Label: Frontiers Music Srl.
Release date: 24.01.2020
Production: Alessandro Del Vecchio
Album length: 47.12 min
Genre: Melodic Rock / AOR
Rating: 8.5 / 10
What can you say about the new album from the rock supergroup Revolution Saints, powered by bassist Jack Blades (ex-Damn Yankees, Night Ranger), guitarist Doug Aldrich (ex-Whitesnake, ex-DIO, The Dead Daisies, Burning Rain) and drummer/vocalist Deen Castronovo (ex-Journey, ex-Bad English, The Dead Daisies)? It’s the package we expected: eleven hot new tracks leaning hard on the legacy of eighties west coast AOR.
These are three seriously experienced rock’n’roll cats with enormous mileage, plenty of know-how and, above all, outstanding talent, which puts them among the world’s elite musicians in their trade. So »Rise« is, quite simply, a very skillfully written and sonically polished album. The thing that pulls it closest to the melodic bombast of Journey is Deen’s vocals, and at times you seriously think the main vocals are being sung by the venerable Steve Perry himself. The vocal tone and the way the lead melodies are laid down give the album at least a hint of Journey the whole way through, with the difference that the production is totally different, as if cut from different cloth than the other two thirds of the crew, steeped in Jack Blades and Doug Aldrich. The others who worked on the material definitely pull their weight too, first of all the seasoned and respected multi-instrumentalist (and vocalist when needed) Alessandro Del Vecchio, who also had a hand in producing the album, and Dan Rossall (Passion), while of the three band members, Blades and Aldrich took on the bulk of the songwriting load. The ballad Eyes of a Child, which closes the album, was co-written by Blades and his Damn Yankees buddy Tommy Shaw (Styx).
Even though Castronovo delivers most of the lead vocals, Blades is practically essential for shaking up the material, whether through vocal duets (Higher) or by taking over the lead vocal (Talk To Me). Considering that Blades is one of the lead vocalists in Night Ranger, and a guy with an exceptionally good voice, the trademark of those AOR/west coast legends mentioned above, Revolution Saints actually underuse his vocal abilities when it comes to mixing up the album.
Aldrich is once again stunning on the solos. Simply stunning. Well, more than “simply stunning.” He’s that good. So much has been said about this guitarist, and when you describe what he brings to music, whether it’s Whitesnake, The Dead Daisies, Burning Rain, or even his short stop in Dio, you always end up reaching for superlatives. This time is no different. His soloing is a kind of poetry, and together with Blades he’s also contributed some seriously punchy and distinctive guitar phrases, sharpened by the potent edge of old-school rock.
The songs unfold very predictably, following the recipe of the old-school AOR/west coast approach, so don’t expect (or demand) any special musical revelations. The songwriting is clever enough, but the solutions can’t stray from that template. One thing is clear: if you love melodic rock, »Rise« is going to be right up your alley. It’s played, written and produced at an exceptionally high level, and the quality shows. With names this big behind Revolution Saints, you wouldn’t have expected anything less. After two highly accomplished albums comes a third that keeps that quality going. Sure, there’s a lot of routine here again, which is no surprise, but the charismatic trio doesn’t hold back on passion in the execution, which, despite the tried-and-true songwriting template, gives the tracks their own chemistry and that unmistakable pomp theater. It’s something these three musicians have already got us well used to. Fans of this style will once again be more than thrilled.
author: Aleš Podbrežnik
Tracklist:
1. When The Heartache Has Gone
2. Price We Pay
3. Rise
4. Coming Home
5. Closer
6. Higher
7. Talk To Me
8. It’s Not The End (It’s Just The Beginning)
9. Million Miles
10. Win Or Lose
11. Eyes Of A Child
Line-up:
Deen Castronovo – vocals, drums
Jack Blades – bass guitar, backing vocals
Doug Aldrich – guitar
Additional musicians:
Alessandro Del Vecchio – keyboards, backing vocals
Lunakaire – guest vocals on “Talk to Me”
