Given the recent history of Journey, especially when it comes to lead vocalists, I was half prepared to write new album Revelation off as simply a cash in on the band's signature sound, especially when you consider the stated reason for bringing new boy Arnel Pineda into the fold was to capture more the spirit of the band's heritage. What I hadn't expected was the band to produce what is pretty much their best new album in nigh on two decades.

Yep you head that right the new material on Revelation is pretty much fantastic and captures the essence of Journey perfectly without stepping over that very thin dividing line that separates building on your own legacy from self plagiarism. The most notable thing about the new material is the superb production values Kevin Shirley has brought to proceedings, the sound is crisp, clear and perfectly balanced, just as you would expect from Journey and a far cry from the lame  sound the band utilised on last outing Generations. of course simply getting a good sound does not guarantee a good album, it's all about the songs and here Journey again succeed. From the up-tempo opener Never Walk Away it's again right out of the top drawer of Messers Schon & Cain. There is a good mixture of rockers and ballads, Like A Sunshower, surprisingly coming so early in the running order drops the pace but not the quality and really does hark back to that classic Journey sound of yore with a touch of soul and a stunning guitar solo.

Perhaps the most surprising inclusion is the re-working of Faith In The Heartland, the song that kicked off Generations. In terms of vocal delivery Pineda and Augeri are neck and neck but what makes the new take on the track work is the production which is lush and smooth and really brings out the best in the band. But of course that simply brings to mind the question of the band's choice of Pineda as vocalist. Much has been said and written about the decision to part ways with the previous two incumbents  of the vocalist spot and the decision to bring in Pineda, found through YouTube. For the record it was a decision I initially found strange but after the performance on Revelation it is hard to complain. Sure he has that classic Perry vibe but also enough of his own strengths to make stand on his own without needing comparisons to the past. But that's on the CD of new material, what about the recordings of past glories.

Well first off it's hard to find fault with the material itself, how can you criticize the likes of Don't Stop Believin' Separate Ways, Open Arms and the like. For many these are genre defining classics and should be treated as such.  Unfortunately the lush production that benefited the new material isn't as apparent on the re-recorded versions. At times they simply sound flat and lumpy and compared to the originals drag slightly. It's almost like the band recorded them live in a day or so for "B" sides as used to happen back in the good old days of vinyl rather than lavishing the care and attention on them that they perhaps deserved. Likewise Pineda sounds more like a Perry clone here than a talent in his own right. It could even be argued that including the second CD undermines Pineda slightly as it immediately draws direct comparisons with Perry, and as good as Pineda may be not many would win that battle. What it also does is to undermine the strength of the new material as die hard fanatics and more casual fans alike are liable to spend countless hours listening to and debating the minutia of the  re-records rather than basking in the new material.

Overall though the new material on Revelation is a true return to form for the AOR heroes and hopefully the legion of Journey fans around the world will accept where the band is at now and likewise hopefully Journey have finally found a stable line-up and one that can grow and develop over the coming years.