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Revolution Renaissance: Trinity

Melodic Heavy/Power Metal

3.5/5.0

Napalm Records
www.myspace.com/revolutionrenaissance
www.myspace.com/timotolkkiofficial
Review: Craig Hartranft,  09.06.2010

As I write this review, and even before Trinity sees the light of day in the world, founder and guitarist Timo Tolkki has called an end to Revolution Renaissance. The reasons are manifold but come down two main things: Tolkki's personal issues and the simple fact that he couldn't get the band booked for any decent gigs. Troubling indeed. For our purposes in this review, the question is how does RevRen go out on their third album, appropriately titled, Trinity? The answer, I'm afraid, is an ambivalent, about average.

First, there's no doubting Tolkki and RevRen's talent, so that's not the issue here. However, this talent is not really well used on Trinity. This is simple, conventional, and mostly average European melodic power metal from first to last. Thankfully, unlike their debut New Era, the power metal is quite strong on every song, just too damn predictable. However, Trinity does not have the grandeur and heroics of the sophomore release Age of Aquarius, a terrific album. Instead, this could be the long lost and last Stratovarius album if Timo had not left the band.

Don't get me wrong: Trinity is a sound and adequate album with fine moments in Dreamchild and Just Let It Rain, both contain that infectious and catchy enthusiasm and melody that can make power metal terrific. Revolution Renaissance's swan song, however, is the lengthy title track which shows the true capabilities and passion of the band in that aforementioned heroic grandeur (and it also proves how good a guitar player Tim Tolkki truly is). Otherwise, across the board, there's still that feeling uneasy comfortability.

Revolution Renaissance's Trinity proves the promise and, unfortunately, the inherent instability of this impressive band. Their releases have been uneven, and they close it with a solid, yet better than average, platter of predictable melodic power metal. Nevertheless, it still deserves recognition and recommendation.

Note: All Amazon advertising in this review first benefits the artist, then Craig Hartranft also receives a residual. Click, and thanks for your support.

Revolution Renaissance's Trinity proves the promise and, unfortunately, the inherent instability of this impressive band. Their releases have been uneven, and they close it with a solid, yet better than average, platter of predictable melodic power metal.

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Next year, American metal band Riot V, founded by the late guitarist Mark Reale (d. 2012), will celebrate their 50th anniversary in the metal business. Though we haven't had a new studio album from the band ... [ Read More ]