Musically not much has changed at JOURNEY: Neal Schon and Jonathan CAIN write the songs and the lyrics. That they dominate the show the two least intermittently since the 70s. Then as now, were or they are ridiculed by some critics as TOTO-waste, but that's only half the story. Certainly there are great similarities in the overall sound, but JOURNEY have always been more of a straight rock band while at TOTO certainly one or the other song (JAKE TO THE BONE by KINGDOM OF DESIRE or DAVE'S GONE SKIING of TAMBU) more for musicians was intended. But that was never the thing "by Journey. So even today.
In REVELATION itself, CAIN, PINEDA and bassist Ross Valory and drummer Castronovo DEEN focus on its strengths: great, driving rock songs, anthemic beautiful ballads and everything in between. The guitar determines the overall sound, but without fully to urge the keyboards in the background.
NEVER WALK AWAY begins the album with thick furious guitar riff, driving rhythm and a great chorus. PINEDA proves immediately that he is a worthy replacement for Perry.
LIKE A SUNSHOWER slow you down directly on ballads level down, supported by plucked guitar and piano but is no disk RICHARD MARX ballad but with much feeling.
CHANGE FOR THE BETTER is a mid-tempo number, as they shake JOURNEY loosely from the wrist, on the concerts but now for humor (and sing along loud) will make.
Wildest Dream sounding an astonishing after BAD ENGLISH (the band in the closed, CAIN and Castronovo late 80s / early 90s with singer John Waite played together).
FAITH IN THE HEARTLAND (known by GENERATIONS) is somewhat surprising to CD 1, as the cover versions are actually on the second disc, is newly sung in principle only by PINEDA.
AFTER ALL THESE YEARS is again a beautiful piano ballad that is sung by PINEDA in prime PERRY manner.
WHERE DID I LOSE YOUR LOVE again held mid-tempo, with slightly funky rhythm guitar work in the bridge and a nice refrain.
WHAT I NEEDED again a slow piece, with a dramatic middle part and "heartbreaking" guitar.
WHAT IT TAKES TO WIN then rocking back powerful but also with a great melody, here PINEDA not sounds so much like Perry.
TURN DOWN THE WORLD TONIGHT and again a ballad, as they are known by JOURNEY, very soulful, with small guitar gimmicks in the background. The Classic Rock "-Radiostationen in the US certainly a hit.
THE JOURNEY (REVELATION) is a Neal Schon-Instrumental, where the rest of the band is in charge of the accompaniment only, nice for guitarists and musicians probably not very interesting for others.
LET IT TAKE YOU BACK is the bonus track for Europe. Straighter rock but also the weakest song on the album.
On the second CD that comes with the package there are the greatest hits of the band history again rerecorded with Arnel Pineda as a singer and guitar a little more content. Whether this was necessary only time will tell. The old fans will probably prefer to listen to the originals PERRY but here PINEDA proves before that he can give the best songs in the original pitch. This gives us hope for future tours.
All in all REVELATION is certainly no disclosure within the meaning of the word, but a completely successful JOURNEY CD. Fans want anyway otherwise. Why should musicians even after 30 successful years in the business working on their sound or their song structures again completely?