Lord Belial - Revelation

Published April 25 2007

*=Staff's pick	7th Seal Ancient Splendor* Aghast* Death As Solution* Unspoken Veneration Death Cult Era Vile Intervension Gateway To Obliveon Unholy War Black Wings Of Death Grievance

Genre	Black Metal	Thomas Backelin	Vocals
Tracks	11	Thomas Backelin	Guitar
Runningtime	43 Min.	Pepa Andersson	Guitar
Label	Regain Records	Anders Backelin	Bass
Release	30 April 2007	Micke Backelin	Drums
Country	Sweden	-	Keyboard
Similar artists	Dissection, Sacramentum

Revelation is the 7th coming from Swedish Lord Belial. Since the debut Kiss The Goat, Lord Belial has been a platform for melodic black metal in the veins of early Dissection and Sacramentum. Not much has happened since the beginning back in 1992. The music is still based upon melody lines with loads of guitar harmonies in order to create the typical Swedish sound that has been staning model for so many bands up to todays date. Or if we should be more precise; It's the famous "Bohus sound". For non-swedish readers, it's pretty much the same as Dissection. The seventh album Revelation was recorded and produced at Los Angered Studios by Andy LaRocque.

Revelation begins well with the song Ancient Splendor, no question about influences or sound. Lord Belial is reliable on that point, you know what you'll get. The thing is that it would be exciting to see this band take a step out of their frame and brake some new ground, not that they would change their style but perhaps do something different sometime. Something like the Death Solution song with its quite unusual vocals. A killer song in its primitive anguish. Otherwise the album doesn't offer to much of surprising moments. It feels safe and steady all the way.

The production is good, and the vocals is a matter of taste I guess. Sometimes Mr. Backelin convinces with the fragile raspy vocals and sometimes I feel that there should be much darker and deeper work from the throat. Quite good song writing with some really good guitar melodies, but once again it's a bit too safe and predictable overall. Revelation feels very ok. No more no less.

Performance	Originality	Production	Vocals	Songwriting
7	6	7	6	6

Summary
6,5 chalices of 10 - Tim