Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10
The ancient civilisations such as the Greeks and Romans had words to defend the meaning of when supreme beings banded together to take on a foe that threatened their way of life. As with all things, poetic quality has been lost in translation over the corresponding centuries and now the only phrase that seems to justify the immensity of talent that comes in the shape of Revolution Saints and their superb eponymous debut album is one of a Titan’s fury, a divinity of rock elegance and soaring spirit.
Titan fury, the storm that rages in the heart of the Eye of Jupiter, both seem a meagre offering of expression to describe the coming together of Doug Aldrich, Jack Blades and Deen Castronovo. Three men who can take on any of their counterparts from across the Rock spectrum and leave them panting at the finishing line, short of breath and gaping wide eyed and senseless at the sight of the three men carrying on into the distance; never stopping, never surrendering.
The debut album contains the delicious talents of Neal Schon, Arnel Pineda and the scintillating Alessandro Del Vecchio, who also oversaw production throughout the making of the album, and it is as if the combination of raw and exciting talent, especially with the inclusion of the great Neal Schon on the track Way To The Sun, that brings the thought of effortless wonder to mind.
No matter how many times across so many different records the listener may have come across Deen Castronovo’s vocals, it should be argued that they have never sounded as crisp, as direct and bountiful as they do on Revolution Saints. The vocals are like waking up after a thousand mile drive on a deserted highway, the thunder and rain soaking through the metal coverings and with very little petrol in the tank to get up the drive and then seeing the sun for the first time in days as it pokes its head up over the horizon. Tantalising, even hypnotic, but always encouraging and of the quality of being able to draw in the listener from afar, Deen Castronovo has never sounded better.
Tracks such as Turn Back Time, the excellent Locked Out of Paradise, Strangers To This Life and the caressing nature of How To Mend A Broken Heart all combine to make Revolution Saints a dream of a release. A defining moment in the annals of rock.
Revolution Saints is released on February 20th.
Ian D. Hall