Album Review :
The Royal Revolt - The Royal Revolt

Artist: The Royal Revolt
Title: The Royal Revolt
Label: none
Release Date: 8/11/12
Reviewer: Carter Fraser

Tracklisting:

1. Daydreams and Tea
2. Paths
3. Me In Sweater
4. Rebirth
5. Return
6. Shout It Out

It’s been a couple years now, but we may have finally found a contender to fill the quietly giant shoes of Edison Glass. I’m not aware of any Christian artist that has ever mixed technicality with energetic fun quite like Edison Glass managed to do with Time Is Fiction. It’s not surprising that Glass never reached the popularity they deserved—they could be a little tough to swallow for some—but their legacy lives on. You could say Second Story Feedback tried to pick things up where they left off while lightening up the guitars, but recent news suggests that that train has derailed. On cue, a new possible heir to Edison Glass’s colorful, mathy throne arises from the most likely of places… Nicaragua!

These Central Americans under the moniker The Royal Revolt do not surpass Edison Glass’s peaks by any means (and they’re also not rip-off artists, despite my extended comparisons), but their crunchy, vibrant guitars do bring back many welcome memories. There’s a strong rock vibe as well, especially evident in the choruses of songs like “Daydreams and Tea,” which hit hard with almost a mild post-hardcore flavor a la Secret & Whisper or Anberlin at their heaviest. Even Come Now Sleep era As Cities Burn influences pop up in the frantic guitars and spazzy drums at times. There’s a pleasant lack of polish to The Royal Revolt as well; they don’t yet feel like a band at their prime, or perhaps even near it yet. And even when following basic verse/chorus/verse/chorus song structures (which they don’t always, like on the instrumental highlight “Rebirth”), there’s an intangible effortlessness to their songwriting that hints at uncommon talent.

Unlike some of their musical contemporaries, The Royal Revolt are more than willing to be clear of their spiritual intentions. Their lyrics (which are all in English) could draw comparisons to Ivoryline perhaps, or even a less articulate My Epic. Yasser Sanchez’s moderately nasal vocals aren’t too far off from the two aforementioned artists’ voices as well, and while Sanchez certainly never steals the show, he’s distinctive. He shows some of the qualities of a captivating frontman more than those of technical skill, taking on a subtle personality at the band’s helm to a greater degree than many.

Overall: The Royal Revolt may have an uphill road to capturing a broader American audience, but geography may be the biggest hurdle in their path. They’re more than an expect-things-from-them-in-the-future band; they’ve already got one very notable release under their belt with these six tracks.

RIYL: Edison Glass, Secret & Whisper, early Anberlin, mid As Cities Burn, Watashi Wa, Ivoryline