This album showed its teeth before even getting in my CD player and that is straightforward Power Metal with some portions of Progressive Metal. It is easy to guess the album's musical character by taking into consideration the band's ancestry and moniker. I mean think a little bit; THE PROWLERS that hail from Italy. What else can we expect? Nothing is my answer.
I think that the Italian and the Greek Metal scene have one and strong similarity; they are both predictable. So, THE PROWLERS kind of fall in this category and do nothing groundbreaking here by mixing Power with Progressive Metal. As the promo sheet reads, THE PROWLERS has been producing this music genre since their formation in 1996. From that day, the Italians have released two albums entitled Soul Thieves and Devil's Pride.
As I said in my introduction there is nothing new to expect after having pressed the 'play' button on your CD player. This does not mean that this is a bad album. On the contrary, the compositions are well written and are presented with an excellent sound production that is a product of the Jailhouse Studios and the professional directions of Tommy Hansen. My problem with Re-Evolution is that during the listening sessions I could not stop thinking I've heard that before. Indeed, the high pitched ala STRATOVARIUS vocals, the distinct guitar IRON MAIDEN-esque melodies and the DREAM THEATER-like keyboards are already worn out recipes in my mind. Hell, even the use of classic music themes seems over-used here. But hold your shovels for a minute; the album does have some good elements to comment on. First of all, the power ballad Do You Feel The Same sounds better with the lower singing pitch (ok, Andi Deris is a strong influence here) and the female vocals courtesy of Mrs. Martina Pelosi who pops up here and there. I really like the classic guitar solo that also hides a Southern Rock feeling and then it turns on the distortion reaching a Ritchie Blackmore-esque finish. In fact after this song the album becomes more interesting. Starting with the heavy and definitely groovy Insomnia where the keyboards add a different perspective in THE PROWLERS' music that flirts with Progressive Metal in the vein of the latest SYMPHONY X. The Prayer throws some AOR 'looking' keyboard tunes for a change (and a good one) while the guitar driven 1001 Lies goes with the lower pitch vocals I prefer. These better vocals along with some nice harmonies are found in De Bello Gallico VI-VIII that also comprises some minor orchestrations and some more classic music finishing touches. The album closes with a piano based ballad that travels upon Martina passionate singing performance proving that they should consider of using more of it.
I admit that this review started by digging the grave for THE PROWLERS but after the middle of the album things became better (sounded if you prefer) saving the game in the end. The album is well produced and is clearly a product of professional work but it misses the originality that would make it more appealing to my ears.