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24.Jul.08 - Theo Interviewed by Steal the Spotlight

What was it like growing up in the UK?

It was exciting because there are so many opportunities out there in the UK. I found early on that I wanted to go into music so I spent a lot of my growing up time practicing and playing with bands.

What bands did you grow up listening to?

I started out listening to bands like Nirvana, Metallica and Red Hot Chili Peppers once I found out about alternative music. I spent a lot of time exploring new and different music and almost without realizing, I had gathered a substantial amount of Metal CDs. I have a wide range of musical taste now, which includes Drum & Bass, Reggae, Funk, Rock, and Jazz, but still Metal dominates my music collection, and always will.

Which one(s) have you drawn from musically?

There are bits of all sorts of styles that have influenced my drumming, but some of the main ones are the metal bands Slayer, Lamb of God, Metallica, In Flames, Dream Theater, Pantera, Rammstein and Disturbed

Was it hard to find the perfect members for the band or did everything just fall into place?

Yes, it was hard but over time things did fall into place. I played with Aydin in another band from a young age and we always had problems finding a good vocalist and bassist. When Ayd found West, we were almost there, but again there was the bassist issue. The hardest member to find for Revenant Dead was a bassist.

I heard a lot of different styles and textures on IRM, were you just experimenting trying to find yourselves a bit more or did everything just gel well for you with that group of tracks?

I think the range of styles on the album showed that we are a band that can offer a lot musically. When you listen to the album, you can tell that Revenant Dead is a band that has thrown away the rule book and written songs in a new way. I think that incorporating bits of other styles and trying out new things will always be a part of the Revenant Dead sound.

What have been your influences in making/writing the album?

We didn’t consciously try to sound like anything else, and we were all listening to different things in our spare time. When we write, it is all about feel; what feels good to play and listen to.

Personally, what is your favorite track of the IRM?

Tantamount is my favorite, because there is something very pure and raw about it. It’s not the heaviest song on the album, but it is one of the most powerful.

Are there special rituals that you go though before you hit the stage? (like standing on your head for 3 minutes in a corner)

I like to hang out with the guys and the other bands before a show. It’s important to enjoy yourself and stay relaxed. About 20 minutes before we hit the stage I do warm up exercises and stretches, usually while chatting to someone.

What is the biggest stage you could envision for yourselves?

Rock Am Ring is awesome, I can imagine Revenant Dead playing there and tearing that place down! Castle Donnington is also a target I have, that would be a hell of a milestone for us to play there.

What can we expect for the next album?

It’s going to be heavier and more focused in terms of defining the Revenant Dead sound. We are also going to be experimenting with various effects and creating new samples, something that was rarely explored in the first album.

Is there a time table for it?

Yes, it’s going to be very hectic and I can’t reveal too much, but I can tell you that we have already started recording demos. We are currently recording new songs, playing around with layers and textures and generally seeing what works. This is something that we didn’t do with the first album. I think the preparation we are putting in this time around is going to make the finished product far superior to IRM.

Of the bands you have been on tour with, which one have you related to the most?

They’ve all shared the same love of music, which is great, but it’s impossible to single out just one.

Which one is the craziest?

If I told you that, they’d have to kill me.

Are you guys involved with the internet at all? Like your website or myspace page? Do you run them yourselves?

Yes, we don’t employ anyone to run our myspace or make our website or any of that. It’s all us and that’s how we like it because we get to be closer to the fans. It is fortunate for us that I am also a web and graphic designer. Keeping things in-house like that helps us to create an image exactly how we want it. I work closely with the other band members to provide updates and create new content. Another member tends to run the myspace by replying to messages and comments and what not. Perhaps if we were to have a hectic tour schedule and all that, we’d have to get someone else in to help out because that can get very time consuming.

What’s in your CD player or iPod right now?

I’ve been really into the new Disturbed and In Flames albums recently. Today I had the new pendulum album on in the car.

Anything else you would like to say or discus?

I would like to say to your readers, we are there to provide you good music and we hope you are there to support us. We do want to see you at our live shows having a good time with your friends. That’s what it’s all about. We want to tour the next album big time, so check out our myspace youtube, or revenantdead.com and stay tuned to the latest news and previews of the next release.

Okay, this is the last one and I always finish it up with this one. If you can share the stage with anyone ever….who would it be and why?

I would share the same stage as Metallica, because we would feel a great sense of achievement for our band to get to that level.

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30.Jun.08 - Steal the Spotlight review IRM

Revenant Dead - Imperial Rape March

• WEST – Vocals
• AYDIN – Guitars
• DAHMER – Bass
• THEO – Drums

Revenant Dead formed back on 2004. The band which has been described as progressive rock, thrash and death metal installs sounds of heavy, ferocious, technical and catchy. The band started doing local gigs and their intense stage performances caught regional promoters’ attention and they soon were playing festivals and some headlining events. With much success in the local scene Revenant Dead released their debut album via Orchard Records Inc. The album begins with the tune “Decay Dance.” The track is infused with raging guitar, a nice solid bass sound and pounding drums. Also, West’s vocals set the whole thing off, going from a dark simple sound to screaming. “Vertigo” displays powerful drums by Theo as the first single “Jailhouse” is laid with sweet guitar riffs and sweet sound vocals. The title track spins off 4th and is a super fast beat that will get the mosh pit going on the first cord played. It oozes the live energy feel. They also throw in more screaming that you can actually hear what they are saying. “Perfekt Hate” offers more insane drum play though I’m not crazy about the vocals in this one, the music is sweet. “Bloodtide” starts off the second half of the album with a hard pounding track that metal heads with enjoy with every push and shove in the pit. Next is the longest song on the album, a simple softer side of the band pays off huge. The change of pace is very embracing as it grabs you and won’t let go. I’d like to have seen it bumped up a spot or 2 in the track listing though and the long holding of the note at about minute 5 was a bit too long. “Cordially Numb” is an interesting track as many styles of vocals are on display as “Compulsion” is a heart stopping track with heavy metal vocals mixed with melody ones. The album ends with the track “Torment.” The track is another super fast and hard track that the drum beat begins the assault and gives way to the guitars and vocals. Overall this is a surprisingly good album from this relatively unknown band. The mix of hard heavy vocals and a melody attitude is very nicely done. The vocals to scream me in some parts with too much screaming and that they are put in places that they may not sound the best. musically this is so much potential in them. The raging guitar is incredible, the super fast drum beat is very good and in spots you can plainly hear the bass. This is defiantly a must listen to.

Rating: 8 out of 10

My favorite tracks:
Decay Dance, Jailhouse, Tantamount

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30.Apr.08 - Ultimate Guitar interview Revenant Dead Guitarist

Interview with Aydin

Ultimate-Guitar: Let's begin with the formation of Revenant Dead. Was it easy finding members with similar musical interests in Birmingham?

Aydin: For starters, it was important the band was in Birmingham. So many great bands have come from here, and, the scene really is the best. You see it in the streets, in the bars, clubs, it's so vivid. There are so many venues that do metal shows and there are so many bands. It's the home of heavy metal, period.

I think it's impossible to find a group of people who like exactly the same music, but it's important to evolve as a group and let everyone have their input. Even if some members don't always like the same things at first, as a combination, as a band, you'll eventually find a formula were everyone is happy. It's hard work finding the right band; we've been through a lot of members in our time; it takes a lot of patience and persistence. We're all really lucky. The four of us now have been together for about 3 years now.

You started playing guitar at a fairly young age. How does a young kid in Birmingham get into playing guitar as you did?

I was actually born in Liverpool, and, as a kid, I used to be completely high on Coca Cola and sugar n stuff, so I was always running around. And, as a kid, my older sisters would always have bands like Nirvana, Prince and Rage Against The Machine on. I'd always dance around to it and jump on the sofas and air guitar to it all. So, that's how it started. I had a lisp at the time and would call it a 'Kitar'. Eventually my mum got me a Spanish acoustic when I was 7 years old and the first day I had it, I played it so hard, I snapped the neck in half. My mum wouldn't buy me a new one, so I just kept playing on this snapped, smashed up acoustic. I loved it.

Your guitar teacher had passed away some time ago. Was this difficult for you to overcome?

Yeah, that's right. I had lessons from about 10 to 14 years of age. And throughout that period, I was mainly just playing bluesy, rocky type stuff like, the Beatles, Hendrix and Oasis. When I heard the news that my teacher had committed suicide, it was devastating. That night I remember just watching my Hendrix videos and just playing guitar and just trying to get over the shock. I vowed never to get a new teacher, and, as a result, I kind of had this new motivation to become the best I could be. My first objective was to become as fast as I could possibly be. I wanted to have full flexibility and strength in my fretting hand. I also wanted to be the loudest guitarist out there and I wanted to have a wow factor about me. So, from about 14 years of age, I constantly did chromatics, exercises, alternate picking, scales, techniques - everything and anything just to become the fastest guitarist. I'm still working on it.

Guitar wise, what are you playing through these days?

At the moment, I'm just trying to express myself as much as possible. The days of playing through scales for 6 hours a day are over for me now. I feel I'm at the stage we're I need to really put my soul into the instrument. You know how Vai and Malmsteen are? Even Satch and Johnson?.those guys have the most amazing tones and feel in their music, I envy that. I want to be able to play like them. I want to have full control of my instrument.

"Birmingham the home of heavy metal, period."

Do you find yourself branching out in terms of finding a guitar suitable and comfortable for you to use onstage?

Absolutely. I'm left handed so it's really difficult to find the right guitar for me and Revenant Dead. I need it to have a high output, straight bridge and medium/thin neck. When following that criteria, my options are low, especially when I'm looking at high standard guitars. I used a BC Rich NJ when we first started, but I didn't like the Floyd Rose on it, I could never get the action or the tuning the way I wanted it. I then used an Epiphone Les Paul for a while, but didn't really like the bulkiness of it. I went through so many guitars; I even used a Dean Flying V at one point. Right now, I've got the perfect guitar though. I'm using an American Fender Telecaster with a Seymour Duncan Hotrail. They're the best guitars in the world. It's a strange guitar to use for a band like ours, but it seems to work.

There are so many styles floating throughout 'Imperial Rape March' and I've noticed hints of black metal used in songs like "Torment" amongst others. Are you a fan of this genre?

I'm not the biggest black metal fan but I do appreciate the genre and I've got some Emporer and Cradle Of Filth CD's in my collection. You see, we've never tried to be a certain genre. I think as the band has progressed, our music has become darker and thrashier, but that's only because we get bored if the music isn't vibrant or fast enough. That might be the reason why there's so much happening on IRM. The next CD will definitely be more focused. Our style is defined now and the next CD I'm sure will be a definitive album for us.

Do you try to keep your onstage gear as simple as possible, and what are you using these days?

I used to have so much gear on stage, equalizer's, phasers, noise suppressors, flangers, you name it. I used to be addicted to buying effects pedals and messing around with different tones. However, as time went on, and especially when playing the clubs, It was obvious the best option was to just keep it simple. Things get broken, things don't work and when you're only playing a 30 minute set, it's important to have a solid set up. For the last year I've been using an Engl Powerball. It's an amazing amp; it's all tube and the loudest thing on earth. At the shows, I want its tone to come through as much as possible. I want it to be 100% Engl. My effects rig lately has been a Dunlop Wah, A Boss Digital Delay and a Boss tuner - nothing too crazy. The emphasis is on the amp and the guitar.

How do you approach your songwriting? Do you bring a riff to practice or do you generally construct the entirety of the song?

It really depends. Sometimes I will write the whole song from start to finish or it'll just start with a few riffs and we'll all work on it. I think my personal favorite and a song I feel is everything Revenant Dead is about, is one of the songs on our debut album, the song titled 'Torment'. The whole idea with that song was to deify the formal structural cliches with songs and create something that started at one point and ended at another. So, you'll see that the song doesn't repeat itself at all, it starts on A and finishes on Z. It's a great song and it really feels like a song, not just a series of riffs. It works great and it's a blast to play live.

Do you practice any sort of warm-up regimen before playing live?

I used too, but not so much anymore. The songs off IRM aren't as challenging to play for us as they once were. I just try to loosen up my fingers and make sure they're not cold, cold hands makes it impossible to lay songs like Perfekt Hate and Torment. Usually, before I leave to go to the venue, I will play through the whole set maybe 3 or 4 times ? just to acquaint myself with it all. There's no nature like second nature, is there?

"At the moment, I'm just trying to express myself as much as possible."

Has explaining the title of your CD become tiresome?

I think our next album title will definitely be something less controversial! It's ok ? It's understandable that people ask about it because anything with the word 'rape' in it is always going to be frowned upon. It's not about that at all. It's about standing up for yourself and not letting people get in your way. If you look at all those three words, Imperial, Rape, and March and put them all together. Think about what it means. It's actually the most devastating combination of words. There's always going to people out there who will seek to destroy with their reign of terror. It's important to stand tall and deify any opposition. I think that's what our album signifies.

Are there any particular bands you would like to see Revenant Dead playing with onstage in 2008?

There's so many bands out there that we respect and love. We're all huge Disturbed fans, we've met the band several times and go to all their shows. I think Disturbed would be a great band to play with. They deserve a good support band! We would also love to play Donington, that's been a dream of ours from the beginning, to play on the main stage at Donington with so many great bands.

What are some of the more challenging songs for you to play off 'Imperial Rape March'? Do you find yourself writing songs more comfortable to play onstage rather than juggling with fretboard technicalities?

'Perfekt Hate' is the hardest song to play off our album, and funnily enough, it was one of the first songs we ever done. The song was written for a solo project I was working on, and one time at rehearsals, I was jamming it, and West said, 'What's that you're playing?' and I said, 'It's just a song I'm working on for my new shred album' and he said, 'Let's do it!'. We changed a few parts to make it more 'songy' but, yeah that's were it came from. As the band has progressed, we've tried to collectively write the best songs we can so, the intricate guitar work isn't as vivid as it could be. Songs like 'Decay Dance' and 'Jailhouse' have taken over. However, on the second album, we're definitely pushing the boat out and there's songs we're working on now that make the veins come out of my neck when playing. I can't wait to record and release it; it's going to be amazing.

Aydin, many thanks to you for doing this interview! Are there any last words you would like to share with young guitarists out there?

No problem Ryk, thanks for giving me the oppurtunity to ramble on to you! If I could give any advise to young guitarists... It would be to never ever give in to peer pressure. Our favorite guitarists never got as good as they are now without hard work and dedication. It's important you play what you want to play and achieve what you want to achieve. It's your instrument and it's your rules. Come up with a tone you're happy with and make every note count. A solo with four notes can be just as powerful as a solo with 50. It's how you fret it and it's how it sounds through your amp. Set challenges for yourself, like a song you've always wanted to play or a chord or scale progression you've wanted to master, take your time and make sure you're happy with the finished product. Good Luck and thanks for the support!

Interview by Ryk Weston
Ultimate-Guitar.Com © 2008

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27.Feb.08 - Highwire Daze features Revenant Dead: "March to Fame and Glory"

Highwire Daze have done a feature on Revenant Dead. They also asked the band what they're favorite CD of 2007 was for a recent poll. Below is the full article in pictures!

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26.Feb.08 - Roadie Crew Magazine reviews Imperial Rape March

Brazilian metal magazine Roadie Crew has reviewed Imperial Rape March. We were unable to translate the review, but we hope our Portuguese speaking friends enjoy this!

REVENANT DEAD
Imperial Rape March
Orchard - lmp
10 faixas 41'33"

"Formada em 2004, esta banda britanica tem como sua principal proposta musical a mistura entre o Rock And Roll, Progressivo, Thrash Metal e Deaeth Metal. Curioso, nao? Pois bem, este e justamente o foco de Imperial Rape March, album de estreia em que West (vocal), Aydin (guitarra), Dahmer (baixo) e Theo (bateria) apresentam um total de dez musicas e incontaveis passagens dentro de cada uma. Chega a impressionar, poise e dificil prever o que ouviremos de minuto a minuto dentro de cada faixa ja que, por exemplo, tempos um comeco Death Metal, que culmina numa parte quase Doom com vocal limpo, passandro para riffs e levadas modernas e cheias de groove con vocal rasgadissimo, voltando no Death Metal e assim por diante. Em certos momentos podemos tracar paralelos com contrastes que encontramos na sonoridade do In Flames desade Reroute To Remain (2002), mas sao apenas partes isolades, e o mais proximo que podemos chegar de alguma comparacao, o Revenant Dead vai muito alem disso... Alem ate demais! Tao alem que chenga num ponto que comecam a se perder na propria criatividade e consequente variedade. Mas quando acertam sao perfeitos, e bons exemplos disso sao as faixas Jailhouse, Imperial Rape March, Perfekt Hate, Tantamount e Compulsion. Por enquantro trata-se de uma boa banda, mas tenho o felling de que com o passar dos anos aprenderao a expressar a criaitividade de forma mais consistente e crescerao bastante. Vamos ver... 7.0

7/10

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01.Jan.08 Live For The Metal Review

Revenant Dead - Imperial Rape March

Ever since Black Sabbath invented heavy metal back in the late 1960's, Birmingham has continued to produce a string of good, solid metal bands, from the likes of Judas Priest through to Anaal Nathrakh. One of the latest bands in this long line is Revenant Dead, who's debut album Imperial Rape March does more than enough to keep their Brummy pedigree intact.

In the three years since they formed, the quartet (Comprising of West - Vocals, Aydin - Guitars, Dahmer - Bass, and Theo - Drums) have diligently honed their sound on the live circuit to the point of technical precision whilst maintaining an organic feel that mixes genres like Deathrock and Thrash seamlessly throughout the albums ten tracks.

The tracks on the album progress fluidly without any feeling like a 'radio-friendly' space filler put in for the sake of satisfying label bosses. That said some tracks standout head and shoulders above the others: The Deathrock groove plunging into head-banging thrash of the album's first single 'Jailhouse', The vitriolic and mosh friendly title track 'Imperial Rape March', The sombre and melodic 'Tantamount', and the pounding and melodic album opener 'Torment'. All in all, this is a good foundation to lay by a band with a lot of crossover potential, and one that if they capitalise on, could see them become major players in the European metal scene.

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20.Dec.07 Metal Discovery Review

Revenant Dead - Imperial Rape March

Rating: 6.5/10

"...'Imperial Rape March' is a promising debut from a band that clearly have massive potential..."

“Revenant Dead, who are relatively new on the scene, are from Birmingham in the UK, under a 2 hour drive from Metal Discovery HQ. It was, therefore, kind of surreal when their CD arrived for review all the way from a PR company based in West Hollywood, California! Formed back in 2004, and playing shows mainly around the Midlands area since 2005, the Brummie band's debut album, 'Imperial Rape March', was released in September this year.”

“...'Decay Dance' commences with a basic guitar riff, almost glam rock in style, which, through its simplicity, acts as an effectual contraposition to the wide array of metal influences present on the album from traditional Maiden-esque passages (with 'Fear of the Dark' style melodies three quarters into 'Bloodtide'); goth rock ('Jailhouse'); death ('Bloodtide'); occasional progressive flourishes (notably 'Torment' with its System of a Down inspired compositional diversity); and intermittent thrash riffing throughout. The likes of 'Decay Dance' and 'Jailhouse' will no doubt appeal to fans of bands such as Deathstars and The 69 Eyes, though where 'Imperial Rape March' really shines is the inconsonance within songs such as 'Vertigo' where its blast-beat infused opening bars and cacophonic riffing together with effective death growls lead into a melancholic mid tempo passage with clean vocals and then an up-tempo thrash section with more clean singing that gradually builds into a growled delivery as the blast-beats return.”

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17.Dec.07 Corazine.com Interview

Interview with west and aydin

1. OK, so why the album title "Imperial Rape March"?

Aydin: It's definitely more of a metaphor rather than a literal meaning. It signifies strength, dignity, passion. It's definitely not about 'rape' - it's more about instilling totalitarianism into people's self-esteem.

2. What about your name? Where did you get the idea for that?

West: We wanted a name that was representative of who we are as people and the music we make.

3. Your music reflects a fairly diverse set of metal influences. Was that deliberate or did it just sort of happen?

West: It just sort of happened; we all have a wide range of musical tastes and interests. When we jam, It all just comes together. I think it shows in our music as well, there's a lot going on in there. "Imperial Rape March" as an album is quite diverse.

4. If you had to say one style was dominant, which one would it be?

Aydin: It's metal, but it's got different vibes going on. It's hard to categorize it; we don't consciously decide on one thing, one style or one genre.

5. Do different members of the band have different genre preferences in metal?

West: I think we're open-minded enough to accept all genres, not just focus on one particular type. I suppose it would depend on what mood or how we were feeling at the time of writing the song. That's usually the deciding factor.

6. Would you say there are metal influences that definitely do NOT factor in to your sound?

Aydin: I don't think so; there's elements of all types of metal on the album - from shred black metal to rock type stuff. We cover a lot of bases I think.

7. How would you describe your music to someone who's never heard you?

West: Loud and Honest.

8. What sort of lyrical themes would you say permeate your music?

West: All the songs are about us or people we know; things that have happened and the consequences that came from those experiences.

9. If you could play in a metal line-up of your choice, what bands would be in the show with you?

Aydin: Good Question. I'd love to give Rammstein a slot. Marilyn Manson and maybe Lamb of God as well.

10. Would you say there are non-metal influences in your music? If so, what?

Aydin: Yeah, well, some of the songs like "Decay Dance" and "Compulsion" have a rock edge to them but it's still all in the same vein. "Tantamount" is a mellow song with a huge chorus; that's kind of different but I wouldn't say it's a different genre.

11. What about non-musical influences?

West: I like films like "Requiem for a Dream" and "American History X". I like it when people are able to take something controversial and present it to you in a way which you hadn't considered before.

12. If there was going to be a Tribute to Revenant Dead CD, in which bands of a different genre played covers of your music, what genre would the CD be?

West: METAL

13. What do you hate?

West: I don't let anything go so unchallenged long enough for me to hate it.

14. What do you love?

West: Love is too inadequate a word to describe the things I allow into my life.

15. Tell me briefly how the band formed.

West: We've been playing with different names for a few years, but decided about 7 months ago to change our name and stick with Revenant Dead. The line-up has been myself, Aydin, Theo and Dahmer since that day.

16. Have you been getting good fan response?

West: Really overwhelming, people seem to be really supportive, it's really cool. It's crazy to think people we don't know, know who we are and like what we do.

17. Any style changes you plan to make for the next album?

West: We're concentrating on touring and promoting "Imperial Rape March" at the moment, but what I can say is, the second album will definitely show how we are growing as a band, both musically and as a group.

18. Which do you like better, live or studio? Why?

West: Live every time; it is cool to be in the studio and to get everything sounding perfect but playing live is such a rush that can't be matched by sex, drugs or alcohol.

19. If you could tell everybody only one thing about your band, what would it be?

Aydin: That's a tough question. We could play the psychology game and undermine ourselves by saying we're just four normal guys who create music and like having a good time. Or we could go down the pretentious marketing route and say we like to eat babies and bleed over our instruments in a sinister caldron of gore, rage and utterly uncompromising violence.

20. Final thoughts?

West: Only a dying man has final thoughts.

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13.Dec.07 Stranger Aeons Review

Revenant Dead - Imperial Rape March

Revenant Dead is the next powerhouse out of the U.K. Their 2007 opus, “Imperial Rape March” [Orchard Records], is an intense hybrid style with elements of Progressive, Gothic, Swedish Melodic Death, and Deathrock. Ferocious at times, somber at others, Revenant Dead has an agility that balances both dynamics well.

Shrill growls slam against deep, Gothic vocals as catchy guitars thunder and lilt. Revenant Dead is very diverse, but skilled. Thrash figures in heavily with their sound, as speed and mood interplay. Best cuts include the frenzied assault of 'Vertigo', the gloom drenched ballad 'Tantamount', 'Decay Dance' 'Torment', and the Bluesy groove of 'Jailhouse'. Revenant Dead is pretty damn cool.

In summary, Revenant Dead is a solid band with an interesting and diverse sound. Stay savage. Farewell. Related Bands: Sentenced, Pyogenesis, Carcass, Cemetary, Arch Enemy, Bullet For My Valentine, Memfis, Rising Moon, Evemaster, Entombed, Konkhra, All That Remains, Light This City, At The Gates, Darkseed, Shadows Fall, Manntiss, In Flames, etc.

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12.Dec.07 Soundsheavy.net Review

Revenant Dead - Imperial Rape March

Hailing from the the same home town (Birmingham, England), as Metal pioneers Black Sabbath and Judas Priest must at be a daunting task. Revenant Dead pull it off very well...must be something in the water over there. While listening to this cd I was not only reminded of Sabbath and Priest, but bands like Testament and Exodus, and newer Thrash like Fueled By Fire. Revenant Dead are heavy, sludgy thrash to the highest degree. Having said all that they can be quite intricate if not almost melodic a bit like early Megadeth. But enough of the comparisons. Now the question must be asked. Can Revenant Dead stand up on their own? The answer is not just yes, but HELL YES! From the opening onslaught of 'Torment', right on through such bashers as 'Jailhouse', 'Bloodtide', 'Cordilly Numb', 'Decay Dance', as well as the stellar title track, Revenant Dead are one of the best thrash style bands I have heard in some time. Sometimes I would even call this Groove Thrash, meaning that this band has a lot to offer. I'm very impressed with the musicianship on this album. The vocals are very aggressive yet understandable, something severely lacking w/ some bands of the same ilk. I would highly recommend this one to anyone, especially labels like Century Media, Metal Blade, or Prosthetic. This band holds up to anything going on in the States at the moment.

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31.Oct.07 - Rock City News Review

LA's number 1 metal magazine reviews Imperial Rape March!

This is the transcript taken from Novembers Edition of Rock City News:

“This album is packed with blast beats, double bass, speed and groove, and some shredding guitar work. The vocals have a vibe that remind me of Megadeth meets System Of A Down. With tracks like Torment, Perfect Hate, and Bloodtide, I can see that we have ourselves a ripping new metal band that for sure will rip the life out of all of our ears.”

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18.Sep.07 Rock N' Roll Experience Interview

Interview With Aydin

Revenant Dead is an amazing new band from England, & I recently had the opportunity to do an inerview with Aydin, the bands guitarist...the band is really good & I think they could be huge with the right exposure & push, which is why I jumped on the opportunity to expose this great up & coming band before the mainstream media does!

Rock N Roll Experience: Was the name Revenant Dead influenced at all by the Resident Evil Movie?

Aydin: It wasn't no, we came up with the name while walking through town one day, we wanted to come up with something that symbolised rising up. I think it's a cool sounding name.

Rock N Roll Experience: Are you a fan of horror movies & if so, do they influence your writing at all?

Aydin: Absolutely, yeah, I'm a fan of serial killer horror movies, like American Psycho and Halloween. I'm not sure if it influences our music in any way, It's not a conscious decision. Perhaps the different genres and elements in our sound represent the bipolar schizophrenic personality of a serial killer? Haha I'm not sure.

Rock N Roll Experience: There's a very interesting energy in Revenant Dead's music...where does it come from?

Aydin: Just, we're all into different things and we like to throw it all in. Our goal is to be really loud, that's our only rule, otherwise, anything goes.

Rock N Roll Experience: What is that writing on the hand that is on the front of your cd?

Aydin: It's just a symbol that represents our band, like a scar of sorts. It means nothing other than it's the symbol of Revenant Dead.

Rock N Roll Experience: What bands would you like to tour with?

Aydin: Oh wow, loads, there's too many to mention. Slayer would be cool.

Rock N Roll Experience: Are you excited about possibly touring the USA?

Aydin: Definitely, I can't wait!

Rock N Roll Experience: Does Revenant Dead play any cover songs in their live show?

Aydin: No not really, we jam covers in rehearsal for fun but never on stage.

Rock N Roll Experience: Having never seen Revenant Dead in concert, can you describe what your live show is like?

Aydin: I know this is going to sound really cliche and pretentious, but it's just really loud, hectic and destructive. Usually lots of broken glass, blood, water, sweat & it's just crazy.

Rock N Roll Experience: What has been the largest concert Revenant Dead has played so far?

Aydin: We played a bike rally once to 8,000 people.

Rock N Roll Experience: What bands or musicians have influenced your playing as a musician?

Aydin: What really inspires me is listening to great bands with really great hooks in their songs. I love metal, but, I want to be able to hear a hook in there, a distinctive riff. That really inspires me. Writing a good song, I admire great song writers. Mark Tremonti, John 5, Zakk Wylde, even Richard and Paul from Rammstein, they are all great musicians with the ability to write really catchy songs.

Rock N Roll Experience: What is the music scene like in Birmingham?

Aydin: It's good, it's good. There's a lot of bands around here and a lot of venues do live shows. The alternative scene in Birmingham is much more vivid than in other areas - there's a lot of support for metal and alternative music here, so it's really great to be a part of it.

Rock N Roll Experience: Do you have any side projects or is Revenant Dead your main musical focus?

Aydin: No, no side projects. I always write music and I'm always recording - but nothing for commercial purposes. It's all about Revenant Dead now.

Rock N Roll Experience: What is something that you listen to (music wise) that might surprise your fans?

Aydin: Oh no, I can't possibility say that.

Rock N Roll Experience: How long has Revenant been together & is this the original line-up of the band?

Aydin: We formed about three years ago but were going under a different name - we changed to Revenant Dead about seven months ago. It's pretty much the same lineup - we used to have a rhythm guitarist, but after recording the album we decided we didn't need one.

Rock N Roll Experience: Has Revenant Dead shot a video yet for anything off the new cd? If so, for which song, & can you tell me a little about the video?

Aydin: We're releasing Jailhouse first, and have done a few promo videos for that. But we have yet to shoot a full video. Our opinions on that is, if it's not going to be really awesome and high production, it's not worth doing. I've seen so many poor self made videos that kill the vibe of the song. Hopefully we can set up a huge production for Jailhouse soon.

Rock N Roll Experiene: Is there anything else you'd like to say?

Aydin: Just want to say thanks to everyone for the support, and see you all soon!

I'd like to thank Aydin for taking the time to answer these questions & Rhonda for all of her help coordinating everything..thanks! =)

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09.Sep.07 Corazine.com Review

Revenant Dead - Imperial Rape March

Revenant Dead, while at times a band in the rough, is a cornucopia of metal stylings with a taste for the heavy side of heavy metal. Fitting firmly into none of the genres from which it draws, the band's "Imperial Rape March," despite its rough-around-the-edges moments, delivers an overall impressive slab of indie blast. Hailing from England, Revenant Dead shows that metal has certainly evolved much since Sabbath, Maiden, Priest and the rest of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal. The group's music is dynamic and smart enough not to linger too long on one particular direction; at the same time, it avoids excess prog obscurity and its style-shiftings don't come across as scattershot. Rather, the various subgenres of metal Revenant Dead infuses into its ballbreaking sound come together cooperatively under the overall umbrella of the band's audio personality. The listener will find himself whisked through a smorgasborg of thrash, death and black metal flavors, with clean vocals manifesting from time to time, further expanding the band's performance scope. For every moment that the music seems in need of polishing there are two other sections of song that are tight and fiercely executed. Revenant Dead could certainly find itself rising in the ranks of the metal realm.

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28.Aug.07 Rock N' Roll Experience - Full Review

Revenant Dead - Imperial Rape March

Rating: 6 stars!

Hailing from Birmingham, England, I'd like to introduce you to one of the more interesting hard rock/metal acts that I've heard lately...they are called Revenant Dead, & musically, they have this frantic energy that is kinda like Cradle of Filth, Bauhaus, System of a Down & the band balances gothy overtones with thrash style metal really well! The bands new cd opens with "Torment" which is a grinding metallic knock out of screaming & clean vocals, mixed with progg-ish guitar riffs, & pounding beats that demand attention & command your ears to listen with awe, because the pace of the song changes often, & I might be crazy, but in this song, I am vaguely reminded of Fred Snyder from the B-52's, just simply in the way West sings & changes his vocals so much..it's like hearing Serj from System of a Down & Fred Snyder teaming up, & I realize that might sound weird as hell, but it's actually a really good thing & super cool! The opening guitar lick on "Vertigo" is superb, & the only other artist that I have ever really seen that gets close to the energy Revenant Dead has is Devin Townsend...there's just this really crazy vibe to each song & it's what makes the band such a force to recon with! "Perfekt Hate" is a thrash metal epic that would make Testament & the forefather's of thrash proud, but the thing that is really unique is the changes in each song..the vocals never stay the same..there's manic screaming, then clean vocals, then there's moments where it's almost like spoken word! The guitar tone on "Blood Tide" might be some of the fattest & thickest tone I've ever heard, & "Tantamount" is beautiful in it's almost brooding like essence & mood. "Decay Dance" closes the cd & it's a great closer because it rocks with power & passion, & to be honest with you, this is definitley one of the better cd's I've heard all year...Revenant Dead are definitley a band you need to check out..their songs are not only amazingly well written, but they are talented as musicians & artists and that's what makes this band truly amazing..they simply ooze brilliance!

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