the guitars spew forth wild riffs, the bass snaps and pops and the drums rage and bellow throughout. There are no vocals present here, and neither are they needed: the music is a dark and compelling story all on its own. Modern-day greed is the focal point for penultimate track ‘Entombed by Wealth’, and it’s a menacing reminder that you should never put financial gain above everything else in your life, otherwise the only true reward you’ll receive for your life is a lonely funeral. The music is especially excellent here: getting both your head banging and your mind thinking. The album closes with ‘A Visitation’, which storms and screams at you like an angered spirit from beyond. The track fades out to nothingness, and you are left behind in a silence that seems almost deafening.
Words by : Chris Markwell
As ever, show your support to the band by checking them out at the various links. You can buy this release here in a variety of formats. This record is available everywhere now. Thanks to Becky @ Pioneermusicpress for the hook up
REVOCATION SUMMER TOUR DATES
July 14 Reading, PA Reverb
July 15 Peoria , IL Brass Rail
July 18 Reno , NV Knitting Factory
July 19 San Francisco , CA The Regency
July 20 Los Angeles , CA House of Blues
July 21 Santa Ana , CA The Observatory
July 24 Oklahoma City , OK Diamond Ballroom
July 25 Austin, TX The Scoot Inn
July 26 Dallas , TX House of Blues
July 27 Houston , TX House of Blues
July 29 Orlando , FL House of Blues
July 30 Atlanta , GA The Masquerade
July 31 Knoxville , TN Old City Courtyard
Aug 01 Myrtle Beach , SC House of Blues
Aug 02 Silver Spring, MD The Fillmore
Aug 03 Worcester, MA The Palladium
Aug 04 Philadelphia , PA The Trocadero
Aug 07 New York , NY Best Buy Theater
Aug 08 Toronto , ON The Sound Academy
Aug 09 Montreal , QC Heavy MTL
Aug 10 Albany NY Upstate Concert Hall
Aug 11 Detroit MI Majestic Theatre
Aug 12 Chicago IL House of Blues
Aug 13 Milwaukee , WI The Rave
Aug 14 Minneapolis , MN Station 4
Aug 16 Denver , CO Ogden Theatre
Aug 17 Salt Lake City , UT The Complex
Aug 18 Boise , ID The Venue
Aug 19 Seattle , WA Showbox SODO
Aug 20 Portland , OR Roseland Ballroom
Aug 21 Richland , WA Ray's Golden Lion
Aug 22 Spokane , WA The Center
Aug 23 Billings , MT Railyard
Aug 24 Cheyenne , WY Ernie November Record Store
Aug 25 Des Moines , IA Vaudeville Mews
Aug 26 Columbus , OH Ace of Cups
Aug 27Kingston , NY BSP Lounge
Aug 28Albany , NY Bogies
Revocation European Tour
Aug 27
Aug 28
Revocation European Tour
Sep 18 Bochum GER Matrix
Sep 19 Paris FR L'Empreinte
Sep 20 London UK Islington Academy
Sep 21 Manchester UK NQ Live
Sep 22 Glasgow UK Cathouse
Sep 24 Brussels BE Magasin 4
Sep 25 Enschede NLD Atak
Sep 27 Stockholm SWE Klubben
Sep 28 Gothenburg SWE Sticky Fingers
Sep 29 Oslo NOR John Dee
Sep 30 Copenhagen DK Lille Vega
Oct 01 Berlin GER Magnet
Oct 02 Hamburg GER Logo
Oct 04 Munich GER Hansa 39
Oct 05 Leipzig GER Conne Island
Oct 06 Vienna AT Szene
Oct 07 Milan IT Tunnel
Oct 08 Solothurn SWI Kulturfabrik Kofmehl
Oct 09 Stuttgart GER Stuttgart Universum
Oct 10 Frankfurt GER Batschkapp
Dec 07 Santurce, Puerto Rico La Respuesta