The British mavericks could probably make their career easier: every two years they could quite comfortably write a replica of their heavily praised debut album “The Dark Third”, thus outpace their rival applicants, give regular eargasms to a clearly defined target group which thinks of itself as sophisticated rock music listeners – even as opening act for supposedly bigger, but not nearly as soulful bands – and rest on their dust collecting laurels.
But they do not do it – with heavy emphasis on “NOT”. Instead, PURE REASON REVOLUTION causes a great stir on “Hammer and Anvil” by once again constructing a halfway unpredictable record, which jumps vigorously on the shoulders of the band’s second album “Amor Vincit Omnia” just to reach fearlessly for the stars which the British already dreamed of since their foundation times. Natural evolution needn’t hurt? – Nonsense! Stylistic boundaries make sense? – Pah! Good music doesn’t let itself inspire by the mainstream? – Yes, why not? PURE REASON REVOLUTION had neither sold hearts nor brains when its members had chosen their tension-filled band name, and the keyboards were not purchased to grind down the same old melodies again and again. The quartet has long found its distinctive sound, and an expansion of that one with the resources available within pop, rock and electronica is obviously welcome. If the orchestration turns out drastic, it is equally successful like the implication of well-known formulas such as the harmonic, polyphonic singing, and those distinctively catchy earwig melodies that Jon Courtney comes up with something just like those. So it’s no wonder that this busy inventor often startles out of sleep at night because the musical ideas in his upper story once again beat somersaults.
The architectural ugliness on the anything but inviting acting cover suggest that PURE REASON REVOLUTION meanwhile hesitate no longer to build up massive techno inspired walls – yet there is more life is to discover behind than it is indicated by the dismal grey concrete blocks. Even if “Hammer and Anvil” is permeated by war and violence, there’s room for relaxation (on the musical level), albeit not much hopeful (in regard to the lyrics). The first edition of the album includes a 52-minute recording of the concert in April 2010 in London on DVD, which reflects the enormous qualities of the band without any superfluous technical frippery.
-Thor Joakimsson
VITALS:
Release: 18.10.2010
Label: Superball Music
Avantgenre: Metallized Psychedelic Electro Rock
Duration: 52:01
Origin: UK
Official site: http://www.facebook.com/purereasonrevolution
Review online since: 31.01.2011 / 11:27:58
TRACKLIST:
01 – Fight Fire
02 – Black Mourning
03 – Patriarch
04 – Last Man, Last Round
05 – Valour
06 – Over The Top
07 – Never Divide
08 – Blitzkrieg
09 – Open Insurrection
10 – Armistice
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