Revamp - Revamp

July 12, 2010

Reviewer: Peter

Release Date: July 27, 2010
Label Nuclear Blast Records

TRACK LISTING

1.  Here’s My Hell
2.  Head up High
3.  Sweet Curse
4.  Million
5.  In Sickness ‘Till Death Do Us
     Part 1: All Goodbyes Are Said
6.  Break
7.  In Sickness ‘Till Death Do Us
     Part 2: Disdain
8.  In Sickness ‘Till Death Do Us
     Part 3: Disgraced
9.  Kill Me with Silence
10.  Fast Forward
11.  The Trial of Monsters
12.  Under My Skin
13.  I Lost Myself

Total playing time: 51:48

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*Comments:

When I read that former After Forever vocalist Floor Jansen was going to form a band called ReVamp, certain expectations went along with the band even before they released an album.  Throw in some familiar names contributing to the project (Waldemar Sorychta and ex-After Forever keyboardist Joost van den Broek contributed to the album) and the expectations are even higher.

Saying all of that, there is almost a feeling that ReVamp is doomed to fall flat on its face for its self-titled debut.  Many people, including myself, will find it difficult to hear ReVamp and not have expectations in line with an After Forever album or compare ReVamp to After Forever.  However, ReVamp is a different band, so expectations should be adjusted accordingly before listening to the album, as difficult as that task sounds.

Going through the self-titled album for the first time, the expectations of ReVamp being another After Forever are going to be there, so there will be some disappointment.  And nowhere is this more evident than on the opening track “Here’s My Hell,” where the listener may find themselves disappointed from the start.  One could say that the role of Sander Gommans (ex-After Forever guitarist/vocalist) on the song could be filled by George Oosthoek, as he is a pretty good growling compliment to Jansen.  Other contributors to the album include Russell Allen of Symphony X on “Sweet Curse” and Bjorn Strid of Soilwork on “In Sickness ‘Till Death Part 2: Disdain.”  The former is actually one of the best songs on the album, as Allen and Jansen show great chemistry with one another and Allen’s strong vocals bring out the best in Jansen.  The latter isn’t quite as together as far as vocals, as Strid’s vocals are a little too “melodic death” to fit in with the symphonic elements on the song.  Overall, the music seems to be more of a backing band for Jansen, which was often the complaint for those who didn’t like After Forever.  ReVamp isn’t going to change the minds of those who are looking for ways to pin ReVamp with After Forever, which is already an obstacle for ReVamp to gain fans.  However, those who are patient enough to listen to ReVamp three or four times or at least long enough to put the After Forever comparisons aside will find the album to be worthwhile.

From an objective point of view, ReVamp can stand on its own merits, even when you take into account the body of work that the vocalist has, as well as the contributing musicians.  Is ReVamp an After Forever clone?  No.  Should you expect ReVamp to be anything resembling After Forever?  No.  The self-titled debut will take time to get into, but with three or four good listens, one will find some good within ReVamp.