Sometimes a promo comes out that I just need to review. The promo in question here is Revocation’s new slab, Netherheaven. However, it was about third or fourth in line, I thought I had a lot more time, and then the boss comes in, knocks my macaroni and cheese off my desk into my lap, and asks “Where’s that fucking Revocation, kid?!” Deadlines…

So, as I type this, I am currently chained in the dungeon and yes, this is on a typewriter, so please forgive any grammatical mistakes or typos. “What about the ones before,” you ask incredulously. Well… Shut up.

On this new one, the band wastes little time, sounding like themselves, but also like they have something to prove. “Diabolical Majesty,” the opener, wastes no time. Dave Davidson (come on, mom…do better) employs his normal mid-range growl with his discernible death growls, and if you’re not new to the band, you already know he brings the riffs. I consider the opener a mission statement, and that statement is that Revocation is back. This album implores me to raise my fist and employ air guitar far more than any other so far this year.

Take for instance the bluesy solo section in “Lessons in Occult Theft” for Exhibit A. For the fist-pumping moments, look no further than “Strange and Eternal,” which is the next track. I may identify a bit too much with the lyrics and enjoy the clean vocal section at the end.
Skipping past the instrumental and moving forward, perhaps the grooviest track is “Godforsaken.” This one takes the speed down, let’s say half a notch. The two best parts of this track come when it’s almost over, with a slower, bluesy guitar solo section followed by a monster breakdown. It’s a great track, and the ending makes it quite memorable.

The final track on this monster, “Re-Crucified,” features some names and voices you’ve heard before and probably already read about. It’s a short, crisp track to end it, but no less effective. Trevor Strnad makes an appearance, but I admit Corpsegrinder’s makes more of an impact. When he comes in with around two minutes left, it’s one of those fanboy “fuck yeah” moments. It precedes some guitar wizardry as expected and ends the album with a shot of adrenaline making you want more.

Look, this is great. I’ve enjoyed to certain degrees everything Revocation has put out. I always look forward to and purchase their albums, but if I’m being honest the last I had on repeat was Deathless, and Netherheaven ranks right up there with it. I’m needy and have been especially so lately, but something I didn’t know I needed was an excellent new Revocation album… and I sure as shit got one,re-establishing their place as one of modern metal’s best.

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