Review: Revelation – For the Sake of No One
Revelation – For the Sake of No One (2009) [Shadow King] // Grade: A-
A little history first… Revelation started up in the late 80s in Baltimore, Maryland releasing what is widely considered their debut album, Salvation’s Answer in 1991. They would put out albums until 1995 culminating with the fantastic …Yet So Far. Already merely a cult band in the 90s, after their original demise Revelation just slunk further and further into obscurity. You rarely if ever hear their name mentioned alongside 90s Doom and Stoner greats like Sleep, The Melvins, Kyuss or probably more accurately, Saint Vitus. Revelation definitely had a hand in paving the way for much of today’s expanding Doom/Stoner & Sludge scene, even if they don’t get much credit for it.
In 2007, the band reformed to play Baltimore’s Doom or be Doomed festival prompting the band to consider going back into the studio and work on new material. That year saw reissues of their earlier studio albums along with releases of two live concert albums (one from the 80s and one form the 90s). This would then all culminate in Release, the band’s first new studio album in eleven years eleven. By 2008, the Doom scene was hardly a fledgling little creature looking for a strong fanbase, it was a burgeoning monster that was swelling almost out of control. Release was sent out into the world with as much power and passion as the band’s earlier material to compete with a host of newer bands, most of whom weather they knew it or not, owed a heavy debt to Revelation’s 90′s material. In that same year, the band also released what was their shelved S/T debut from 1988.
Phew! Now that you’re all caught up lets get to their new album, For the Sake of No One. What can I say? over two decades since they formed these guys still fucking have it and For the Sake of No One rocks right up their with the likes of …Yet So Far. These guys are masters of the Sabbath and Trouble school of slow stewing Doom focusing a lot on pentatonic blues based riffage rather than the sustained single note drawl that’s become the norm in modern Doom. The guitar sound on the album is particularly amazing. The riffs are simple and contained but regularly open up into open chord flourishes that not only accent how monolithic the preceding riffs were, but give each track and the album breath. The sound is akin to trying to run through a forest at dawn that’s covered in a fresh and heavy snowfall. Sun glaring down, fresh air, still and serene scenery all around you while your movement is slow trying to trudge through the clean snow… absolutely amazing. It’s a has a very 70′s style of playing that while a throwback is unbelievably refreshing to hear in 2009, especially when executed with such mastery. John Brenner’s vocals are another reason why this album is just as fresh as it is. Brenner has always been more of a vocalist than your usual doom metal singers and his high and nasally voice just sweeps through the music carrying effortless and crisp melodies, particularly on the expansive “Canyons”.
If you actually head over to the Bland Hand Records site (which is run by the band I believe) you’ll find the entire Revelation discography available for download as high quality mp3s. The downloads are on a donation based system and I strongly encourage any Doom metal fan who hasn’t heard this album yet, or even of the band just yet to go over there throw the band a few dollars and enjoy!
