Revelation Theory
Self-titled CDR EP
Idol
Roc Entertainment
Genres: alt rock
Idol Roc Entertainment
230 Hilton Ave. Ste. 208
Hempstead, NY 11550
Sep 6 - 12 2004 |
I stuck Revelation Theory's EP into my CD player with a
decidedly non-open mind. I'm one of those types who judges books by
covers and all that other sacrilege; and likewise, after absorbing the
general presentation of Revelation Theory as a whole I gave the
disc a listen and congratulated myself on having mystical prophetic
skills.
So now that I know that I'm going to be ripping them apart for
pretty much the whole of this review, the question is where to start.
And like any good citizen I'll do what needs to be done and start at
the foundation. Yes, the rhythm section. Because the frank lack of
creativity in the rhythm section is what sends this whole hopeful
project with big dreams into yet another gabbing, quivering mess - no,
scratch that. Revelation Theory is not a mess. They are far
from a mess. They harmonize well and produce nice, clean music. But
(and yes, here's the next punchline, get the drumroll going) this is
one of the cases where you want the music to be shrouded in a giant
musical wave of mutilation. When you strip all the excess noise away
you get the true selves behind Revelation Theory. And they're
boring.
Make no mistake, this is the attack of the clones. "Save
Yourself" is rhythmically a carbon copy of the Deftones'
radio hit "My Own Summer." Only a slight transposition and
some different, less screamo lyrics make any differentiation between
the two. Devoted Indieville readers may remember Jera
and their noble attempt to voice their deepest emotions through the
nabbed melodies and riffs of Nickelback. Now imagine taking a
step down from that; yes, Revelation Theory does so with flying
colors by using Nickelback and co's style to voice absolutely
nothing. When you can find actual lyrics through the appropriately
alt-rock vocal distortion, there is, surprisingly, the hint of
something emotional. But it's only a hint. Listening to the Theory
moan "I don't want to make the walls around them" and so on
is quite different than seeing it in writing. In writing, at least,
there's some potential in the lyrics, there's some shred of meaning
inside. Through the alt-rock filter of Revelation Theory,
however, they just come out as meaningless decoration for their
extravaganza of stolen music. "Begun, the Clone Wars have,"
Yoda mumbles in the cinematic masterpiece Star Wars Episode II:
Attack of the Clones. In the landscape of radio alt-rock, the
Clone Wars are on in full force with Revelation Theory. And it
doesn't take an Episode III to realize that the clones are the
bad guys.
46%
Engelbert K. Mutton [Vitals:
6 tracks, distributed by the
band, released 2003] |