Revocation at the Studio at Webster Hall

David Davidson

Three high school students bonded over their love for Metallica and Guns N' Roses and formed Cryptic Warning in 2000 in Boston, Massachusetts. After circulating two demos and an album, the musicians sought a redirection and in 2006 Cryptic Warning became thrash/technical metal band Revocation. Guitarist/vocalist David Davidson is the sole remaining founder; the band now also includes guitarist Dan Gargiulo, bassist Brett Bamberger and new drummer Ash Pearson. Revocation released its fifth studio album, Deathless, on October 14, 2014.

Having worked its way to headliner status, Revocation's performance tonight at the Studio at Webster Hall proved that the band is far more than an illegible logo. The 12-song set opened and closed with songs from Revocation's most recent album, but the show touched on all five albums and one EP. To some degree, however, the band's nearly 10 years of original music collapsed into a single fold, as Revocation found and developed its niche. While the warp speed musicianship and growling vocals were standard issue to the thrash and death metal genres, Davidson's complex guitar technique blazed beyond the normal. His extended leads were dizzyingly fast, dazzlingly precise and dangerously explosive. Supporting his leadership, the four musicians together turned on the ignition with mammoth waves of energy, and then together frequently ceased abruptly enough to induce whiplash. Like a torrid storm of crisp thunder and lightning, Revocation entered and exited its songs with intense dynamism. By the end of the set, Revocation had stood out as ragingly unique in the blurry seas of metal music.

Visit Revocation at www.revocationband.com.