The last few months have been rather busy if you are a fan of power/prog metal ( call it what you will) with the release of no less than three album by the biggest bands in the genre, namely Dream Theatre, Symphony x and Kamelot. Given that they are playing in the same ballpark this could easily have led to Civilization One's debut Revolution Rising been overlooked  and that would be doing the band a disservice.

Formed around the talents of Chitty Somapala  Civilization One do, to some degree follow the prog metal rule book, but it is when the band throw the rule book out of the window that Revolution Rising shines as an album. Initially the rule book is in place as the album opens with the prerequisite instrumental, namely Celestial Sunrise, with its Arabian/Egyptian feel and second track, Life Of Agony' has huge Iron Maiden influences within it but it is with the third song on the album, Legends Of The Past, that things really take off - powerful, heavy and stunning describes it best.

The Lost Souls is melodic as hell, coming across in places like Whitesnake but the band return to Iron Maiden's hunting grounds for 16, possibly the least likeable track on offer. Sacred on the other hand is very Kamelot in feel - and all the better for it, whilst Welcome To Paradise is reminiscent of early Anthrax, at least to this reviewer's ears.

Wishing Well, no not the Free song, but rather a melodic number with distinct progressive overtones leads into Dream On, and that's not the Aerosmith song either - some song titles should most definitely be retired me thinks - which happens to be a haunting piano led ballad with just a touch of the Bon Jovi's about it. Finally rounding out the whole shebang is Time Will Tell, Celtic in feel during the intro before turning into the up[-temp double bass drum power metal track with stratospheric vocals one would expect of a song ling in this genre.

With Revolution Rising Civilization One have made a good, if not outstanding debut album. One that bodes well for the future and if Somapala concentrates his efforts on this outfit rather than flitting between bands, as has been his wont, then there is definitely more to come from this band. For now Revolution Rising will do as a good introduction...