Audioslave - Revelations: Reigniting the Fire by Evan Parker, Staff Writer

2006-2007 http://www.elsegundousd.com/eshs/bayeagle0607/SeptemberP18Audios... Audioslave - Revelations: Reigniting the Fire by Evan Parker, Staff Writer Just four years ago, even before their self-titled debut album released, critics were quick to label Audioslave simply as "just another supergroup." Well they were right in some respects; they are a rock group, and they are super. Revelations is the follow-up album to 2005's Out of Exile, and is the band's third album release. Being that Out of Exile took nearly three years to complete leaves one to question Revelation's quality, however let me assure you that nothing here has been rushed and that the production value is on par with the group's previous releases. The unexpected brevity of the creation process of the album can be attributed to the group's steadfast dedication to their music. Audioslave is comprised of the common "four-piece" among rock groups, which means there is a vocalist, drummer, guitarist and bassist including backup vocals commonly performed by the instrumentalists. This setup has yielded unlimited success in today's music scene, however the quality of the group depends on the musicians' talent and of course, the producer. Making his first appearance with Audioslave is legendary music producer Brendan O'Brien. The production work he has done include several breakout albums from major artists of today and from the past including: Pearl Jam, Stone Temple Pilots, Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Aerosmith, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Rage Against The Machine, Bruce Springsteen, The Offspring, Incubus and Soundgarden, among others. With a pedigree like this fused with extremely talented artists, one can almost guarantee the success of Revelations. However, success in this business depends heavily on the artists themselves as well. "If you want your ass kicked, you've come to the right place", proclaims Tom Morello about the new album. Four musicians in their prime, Audioslave know how to make great music. Chris Cornell (vocals) takes center stage once again to let loose his now-famous shrieking bellow. He was once the front-man of the renowned rock band Soundgarden as well as his own solo project, while the rest of the band is from the equally renowned group Rage Against the Machine. Tom Morello (guitar) is arguably one of the best guitarists of all time, fusing innovation and creativity with his immense ability. He knows how to bend strings and is not afraid to shred when he wants to, all the while convention taking the back seat to his unique style. Tim Commerford (bass guitar) is the quintessential bass player whose thunderous riffs will make inanimate objects reevaluate their objective in life. Rounding out the rhythm section of the band is Brad Wilk, one of the most underrated drummers in rock. He just wants to rock and takes no shame in doing the dirty work to make the entire band sound great. The track list reads just like on any other Audioslave album, full of well-thought-out titles that really sum up the content of the songs. The album starts with the track Revelations. This track sets the tempo for the rest of the album. This song begins with a soothing guitar piece that could put an over caffeinated teenager to sleep. Don't be fooled though, because about twenty seconds into the song the audio assault begins, transitioning into a traditional Rage Against the Machine riff; in your face! This same sound continues in the following two songs, the funky One and the Same, and the driving beat of Sound of a Gun. The last song begins with an eerie guitar melody, but then completely transforms into an upbeat song through and through, with ear-catching drum rhythms and crazy guitar and bass riffs, complete with a unique scratchtastic guitar solo much like you'll find in Rage albums. The fourth song on the album titled Until We Fall lessens the load on your eardrums for a bit, with its flowing, smooth guitar and easy-going drums. Cornell's unique voice and trademark wailing lend heavily to this (relatively) soft song. The first single released from Revelations, and easily the most up-tempo song on the album, called Original Fire is a testament to Audioslave's uniqueness and helps differentiate Audioslave from their former bands. Some criticism has come from critics and fans alike for its simple ness, but really the quick, concise rhythms in Original Fire are very welcome. The epic Shape of the Things to Come leaves nothing uncovered, with great instrumental verses, hard guitar riffs and a fantastic, quick and utterly breathtaking solo experimentation Morello is known for. The tenth song titled Wide Awake introduces political themed lyrics to Audioslave's music, something that Cornell did not want influencing his work previously. Like it or not, this song emphasizes Cornell's prolific lyric-writing ability he has shown his fans throughout his career as a musician. The anthemic guitar solo fully transforms this piece into much more than just a song, but a story in which you are fully realized by the song's end. Moth is the perfect climax to any rock album, and fuses hard rock, powerful lyrics, painfully creative and precise bass lines, relentless stair-step guitar riffs, epic vocals, spacey effects and a sense of urgency and power that fuels the song with energy and draws you into a trance that many bands fail to recreate. All is well that ends well, therefore Revelations completes its task with perfection 1 of 2 6/27/2008 10:29 AM 2006-2007 http://www.elsegundousd.com/eshs/bayeagle0607/SeptemberP18Audios... with perfection. Audioslave is definitely greater than the sum of its parts, and it shows immensely in Revelations. Revelations is an enjoyable listen that any Audioslave fan will appreciate. The record is out now. 2 of 2 6/27/2008 10:29 AM.

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