VOYAGER: I Am the ReVolution

Released: September 25

Voyager have moved into more melodic territory with each subsequent release, and with I am the ReVolution, their third full-length release, they appear to be on the very brink of departing from the realms of metal and into other avenues of melodic rock. This new album seems to represent the same point in the band's development as A Fine Day to Exit did for Anathema--but with considerably more direction and focus in the songwriting department--or, perhaps even more accurately, where Paradise Lost went with One Second.

Without completely losing sight of their heritage as a metal band, there is an almost over-riding emphasis on the synth-pop element of their sound on this album. The shiny production certainly stresses the more melodic aspects ahead of the heavier ones and apart from some darker growling on a couple of tracks, Nephil's harmonious mid-range singing brings to mind those of sophisticated Euro-pop acts. Indeed, there were times when I am the ReVolution reminded me of no one more than Depeche Mode: the pop ballad "In My Arms" sounds so much like them I had to check to make sure it wasn't actually a cover. The brief interlude "Without a Sigh" is another Mode-esque moment and the title track that follows it sounds strangely like David Gahan doing guest vocals with Dream Theater.

The intriguing mix of styles and influences is introduced immediately on "Land of Lies" with Nephil's variously sung, whispered and growled vocals playing off against intermingling guitar melody lines and synth solos; this and "Total Existance Failure" (sic) with its more predominant riffing are perhaps the most "metal" songs on the whole album, and while there are metal aspects on almost all the songs, Voyager plays around with so many other styles that defining them as simply a metal band just doesn't seem right. "The Devil in Me" is simply fantastic symphonic rock with a hook in the chorus that Martin Gore would kill to write, and the same could almost be said for the likes of "On the Run from the World" and "Times Like These", all of which are virtually flawless examples of metal riffs combined with synth-pop. "Close Your Eyes" is a nice darker song that recalls late-90s Paradise Lost, and is a clear highlight with its extended atmospheric middle section and "Straight to the Other Side" is just so stupidly catchy you'll have trouble getting the lyrics "Why am I always feeling so dissatisfied?/Why am I always feeling like I'm not alive?" out of your head for days. Nephil adds even more texture on occasion with a darkened whisper in his native German.

I am the ReVolution is an almost perfect record of modern progressive melodic metal, pushing the boundaries of what truly defines the metal band by being completely unafraid of experimenting with totally different styles of music and making them all work together so well it just seems too easy.

1. Land of Lies
2. Common Ground
3. Lost
4. The Devil in Me
5. Close Your Eyes
6. Total Existance Failure
7. Straight to the Other Side
8. In My Arms
9. Times Like These
10. On the Run From the World
11. Without a Sigh
12. I am the ReVolution

Rating: 96%