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April 2024

• War Grave: War Grave EP
• Six By Six: Beyond Shadowland
• Vanden Plas: The Empyrean Equation Of The Long Lost Things
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March 2024

• Cruzh: The Jungle Revolution
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February 2024

• Traveler: Prequel To Madness
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January 2024

• Corvus: Immortals
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• Neal Morse: The Restoration - Joseph - Part Two
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• Jack Russell & Tracii Guns: Medusa
• Jim Peterik & World Stage: Roots & Shoots Vol. 1
• The Grandmaster: Black Sun

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Revertigo: Revertigo

Melodic Hard Rock/Metal

4.0/5.0

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Frontiers Music
Words: Craig Hartranft
Added: 13.02.2018

Revertigo brings together two Swedish musicians and long time friends, vocalist Mats Leven (Candlemass, Krux, Therion, Treat, et al) and Treat guitarist Anders Wikstrom. Their last collaboration together was Treat's 1992 self-titled album. But in 2016 they gathered to write some new songs, which became a three song demo. The demo, in turn, made it's way to Frontiers Music guru Serafino Perugino, who immediately signed the duo for their self-titled debut album Revertigo.

Revertigo's Wikstrom and Leven

Essentially, what you have with Revertigo is the sound of Treat with Leven's relatively raspy, sometimes raw, vocals. To be fair and honest (as loyal readers have come to expect), I'm not a huge fan of Leven's voice. (The first time I heard him was on an At Vance album in the early 2000's and didn't think he could sing. Oh well.) Though he does sing melodic, I find him to be an acquired taste, sounding better on some songs than others. On Hoodwinked or Luciferian Break Up, he sounds throaty and a bit screamo. Alternatively, within Symphony Of Fallen Angels he sounds more smooth; within Unobtainium, less strained.

Fundamentally then, I can safely say I enjoyed Revertigo's music. Wikstrom and Leven have the talent to write some impressive melodic hard rock songs, easily giving them a metal edge, and then dropping them into an AOR wrapper. In every song, melody and harmony are at premium. The beat is big, the groove infectious. And Revertigo can quickly tune a song to turn a catchy riff or memorable refrain, for that AOR accessibility. Of course, Wikstrom lays down some soaring guitar solos. In the end, I let my ear attune to Leven's vocal style and then grooved to the music. Then it can be said that Mats Leven and Anders Wikstrom's Revertigo project delivers some creative and musically tasty melodic hard rock. Recommended. Favorite cuts include: Sailing Stones, Symphony of Fallen Angels, Unobtainium, The Cause, and oddly titled Luciferian Break Up.

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

Mats Leven and Anders Wikstrom's Revertigo project delivers some creative and musically tasty melodic hard rock. Recommended.

Alphabetical Index

Three years have passed since Sweden's Cruzh dropped their second long-player, Tropical Thunder, also introducing their new singer, Alex Waghorn. Now the band returns with The Jungle Revolution ... [ Read More ]