The beginning of the age to start revolution – 84%
kluseba, April 5th, 2018
Written based on this version: 2004, CD, Nuclear Blast (Digipak, Enhanced)
After ten successful years that saw Crematory evolve from death and doom metal towards more commercially successful gothic metal with industrial influences, the German quintet called it quits after its anniversary tour. However, the group reformed shortly after when the five members got together to record a cover version of Metallica’s One for a compilation album and were encouraged by its label Nuclear Blast to release a comeback effort. Revolution is a very catchy, coherent and consistent album that underlines the band’s strength to combine sinister atmospheres with addictive melodies.
This combination works particularly well for the single ”Greed” which is one of the band’s heaviest and yet one of its catchiest songs at the same time. The stomping riffs and energizing growls in the verses bring back the band’s early death metal influences while the desperate and melancholic chorus underlines the band’s more melodic gothic metal trademarks. These two influences are perfectly combined via gloomy keyboard sounds and sinister sound samples. Until today, this isn’t only the band’s most successful single but also one of its very best songs.
The band sounds quite diversified throughout the record. The heavy opener ”Wake Up” starts the record with a bang and could easily please to fans of the group’s early years. ”Reign of Fear” however has a new experimental side with unexpected rhythm changes, numerous electronic sound samples and a chaotic mixture of sinister grunts and uplifting clean vocals. Album closer ”Farewell Letter” on the other side is a melancholic piano ballad with occasional acoustic guitar sounds that solely focuses on clean vocals. Crematory really explores the width of its soundscapes on this record but the tracks are so strategically combined, developed and placed that the overall listening experience remains fluid and logical.
To keep it short, Crematory’s Revolution shows a band that has found the creativity, energy and passion to kickstart the second part of its stunning career. Industrial, gothic and death metal fans alike should appreciate this highly entertaining output. Those who claim Crematory has played it too safely are proven wrong with this stunning comeback effort alone.
rafazardly 