Customer Reviews

Revolver

5 star:		(31)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Sometimes it can be pretty easy to start overanalyzing a metal album (or any other album, for that matter). The astounding technical explorations of bands like Meshuggah and the Dillinger Escape Plan have taken heavy music into new territory over the past decade or so, adding an intellectual element that few people probably saw coming when mullets were ruling the scene two decades ago. With some albums, though, it's still appropriate to ask yourself a few simple questions in order to judge its quality. To wit: does it make you want to lower your head and run into a wall? Does it provide an outlet for your more aggressive tendencies that won't land you in prison? Do you find yourself suddenly making the devil sign when playing it? Does it make your cat run and hide under the bed? (Note: this question may not apply to all listeners). Anyway, the Haunted's latest release is one such album, and the answer to all of the above questions is fortunately a resounding yes.

With original vocalist Peter Dolving and his demented shriek back on the mic after a two-album hiatus, the Haunted have released yet another classic piece of metallic goodness. While rEVOLVEr isn't a dark, disturbing masterpiece in the vein of its predecessor One Kill Wonder, it does deliver the goods with a mix of warp-speed thrash and crushingly heavy, more groove-laden stuff. Naturally, the musicianship is top-notch, sounding a lot like Slayer without the goofy excess that has marked even that band's better work. Pushing the Haunted's trademark intensity to almost pornographic levels, the songs on rEVOLVEr are marked mainly by the band's devastating two-guitar onslaught and some of the tightest and most maniacal drumming this side of the grindcore genre. And if you think good guitar solos died with the respectable version of Metallica, think again, because this album offers some of the sharpest of the decade so far.

Most importantly, rEVOLVEr offers more of the amazingly tight and varied songwriting that elevates this band above the plain. Plenty of bands can beat you over the head with heaviness, but the Haunted manage to impress even more by doing it in such an intelligent manner. From the musical scorched-earth policy of "No Compromise" and the devastating riffage of "99" to the complex rhythms of "Who Will Decide" and the epic ominousness of "My Shadown," the Haunted continue to prove that they're a lot more than just another Swedish neo-thrash band. They're one of the best heavy bands on Earth right now, period.

With The Haunted, the Bjorler brothers add a more metalcore singer and sound to their music. And what do the originators of Gothenburg do when they have a run in with the americanized version of the genre they started?

They kill it.

This is in every conceivable way better than Slipknot, Killswitch Engage or basically any other metalcore/mallcore band that has been made to this day.

Why you may ask?

Because they add genuine anger to their music, and not just manufactured angst to sell records to angry teenagers. They also have musical talent, with the Bjorler brothers's thrashy guitaring(/bassing) and Adrian Erlanndsson's amazingly heavy and fast(but not tasteless like Dimmu Borgir) drumming. This album has basically confirmed to me that anything America has done on the metal scene, Sweden has done better.

I've always like the haunted, always consdiered their first cd to be a classic...actually all of them are pretty good albums. But I think this one may be better than their first one!

The first thing noticeable about this album is that their first singer PETER DOLVING is back at the helm. Loved marco's stuff with the haunted but always thought dolving was the best. He's got such a good clean voice. He screams and shouts and does it fast at times, gives their music a old school punk feel but without all the gayness that comes along with (most) punk bands (of any time era).

The next thing that pops into focus is the name of the album. It's called revolver. This seems normal, since it's the haunted we are talking about: guns are always mentioned in their albums. But what is this? It's called rEVOLVEr. Don't get scared. This doesn't mean they lost their thrash metal roots and went pop mainstream. But they did evolve a little. There is more to the songs now, some are longer than typical haunted. And dolving sings now! It's the coolest singing voice ever, well one of them. It's got a country serial killer twang to it, has to be heard to be believed.

Another thing they changed is that some of the songs are slower than their past stuff. I don't mean slow as in ballad. The songs still got that thrashy chug chug sound but they put GROOVE and SLUDGE into some of the songs and it sounds GREAT.

Also, the "swedish" feel to their riffs are back. One kill wonder sound more american but this one sounds swedish like their first one.

All in all, this is the biggest suprise of the year for me. album of the year behind the new megadeth and new iced earth.

thrash fans. the haunted fans. metal fans. all must buy this.

Most all fans would tell you it's great to have Peter Dolving back from a two album hiatus. Even though his vocal style becomes a bit repetitive, he helps make "rEVOLVEr" quite in-your-face. His vocals on this album are reminiscent of, but not quite as intense as Meshuggah's Jens Kidman's. Plus, he's backed by a very strong rhythm section and the beats are steamrolling. Guitarists Anders and Patrick lay down riff after pounding riff, and drummer Per Moller is very quick. But the Haunted are more than just another loud band from Sweden. The guitarists' very tight musicianship and occasional guitar solos help to lift this group well above the average playing field. The album opening track, "No Compromise," has a speedy, groovey guitar attack deft, pounding snare drums, and a brief shout-along refrain. Next, "Sabotage" is an explosion of guitars and thumping drums, "Nothing Right" has pummeling drums, and "Sweet Relief" has rhythmic, punching riffs which hit the listener like a blow to the temple. Finally, "Liquid Burns" has very fast, cascading riffs, and drumming which could pass for a slow jackhammer. So, no matter what genre you call this--melodic death metal, thrash metal, or groove-oriented thrash--it's safe to say that, with "rEVOLVEr," the Haunted shoot down and annihilate the competition. And it's great to have Peter back; "rEVOLVEr" is a superb album, and the only place the Haunted can go from here is up!

DOlving absolutely kills. His vocal style does sound like a homicidal country singer in the smooth parts and fits the feel well. This album is the soundtrack to a deranged mind and I love it. 99, Burnt to a shell, and My shadow are my favs. , but the whole album is great. Much better then One Kill Wonder in my opinion and I really like that album. IMPORTANT THING HERE DYNAMICS. Lots of moody slow parts and lots of rip your face off old school hardcore style beat fests. OH yeah its that good.Buy it and have Dolving melt your face off.

The haunted Revolver is exactally what i hoped for and then some, its completely new and original and heavy as hell, perfect thrash. 99 is a most excellent song and extremely catchy and Abysmal is heavenly, it starts off pretty soft with some demented lyrics then drop kicks in while you hear LYE being screamed on an unmatchable level.and the solo's in the song match the everything perfectly. All the songs really go together well on this album and awesomely done, its THE HAUNTED and memorable and like i said completely new but still recognizable to be non other then The Haunted.

Marco Aro had the dubious task of filling in for Peter when he left The Haunted after the first album. What Marco accomplished with "The Haunted Made Me Do It"(along with the rest of the excellent cast of The Haunted) was an outstanding second effort that shut all of the nay Sayers. They returned with "One Kill Wonder" with a noticeably heavier sound. This album was nothing revolutionary or incredibly new but it still was a solid, if-it-ain't-broke-don't-fix-it style album that enjoyed a lot of success.

After that, Marco left the music industry to be with his growing family and to become a brick-layer (lol, funny job to leave music for but hard and honest work nonetheless). Without a front man for the second time, The Haunted was dead in the water... until Peter called.

Now to the review, "rEVOLVEr" is exactly the way you wanted The Haunted to sound on their 4th studio effort. Infectious songs like 99 and ALL AGAINST ALL will have you saying, "Damn!" while headbanging and driving at the same time. Then, you have BURNT TO A SHELL. I'm not one for the booming chorus stuff but the one in this song is outstanding. The lyrics to it are equally excellent: "So when I die, lead my remains into the fire. So that my soul flies, and I reach the end of the line... Burnt To a Shell".

Those three songs I named are just mere highlights in the overall amazing album that is "rEVOLVEr". Their sound has really evolved and should stand out even more among the Gothenburg bands. You will not be dissapointed with this album at all. The more you listen, the more you love. Lyrically, the album is above average and musically it is just outstanding. All of these things mesh into a superb release that will have all Haunted fans clapping with joy and headbanging in unison. Happy Haunting.

Holy Friggin Cr@p,This CD Is Just The Best Haunted Album To Date,And It Totally Kicks "One Kill Wonder" 's @ss,Just Listen To "No Compromise,99,Fire Alive(For Whoever Got The Extra Track CD),And Sabotage" Simply Amazing. Dolving's Vocals Are Just Better Than Ever...Crisp And Clear. I Cut School Today So I Can Just Get This Album...They Had The Original CD,And The Limited Extra Tracks Edition (Duh I'll Pick The Limited One). My Tip To All Of Metal Fans,And Haunted Fans...Get This CD And Friggin Headbang Like Never Before..Lates

The Haunted's new release, "rEVOLVEr" is very reminiscent of their self-titled debut CD. So reminiscent, in fact, that I kept expecting them to break into "Hate Song" at any second. With a few exceptions, many of the songs have that frantic, rock/metal sound that was so amazing on their 1st CD. At the same time, the band treads into some new territory - you will hear relatively extended periods of clean vocals for the first time, which Dolving seems to be pretty good at. It all works very well, and "rEVOLVEr" is really a great album ... only in my humble opinion, it's not as good as "One Kill Wonder". With Marco at the helm, The Haunted were a heavier band, and while "Made Me Do It" was not as good as their debut, the band really hit their stride with Marco's second album "One Kill Wonder". In my mind, "One Kill Wonder" made The Haunted one of the very best brutal thrash bands around (second only to The Crown, may they rest in peace). I can certainly understand why people are happy with Dolving's return because this is almost like a different band with him.

If you like the heavier version of The Haunted, you will probably still like this CD a lot but not as much as the albums released with Marco. If you prefer the band's sound on their debut release, then "rEVOLVEr" will most likely be your favorite Haunted CD.

Five stars compared to any other CD released this year. Four and a half stars compared to previous Haunted releases.

but... I was erxtremely addicted to this album at one point. The vocals sounded just exactly like American vocalists and I am quite aware of the fact that the guitarists are from the legendary At the Gates. The album as a whole sounds like it should be an American album. The style borders American metalcore and thrash but is done in a way better way. It's an excellent, catchy, thrashy album. I can't say too much more about it. Get it and you got yourself a listenable fun album.