Revolter
Another band from Maria at MJ Bookings, we were recently put onto Revolter, a 4 piece rock band from Blackburn. Having been sent through a copy of their album When We Died Screaming, and having read how these guys have been lined up for supporting slots with the likes of Alterbridge and Biffy Clyro (2 bands who personally I think are pretty darned awesome!) I figured it was about time I jumped on to hear what this was all about!
Sick Little World opens the album, a track which immediately sets the bar high and sits you on your ass to listen to what these guys have got to say. Distorted riffs underpinned by a hammering bass line and pounding drums give the track a raw edge whilst the lead line which soars over it all really elevates everything to a new level. The vocals are clean yet full of power, the combination becoming a track which sounds familiar in some ways yet retains that edge which keeps it all new and fresh. Catchy once the chorus kicks in, I love the way this track seems to move between downright heavy and powerful then almost soothing, it’s a combination which really works and shows why these guys have come so close to gaining the supporting slots which they have! Having seen Alter Bridge and Biffy Clyro on several occasions, I can see this working insanely well alongside them both, and more to the point, can understand why these guys are getting more and more known – now we just need some more exposure and these guys will be equalling this sort of band with ease!
Second track 17 Days is further testament to this, another opening of sludgy guitar lines and pounding drums leads you back into the bands distorted yet melodic world and makes you love every second of what you’re experiencing. Catchy once again, this track is a bit more toned down than the previous, still powerful but using palm muting on the guitars to accentuate the vocal line further. More soaring lead lines, more awesome vocals and more powerful drums, really so far I can’t find fault on either track. The Road A Thousand Miles Long continues this theme, opening a lot darker than previous tracks but still keeping that melodic edge there to make the track accessible. This track harks back to the likes of Metallica or Slayer in the way which it opens, the slow but heavy mix suggesting that it’s building up to something as it progresses. If you wanted to demonstrate to someone what rock music should sound like then this is the perfect intro for that situation – heavy guitars, dark lead lines, heavy bass, pounding slow drums, pinch harmonics – it all combines to form something which seems to suggest we’re here and you’d better be listening. Keeping the slow pace throughout the track, there’s a real sense of melody in the vocals which when combined with the heavy backing track creates a track which is a real testament to these guys and their ability to write different styles of track.
Chains comes in to being next, a track which regains that faster edge and once again launches into a track which is sure to get live crowds moving along with it. Catchy once again, this is a track which is sure to be a live favourite. My only issue here (and it’s a really small one) is that I don’t think the recording does the track justice, there’s a slight loss of power which I think will be found on the live circuit – the recording is good but you can’t help but feel that there’s something lacking in the background almost. So Far Down on the other hand seems to fit perfectly, opening much slower through an acoustic guitar line and simple drum beat. This track is like a brief respite from the power on the album so far, a track which gives you a break to reflect on everything, and boy is it a reflective track. This is the sort of track which you imagine playing over your memories – it’s catchy, melodic and heartfelt from start to finish and quite possibly my favourite track from the album. Sure, I love the heavier tracks but this one, well, there’s just something about it, awesome!
Cleaver (Go Away) comes in next, a stark contrast to the previous tracks softness as it opens with slamming guitar riffs which have been distorted beyond recognition over a pounding drum beat. Building and building as if to suggest something is coming, soon you realise just what is around the corner waiting for you! Hammering drums underpin the distorted riff and you’re thrown into circle put territory all of a sudden, ripping you out of your comfort zone created by the previous track and putting you right in the sights of the band. Much faster, much heavier yet somehow still melodic, this track is nothing but a pure triumph – the contrasting vocal line over the hammering backing music is something to behold and really hammers home just how able these guys are. It’s almost a shock once again as the track fades and Falling Away comes into being - a track which opens almost spooky and dark before kicking into one of the funkiest riffs I’ve come across in a while. Hammering drums underpin the whole mix whilst the vocals are chanted over everything and the bass backs the mix up – wow. Very like Alter Bridge musically, this track is an example of how a track can be catchy, melodic, soothing and emotionally laden without losing any power what so ever. Before you know it you’re going to be chanting along to ‘hold on’ and wishing you were there seeing this performed live!
Fades To Grey seems to once again move back towards the softer side of the band, opening with staccato style guitar work over harmonic notes whilst the vocals soothingly tell a tale, before shattering all of that with a mind-blowingly heavy guitar line all of a sudden kicking in. The vocals are kept powerful yet clean once again whilst the music does all the talking, make sure you listen out for the lead snippets which are brought to the forefront from time to time, it adds another dimension which I for one have thoroughly loved! As the track closes and final track Voices comes around to close the album, you’re left with a taste of a band who can pretty much lend their hand to what ever they feel like doing! Heavy, raw, powerful and straight forward, this track closes the album but leaves you knowing that what ever comes next is going to be something pretty epic.
When I saw the bands that Revolter had nearly supported (they missed out because of financial issues which sucks!) I figured I was in for something pretty cool, but nothing prepared me for this! There’s elements of Alter Bridge, Seether, Biffy Clyro and Bush in here, and that’s just to name a few. The music is heavy at times but always keeps that melodic edge which makes the likes of Alter Bridge so successful, and to be quite frank I can see these guys achieving that sort of status based on this album. I for one have loved every second of this album, it’s been a twisting tale of different musical styles, all of which have formed this monster they call WhenWe Died Screaming – and do you know what – you should all be getting a copy of this album to see what the fuss is all about!
To find out more about Revolter, check out their Facebook page HERE.
Check out their website HERE.
And check out their video to 17 Days below!
Sick Little World opens the album, a track which immediately sets the bar high and sits you on your ass to listen to what these guys have got to say. Distorted riffs underpinned by a hammering bass line and pounding drums give the track a raw edge whilst the lead line which soars over it all really elevates everything to a new level. The vocals are clean yet full of power, the combination becoming a track which sounds familiar in some ways yet retains that edge which keeps it all new and fresh. Catchy once the chorus kicks in, I love the way this track seems to move between downright heavy and powerful then almost soothing, it’s a combination which really works and shows why these guys have come so close to gaining the supporting slots which they have! Having seen Alter Bridge and Biffy Clyro on several occasions, I can see this working insanely well alongside them both, and more to the point, can understand why these guys are getting more and more known – now we just need some more exposure and these guys will be equalling this sort of band with ease!
Second track 17 Days is further testament to this, another opening of sludgy guitar lines and pounding drums leads you back into the bands distorted yet melodic world and makes you love every second of what you’re experiencing. Catchy once again, this track is a bit more toned down than the previous, still powerful but using palm muting on the guitars to accentuate the vocal line further. More soaring lead lines, more awesome vocals and more powerful drums, really so far I can’t find fault on either track. The Road A Thousand Miles Long continues this theme, opening a lot darker than previous tracks but still keeping that melodic edge there to make the track accessible. This track harks back to the likes of Metallica or Slayer in the way which it opens, the slow but heavy mix suggesting that it’s building up to something as it progresses. If you wanted to demonstrate to someone what rock music should sound like then this is the perfect intro for that situation – heavy guitars, dark lead lines, heavy bass, pounding slow drums, pinch harmonics – it all combines to form something which seems to suggest we’re here and you’d better be listening. Keeping the slow pace throughout the track, there’s a real sense of melody in the vocals which when combined with the heavy backing track creates a track which is a real testament to these guys and their ability to write different styles of track.
Chains comes in to being next, a track which regains that faster edge and once again launches into a track which is sure to get live crowds moving along with it. Catchy once again, this is a track which is sure to be a live favourite. My only issue here (and it’s a really small one) is that I don’t think the recording does the track justice, there’s a slight loss of power which I think will be found on the live circuit – the recording is good but you can’t help but feel that there’s something lacking in the background almost. So Far Down on the other hand seems to fit perfectly, opening much slower through an acoustic guitar line and simple drum beat. This track is like a brief respite from the power on the album so far, a track which gives you a break to reflect on everything, and boy is it a reflective track. This is the sort of track which you imagine playing over your memories – it’s catchy, melodic and heartfelt from start to finish and quite possibly my favourite track from the album. Sure, I love the heavier tracks but this one, well, there’s just something about it, awesome!
Cleaver (Go Away) comes in next, a stark contrast to the previous tracks softness as it opens with slamming guitar riffs which have been distorted beyond recognition over a pounding drum beat. Building and building as if to suggest something is coming, soon you realise just what is around the corner waiting for you! Hammering drums underpin the distorted riff and you’re thrown into circle put territory all of a sudden, ripping you out of your comfort zone created by the previous track and putting you right in the sights of the band. Much faster, much heavier yet somehow still melodic, this track is nothing but a pure triumph – the contrasting vocal line over the hammering backing music is something to behold and really hammers home just how able these guys are. It’s almost a shock once again as the track fades and Falling Away comes into being - a track which opens almost spooky and dark before kicking into one of the funkiest riffs I’ve come across in a while. Hammering drums underpin the whole mix whilst the vocals are chanted over everything and the bass backs the mix up – wow. Very like Alter Bridge musically, this track is an example of how a track can be catchy, melodic, soothing and emotionally laden without losing any power what so ever. Before you know it you’re going to be chanting along to ‘hold on’ and wishing you were there seeing this performed live!
Fades To Grey seems to once again move back towards the softer side of the band, opening with staccato style guitar work over harmonic notes whilst the vocals soothingly tell a tale, before shattering all of that with a mind-blowingly heavy guitar line all of a sudden kicking in. The vocals are kept powerful yet clean once again whilst the music does all the talking, make sure you listen out for the lead snippets which are brought to the forefront from time to time, it adds another dimension which I for one have thoroughly loved! As the track closes and final track Voices comes around to close the album, you’re left with a taste of a band who can pretty much lend their hand to what ever they feel like doing! Heavy, raw, powerful and straight forward, this track closes the album but leaves you knowing that what ever comes next is going to be something pretty epic.
When I saw the bands that Revolter had nearly supported (they missed out because of financial issues which sucks!) I figured I was in for something pretty cool, but nothing prepared me for this! There’s elements of Alter Bridge, Seether, Biffy Clyro and Bush in here, and that’s just to name a few. The music is heavy at times but always keeps that melodic edge which makes the likes of Alter Bridge so successful, and to be quite frank I can see these guys achieving that sort of status based on this album. I for one have loved every second of this album, it’s been a twisting tale of different musical styles, all of which have formed this monster they call WhenWe Died Screaming – and do you know what – you should all be getting a copy of this album to see what the fuss is all about!
To find out more about Revolter, check out their Facebook page HERE.
Check out their website HERE.
And check out their video to 17 Days below!