This has been out in North America on Sextant Records since February,
but it just got a European release via Drakkar so this review actually
*is* current...from a certain point of view. Technically, the band name
is really "Revølver" and I'm sad to say the goofy "o" is probably the
most exciting thing going on here. I'm bummed because the singer is
former Slik Toxik front man Nicholas Walsh, and I really used to dig
those guys. ("Midnight Grind" is an all-time underrated classic, and
"Cherry Bomb" is one of the best odes to a stripper you'll ever hear.)
And the *really* frustrating thing about TURBULENCE is that it's just
so dang average. It's well-done modern hard rock, and there are flashes
in songs like "Atomic Arcade" (catchy riff and bass groove, nice solo),
"Gasoline" (dark vibe, bounding riff, and a bit of a swagger), and
"Blue Sky" (nice ballad) but there's no oomph, no big hook or standout
track. It *is* kind of a grower but maybe my expectations were too
high... - Tim Wadzinski
Published: 2005-02-16
Review: Metro News (Ontario, Canada)
Writer: Ian Nathanson
Website: Metro News
Revolver - 'Turbulence' ** (out of five)
Just because Mötley Crüe has reunited, it doesn’t mean the adage “everything old is new again” applies to any sort of hair-metal revival. Nonetheless, former Slik Toxic-ologist Nick Walsh presses on with his melodic hard-rock dreams with this Toronto-based outfit, whose name is one word shy of a bunch of veteran rockers from the States (hint: the singer used to be in Stone Temple Pilots, the guitarist, bassist and drummer once hung out with a guy named Axl). Is it just coincidence that Walsh’s voice bears a striking resemblance to Scott Weiland’s, and to Bryan Byrne’s of I Mother Earth fame? Think of that as you absorb Walsh’s deep thoughts on Atomic Arcade: “Whatever happened to the days when music spoke to you/Those days will come again I swear I swear/We’re here to bring it back.” Unless you like your hard rock clinical, void of feeling and, dare it be said, slick, don’t believe the hype.
Published: 2005-02
Review: Vue Weekly (Alberta, Canada)
Writers: Whitey and TB Player
Website: Vue Weekly
Revolver's Turbulence (Sextant)
Revolver is a damn good name for this band because, in reviewing this album for you, our beloved readers, I feel like I’ve taken a bullet. The songs are bad, the playing is boring and the artwork is helpless. The blame for this coiled steamer lies in the hands of one Nick Walsh, ex-lead singer for Canada’s most embarrassing musical export, Slik Toxik. Nick, who appears to be a bit of a control freak, wrote, produced and designed this turd-lump all by himself. I hope his mother’s proud. Hey, Nick, 1990 called and even they don’t want you back.
Published: 2005-02-16