Revertigo are basically a duo of Mats Leven and his ex Treat bandmate, Anders Vikstrom. This album was released through Frontiers in 2018. Melodic hard rock is on the menu here, but not in a tried and trusted retro way, as this is music for the now. Lots of modern influences, especially with the production and of course, as you would expect with the pedigree of these two, there are big hooks, great choruses, and melodies by the mile. I’m not sure how much Frontiers got behind this release but I’d guess not enough. They should have been jumping all over this because this is a freakin’ awesome record.
Hoodwinked kicks things into gear and straight away the ground work is laid for the whole album. A great groove with a massive radio friendly hook and chorus. Sailing Stones is even better, more of the same but with added spice. You wonder how Mats keeps coming up with these vocal melodies because he has been in a squillion projects, and you’d think that the ideas may be wearing thin, but that is not the case as this one’s a doozy.
Just when you think the pinnacle has been reached, Symphony Of Fallen Angels makes contact with your ears. The groove and riff are super cool but that hook and chorus are just superb. The word anthem doesn’t do it justice. The Cause has more of a modern edge but has melody stamped all over it, and the guitar solo is well tasty. The main riff and groove to Luciferian Break Up is quite unusual with an almost funk vibe, and even hints of Prog, especially in the vocal. Great song!
Over to Side 2 we go and the track False Flag with a heavy U2 vibe to the intro, then that main heavy riff kicks in, and when that hook and chorus hit you it’s just sublime. Unobtainium is a ballad with a cool eastern vibe to the intro and shows the control, range, and power of Mats’ vocals. Gate Of The Gods gets the tempo moving with a cool synth driven tune and once again the hook and chorus are very cool. Joan of Arc is maybe the one song that doesn’t fit here because the vibe is a bit more metal. Good song with a strong hook and chorus, but it just has a different feel to the rest of the record.
Break Away is the most modern sounding track here, with a slight alternative vibe and groove. The guitars sound heavier and not your average rock n’ roll beat. The album closes out with In Revertigo, the heaviest sounding song here. The main riff is down in the low end and satisfyingly crunchy, I also love the middle eight.
I do hope there is another record because the quality of the material demands it. If you find one, grab it, and thank me later.
9/10 from The Grooveman.
