REVOCATION - Deathless
October 24, 2014, 10 years ago
Metal Blade Records
Boston technical thrashers, Revocation, has delivered a ferocious beast with its fifth full-length release, Deathless, its first for Metal Blade Records. The band is on fire throughout the ten tracks. The most noticeable element is David Davidson’s “throaty” vocals, which sound less metalcore this time around. His vocal delivery has improved tenfold, especially on the more melodically-layered harmonies such as on “Labyrinth Of Eyes” and “Deathless.” The production is up front and clear, perhaps maybe just a little too thin for this type of music, but it definitely sounds more robust than last year’s self-titled album. Lead-off track, “A Debt Owed To The Grave,” immediately explodes out of the gate. Although it extends just a tad too long, it’s a decent opening number. In fact, some tracks could have used a vasectomy to shorten them up to achieve more of a lasting impact. Davidson, a Berklee College of Music graduate, really shows off his guitar skills throughout the album. Although he’s very much a metal guitar player, he’s heavily influenced by jazz fusion, which he displays on segments of “Madness Opus.” But technical thrash is what Revocation is all about and the band deals out a deadly dose on Deathless.
