The Leeds quintet have thrown everything they have into this release. Revolution first appeared as a self released album in 2013, but produced with the mastery of Roy Z, their stunning debut has been rejuvenated and taken to a different level. Hopefully the album will now be taken to the wider audience it deserves.
At the heart of this album is what made British rock popular around the world. The mighty Iron Maiden are a huge influence not only with the fiery drumming of Lewie Lewington but also the guitar work of Deano Silk and Zachary Daniels. There's also inevitably a knock on influence from the bastard love child of NWOBHM, Thrash, with homages to Metallica creeping in along the way. Vocally James Hetfield must have been an influence for James Hart. Whilst the band wear their colours on their sleeve, they have morphed their sound and style into the proverbial kick up the backside that modern British rock and metal so desperately needs.
The first step in this musical revolution starts with Awake. The opening lines, which are spoken may sound a little familiar. “Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray The Lord my soul to keep...' It is of course the same affirmation used in Metallica's Enter Sandman. This time however, it's a reply by the Kid in Sandman when he grew up and reversing the ideas from Metallica's best known song. Musically the track draws you in with its hypnotic guitar work and thrash drumming. Track 2, Chasing The Dragon has more of an up-tempo feel and is almost a tad out of place stylistically with the rest of the album, and a total U-turn from the juggernaut of an opener. But don't let that fool you, it's a bloody good track.
Forgiven is a superbly crafted rock song. It's dark, grungy sound is tempered by its aggressive riffing and epic chorus. From here on in every track on the album is a revelation with thunderous musicianship and thrilling and enchanting melodic vocals.
World War Three is a chilling and poignant ballad that expresses social commentary in a way that only heavy metal and folk music can do. It's a haunting song in its verses, which are stripped bare, and rebellious in its booming chorus. This song could well be an anthem for the band. The next song on the album is the aptly named End Of The World. This track has some desperate vocals from James which sound as if he is holding on for dear life. After some blockbusters there is still no let up musically. The final stretch of the album really slows things down as if it were a musical victory lap, with nothing left to prove. Someday is a stadium level ballad, Lei è quella is a pulsating track with echos of Alter Bridge and boasts some great drumming and duel guitar. The woeful Where Are You Now? finishes the album with a mournful piano which makes us reach for the play button to hear the whole album again.
Jupiter Falls have made one of the most impressive rock debut albums of the year, make no mistake. For a first album it's outstanding, lyrically and musically. Only time will tell if they have peaked too soon, although I am inclined to think that this is just the warm up for what is to come. Let the revolution begin!