Search - Revelation Theory :: Truth Is Currency

Kenneth W. (Eyesore) from TAUNTON, MA
Reviewed on 12/4/2007...

Revelation Theory is a melodic nu-metal band. RUN! Surely this will scare many of you off, but that's unfortunate. In every genre -- even genres as wholly disregarded as nu-metal -- there are quality bands releasing good music and Revelation Theory are no exception. I first stumbled across this band last year while digging through the $2 used bins. I found their self-titled EP and gave it a blind shot, I wasn't blown away by any means, but for the price it wasn't a bad deal.

I was given the opportunity to review Truth Is Currency and I figured that the self-titled EP was a good listen so I'd like to give this band a chance to broaden their audience. I'm glad, too, because Truth Is Currency is a very good CD. I should let it be known that nothing here is new; nothing is going to strike the listener as mind-blowing or anything of the sort. What you're going to get is very good melodic rock-influenced nu-metal. If you've heard Sevendust then you're in the right area of the musical spectrum, but unlike Sevendust, who're very inconsistent on CD, Revelation Theory keep it interesting throughout most of the album.

The album begins with two excellent, heavy rockers, "M367 (Out Of Our Hands)" and "Slowburn," the latter being the lead-off single and one of the catchiest tunes on the CD. "After The Rain" follows and is a more melodic song, but it has a very catchy chorus, reminiscent of the sort of thing Staind are doing now. "Leaving It Up To You" is a bit heavier, and "Selfish And Cold" is more in the vein of "After The Rain;" both are solid. "Take Away" has a nice chorus, but the verses are a bit boring, nothing special, but far from bad. The album dips at "Undone," it's just an OK song compared to the rest so far. It's not necessarily a bad song, but nothing grabs you forcefully and it just slowly sputters by. "Loathe" begins with a bass line very similar to Alice In Chains' "Would?," but the similarities end there. "Loathe" and "World To Burn" are like companion pieces to "Undone," they don't offer much to progress the album, but they're the better two songs of the group. The album ends with the acoustic "Over The Line," which is a great song, very mellow and relaxing with a solid hook. It's unfortunate that the four tracks leading up to it didn't have the impact that the first five tracks had.

Overall, not a bad CD at all, there really isn't a bad song on the album, but some are just so much better than the other tracks that they simply pale in comparison. They're still solid songs, but only good compared to the first half of the album. Like I said in the beginning, most of you will likely ignore this band out of hand, but if you're into this sort of melodic nu-metal you may want to give this band a shot. They won't wow you with unending originality, but they should entertain you with a good collection of tunes. Truth Is Currency deserves a nod.

Website: http://www.revelationtheory.com
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/revelationtheory

Good New Sound

Dark Eyes | Australia | 07/29/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I'm constantly flicking through Amazon, following a paper trail of "Other Customers Bought this..." as well as lists and reviews trying to find new bands so that I have different to listen to. Generally I tend to stick the Alternative stuff.



Lately I've been without anything new, not since 10 Years a while ago. Alot of new albums came out last year, but there hasn't been alot this year (for me) to fill the void.



Revelation Theory has produced a good debut album, a band that explores a few different speeds, sounds and vocals/instrument across the way. While I will not lie and say that there are some songs which echo the one before it, and that they remind me of other bands and hence their appeal, but this is an album which demonstrates a band which I would like to get into now and support so that they mature and bring out even better stuff in the future - I encourage you to do the same.



I also suggest that you visit their myspace to listen to a few samples, which includes 'Slowburn' and 'Selfish and Cold' - the former being a heavier and the latter more predominately acoustic. These should give you a good enough idea of their sound.



The only thing I think the band lacks, is just the final nuances of passion which separates them from other bands. While the heavier songs might make you think 'Is that not a form of passion?' I remind you that I did not say they had none. The band lacks the energy or anger which might propel the sound beyond into becoming atypical of their contemporaries. However, the potential is there and layered through their music which leads me with much hope. The only other thing which bothers me with this album is the distinct lack of length of the songs (which can be forgiven due to this being a debut) and it will be interesting with their next CD whether they will try to increase it. (The songs are short because they tend to focus on the music accompanied by vocals, lacking in the instrumental breaks which allows the other members to experiment and show their skills)



Songs like World to Burn, M367 (Out of Our Hands) and Loathe are examples of songs which immediately pique interest and retain their merits after a couple of listens, they all are (with Loathe to a degree) all heavier tracks though the band has experimented with the acoustic through 'Selfish and Cold' as well 'Over the Line' which ends the album quite nicely being, in my opinion, one of the best Tracks on the CD. The vocals are clear and have a good spectrum of sounds from an emphatic hoarse shout to being melodic, I only wish some of the other instruments got the same look in.



All in, 4/5 stars. I highly recommend them as a fresh new sound that might go a long way. Hence, there is one star left free - I'm hoping in their next album the experience and feedback from their first will have produced maturity and evolved more idenity and sound. I have expectations. I hope they are met =)"

No Revelations, Just A Solid Rock Album.

Andrew Estes | Maine | 08/29/2006

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Take your first listen to Revelation Theory's debut, "Truth Is Currency" and you can conjure up countless bands to compare these guys to. If David Draiman of Disturbed mated with Alter Bridge's Myles Kennedy and fronted a band influenced by nothing but Staind and Seether, you would have Revelation Theory. It's true, this band is not covering any new bases. However, fans of the genre will find an album that is easy to pick up and listen to. Despite not being a very long effort at that, it is to the point and most importantly, just rocks.



There are ten songs on "Truth Is Currency." Eight of them are hard-rocking ear candy. Two of them are modern-rock ballads -- "Selfish And Cold" and "Over The Line." Since these are the two songs that step outside the boundaries, they are by defualt the best of the album. But on the whole, it's a solid listen. I wish I had more to say about it, but do the math. Ten songs plus a familair sound equals not much to say.



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