And now we have a review of the new
Gypsyhawk record Revelry and Resilience. This is the next step for
Gypsyhawk, their sound has much evolved and they have become a much
more effective band. Yet they have not completed their ascension to
godhood. This is a band that stands on the brink. With the right step
forward they could become lords of hard rock, but with a single
mistep all of the victory and power of their last two albums could be
lost. The momentum gained with this record is considerable, yet I
feel like the band can do more. The guitar work is heavy and very in
line with the groups previous work. Meanwhile the bass playing is
rather heavy and adds a very cool Motorhead feel. The drumming is
hectic and has the energy that only the true great can convey.
Finally the singing still has all the grit and power that Gypsyhawk
has brought us to expect. This album, is truly the next step in this
bands stairway to heaven.
The guitar playing on this record is
stellar, the band has clearly advanced as musicians since their last
release. I particularly find that the solos have really developed
since the last album, they have a lot more flavor here, there is a
bit more technical work which is nicely offset by the killer bends.
The overall riffing is much the same though, it retains that classic
Gypsyhawk flavor, I would like to note that I find their to be a bit
more of a metal influence on this record. Some of the songs have an
almost Revocation-like edge. The songwriting is extremely solid and
the songs are a lot tighter than on the previous release. With not a
single song over 5 minutes the band has much progressed since their
last album in that regard as well. Whats particularly cool is that
some of the songs (for example 1345) can sound like progressive
epics, yet still stay under 5 minutes. It really shows how much this
band has evolved.
The rhythm section is very tight and
has a lot of power behind it. The bass work is particularly wonderful
with quite a few cool fills that hearken back to the days of Led
Zeppelin. The heavy bass on the intro of 1345 shows a darker and
moodier side of the band that we might not have been able to see in
the last release. It shows a lot of nerve to do something like that
yet it works. Then, with the speedy riff that follows the bassist
doesn't miss a beat, he just keeps on rocking. The drumming on this
album is also rather tight. I really like the raw rock and toll
energy that this guy manages to express on the skins. Its just so
dynamic! He really shows a bit more of a wild and crazy side that we
wouldn't have seen a few years ago. At the same time his playing has
become a bit more technical and he seems to have a better idea of
what he wants to do now. Overall the rhythm section has become a lot
tighter and has helped a lot with the punchier songs.
Finally the raw and gritty vocals
remind me of an older time, a wilder time, a time when rock and roll
ruled the earth. They have an old school feel while staying vibrant
and powerful. I really like how the vocals fit in with the music too.
Its a dirty vocal style with a lot of attitude and that perfectly
reflects the songs! Also, the lyrics, much more fantasy based on this
record than on previous efforts really get a chance to shine. The
concept of having lyrics based around The Song of Ice and Fire Series
is very cool and adds a lot of flavor, its one of the many ways that
this band helps to make itself unique. Overall, this album has a lot
of cool things going on vocally and is a step up from the groups
previous work!
In conclusion, the new Gypsyhawk record
is very awesome, but it is just the next step in this bands glorious
ascenscion. The first record was good, this record great, and now
what? Can the Hawk fly even higher? Can this band achieve their
destiny to dominate the rock and roll world? With a hard and heavy
guitar sound this band has all of the guts of late 70s heavy metal.
Meanwhile a pounding bass really keeps the vibe going. The energetic
drumming adds a lot of flavor to the music and drives everything
forward. Lastly, the powerful vocals have the might of a god and will
not be silenced. I feel that all of our questions about the band will
be answered with the next release, and I can not wait to hear it!
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