Band:	Revolution Saints
Album:	Eagle Flight
Style:	Hard rock
Release date:	April 2023

01. Eagle Flight
02. Talking Like Strangers
03. Need Each Other
04. Kids Will Be Kids
05. I'll Cry For You Tonight
06. Crime Of The Century
07. Set Yourself Free
08. Sacred
09. Once More
10. Save It All

You know when you find a great recipe but keep improving it over the years? Revolution Saints know all about that. Their special blend of hard rock had me interested again in the genre a few years ago. The band revolves around the charisma and many skills of Deen Castronovo, of Journey and Hardline fame. After all, where else can you find this level of dual awesomeness in a singer/drummer nowadays?

Rise was perhaps the one album too many for the previous lineup. They went in the same direction for too long and erred on the side of too many ballads for the sake of the general population I guess. Still, they were some cracking songs on that album; so that’s probably an unfair analysis. In any case, ex-Dokken, ex-Dio and current Foreigner bassist Jeff Pilson and Whitesnake’s insatiable solo-genius Joel Hoekstra have stepped in. I can’t see who else would have done a better job at making us forget about previous members Jack Blades and Doug Aldrich. The lineup may have changed but that rocking guitar tone doubled with crazy soulful solos are still here. So are the groovy bass lines and cool backing vocals. Producer Alessandro Del Vecchio continues his stellar job, and provides all keyboards as well as some backing vocals.

The singles were all gold. I could not get enough of them ahead of the official release. They also happen to be the first three tracks on the record. The pumped-up "Eagle Flight" opens with a measured piano melody and culminates with Hoekstra tasty guitar work over the lines "we’re still climbing". The over-cool "Talking Like Strangers" with its rebel feel evolves slowly into a monster tune featuring a thunderous solo. Press replay now (a few times). And the more emotionally-charged "Need Each Other" hits the mark with a progression and drive beautifully supported by Alessandro’s keys and Deen’s sensational vocals. Overall, this is probably my favorite song on Eagle Flight.

"Kids Will Be Kids" and "I'll Cry For You Tonight" veer more towards the nice high end of Whitesnake, with Deen slaying on vocals and the on-par guitar-mastery courtesy of Hoekstra. "Crime Of The Century" is an example of how to build a catchy radio tune while playing solid hard rock. Again, Deen is showcasing his unique smoky vocals with excellent support from the crew. The duo of Pilson and Hoekstra are jiving full-pedal to the metal on that one, with the additional touch of that second Deen Castronovo behind the kit. "Set Yourself Free" is another instance of a catchy tune with more guitar-wizardry and vocal-layering that feel so retro but so good at the same time. "Sacred" and "Once More" are the token love songs a la Foreigner, but with additional depth and feeling. The ultra-ballads to ballad them all. In the grand scheme of the album, they do get the job done. The super-well-crafted "Save It All" closes the ball as the most Journey/Hardline track on Eagle Flight. It ends things on a super positive note, while also paying respect to the past.

This kind of music is not that popular anymore with anyone below the age of 40. But at the same time, they are still plenty of 40+ metal heads and rockers with a soft spot for radio rock and ballads with killer vocals and a great guitar/bass drive. Revolution Saints are here to fill that void. Deen is king of the genre, The new lineup is absolutely top-notch. They showcase their skills while proving that their experience is key. I know I will be listening to this one for a long time. Way to go guys. Frontiers Records has another winner in Revolutions Saints.