It was supposed to be one album. Correction: It was supposed to be a Deen Castronovo (Journey, Bad English, Hardline, The Dead Daisies) solo album. But when bassist Jack Blades (Night Ranger, Damn Yankees) and guitarist Doug Aldrich (Lion, Whitesnake, Dio, The Dead Daisies) joined it was decided it would be a band-project. When the self-titled debut, released in 2015, became a success they guys were talked into following it up and they did that twice. With both Blades and Aldrich on tight schedules both declined doing a fourth but the Frontiers label wanted at least one more so instead of doing said Castronovo solo album, guitarist Joel Hoeckstra (Whitesnake, Night Ranger, Trans Siberian Orchestra) and bassist Jeff Pilson (Foreigner, Dokken, The End Machine, Black Swan) were asked to participate and both gave it their thumbs up. If this is a one-off with this line-up remains to be seen.
The album opens convincing with the leading single and the album’s titular track. The soft-spoken piano opening brings out a big Journey vibe and as a matter of fact so does the rest of the tune. It’s a fine-tuned AOR-number in mid tempo yet rhythmically upbeat, quite slick but never sugary. The chorus goes full-on Journey with lots of harmonies and a catchiness that takes no prisoners. Very good indeed. On a beefy beat and with a bigger crunchiness “Talking Like Strangers” also brings on a smooth keyboard pattern with a mid 80’s swagger. Hoeckstra also gives us a splendid bluesy solo right in our faces and the chorus is hooky as can be and sticks right off the bat. Great stuff.
The single “Need Each Other” has cymbals swelling when the tune opens with a low-key piano intro in and the song continues slow and down-beat as a melancholic ballad with a saddening darkness hanging over it. The tune ups the speed some into a mid-pace when the chorus comes in, a massive chorus with a direct hook that reminds me of the debut album. Good one. “Kids Will Be Kids” is more punchy and rocking with a bigger guitar sound and a Gary Moore borrowed 80’s riff even though the slick keyboards are there. The vocal melodies are smooth and polished and the chorus takes us straight into late 80’s Arena Rock, catchy and easily grabbed. Good one.
The mellow mid-paced semi-ballad “I’ll Cry For You Tonight” brings along some orchestrated synth-strings, a darkening edge and a quite heavy rhythm-section. The quite sentimental vocal-melodies holds a strong Journey vibe and the chorus is a mastodon, a bit mellow but still large. Very good. Should be a single. “Crime Of The Century” is without a doubt the best song on the album. It’s an uptempo, straight forward rocker with inserts of both Melodic Rock and AOR where the edgy riffage comes across as a mixture of Lipservice era Gotthard and Treat. Driving verses with almost tribal drumming, big 80’s melodies, smooth harmonies and a huge chorus takes the song for the win. Terrific.
On a faster note “Set Yourself Free” is more Hard Rock laden with some punchy runs from Castronovo and Pilson and a more rough and edgy guitar sound from Hoeckstra. The tune is definitely live friendly with a big band-feel and a pulse. Still, it’s a Melodic Rock number with smooth, easy-listening melodies and big pop-hooks in the distinct and catchy refrain. Good One. Maybe with a glimpse at Iron Maiden “Sacred” grooves off with a galloping rhythm in a faster tempo. This one’s also got the big live-vibes with the raunchier guitars and punchy rhythms that are based on classic Hard Rock but it’s also spiced with slick AOR melodies and an 80’s chorus tailor-made for arenas. Another goodie.
More mellow and even subdued “Once More” is a ballad even though it’s an upbeat one with good stomp in the drums patterns. The verses holds some held-back and low register vocal lines which gives an almost forlorn touch. Again it’s quite reminiscent of Journey in the melodies and the big chorus even flirts with Toto. It’s an embracing power ballad that really catches on. Very good. The album closes with the straight forward rocker “Save It All”, a guitar driven number where the Classic Rock flirting organ marries greatly with the 80’s Journey-sounding keyboards. Style wise, Night Ranger comes to mind and the end solos brings on some Thin Lizzy influences and again, the chorus is really striking and sticks right from go. Very good.
“I know that this project is owned by Frontiers but if a fourth record is planned, some development is very much needed, in both song-writing and production”. That was one of my finishing lines in my review of the last Revolution Saints album Rise (2020) and that could be applied on this record as well. Apart from a few new inserts as the Maiden and Lizzy flirts, the album is casted in the same shape as the rest of their albums and at times it’s hard to tell which song comes off which album. What this album do have is a new-found spark and better songs than the last one – and of course, the musical skills are superb. But that goes without saying. I really like this record and it bodes well for the future. But some different outlooks when it comes to the song writing would be welcome.
7/10
More Revolution Saints reviews:
Revolution Saints
Light In The Dark
Rise
Tracklist:
1. Eagle Flight
2. Talking Like Strangers
3. Need Each Other
4. Kids Will Be Kids
5. I’ll Cry For You Tonight
6. Crime Of The Century
7. Set Yourself Free
8. Sacred
9. Once More
10. Save It All
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