Cargo Records

Revelation

Revelation should bookmark one of the most challenging chapters of Journey’s legendary career. Instead, the new album offers a lasting testament to Journey’s legacy and a striking glimpse of their brilliant future.

The first album with lead vocalist Arnel Pineda, Revelation is Journey running on no less than twelve cylinders, a fine-tuned offering that sounds every bit like a band hitting their stride. Yet Pineda hadn’t even joined the band when the album’s first songs were written in mid-2007, and founding guitarist Neal Schon is quick to admit, it wasn’t always easy to stay optimistic when the band wasn’t sure what the future held. “I was getting frustrated with not having a singer, but still wanted to move forward and knew that we had a big year in front of us. There were times I got frustrated, but I never lost hope,” recalls Schon. “I wanted a guy that could convey the classic songs with a similar texture to his voice, and a tenor voice, but someone who puts his own spin on it. Which is exactly what Arnel does.” Pineda’s discovery is already etched into Journey’s lifelong musical history, as Schon scouted literally hundreds of singers via online video website YouTube before finding the band’s new frontman. “When I heard Arnel, I knew I had found our singer and immediately called management,” says Schon. “Next, I call Cain. And before we knew it, Arnel was on his way to the U.S. to audition. By the third day of full rehearsals with the band, it was a slam-dunk. Then, we proceeded into the studio where Arnel sang six Journey songs in one day. He sounded simply amazing. I looked at Cain and said, ‘there he is. This is our guy.’" Cain agreed. Between the two of them, Schon and Cain penned all 11 of the new tracks on Revelation. There is no lack of chemistry in Journey, beginning with the songwriting core of Schon and Cain. “I felt strongly about moving forward and writing new material. It was time,” Schon states. Schon then put the call into Cain and started the song writing process which has now become the album, Revelation “Never Walk Away” kicks Revelation off with the resilient air and upbeat optimism fans have come to expect from Journey, a melody-soaked and guitar-driven anthem sure to ignite the live circuit just as it lights up the new release. The heart-warming sentiment offered by “Like a Sunshower” gives a more poetic and reflective look at relationships. It’s an uncharacteristic ballad from the more hard rock-inclined Schon. There’s even an instrumental, “The Journey (Revelation),” at the request of producer Kevin Shirley, who returns to the fold after working with the band on Trial By Fire (1996) and Arriv al (2000), the band’s first instrumental since Departure (1980) and Evolution (1979). “This is a special song for me,” Schon says of the sprawling track, “it was extremely gratifying to express myself on my instrument in this way.” This is a great performance from everyone in the band and truly a majestic track. Lead singer Pineda still does plenty of head turning of his own throughout the new recordings, as well as the 11 classic hits that the band re-recorded. “It’s so exciting to sing with one of the best bands in the world,” says Pineda. “It’ll be a lot of hard work on my part, and I’m actually looking forward to the scrutiny I’ll get from the hardcore Journey fans. I know they’ll expect me to sound exactly like ‘the voice,’ but that will never happen. I know there’s only one Steve Perry in this world.” While that may be the case, Pineda breathes new life into the band’s heralded catalogue, from the soaring stretches of “Only The Young” and the full vibrato that introduces the small town girl and city boy from South Detroit in “Don’t Stop Believin’,” to the pristine tones of “Open Arms” and “Faithfully” and the driving rhythm of “Separate Ways.”

Track Listing

Disc 1: Revelation:

1. Never Walk Away
2. Like A Sunshower
3. Change For The Better
4. Wildest Dream
5. Faith In The Heartland
6. After All These Years
7. Where Did I Lose Your Love
8. What I Needed
9. What It Takes To Win
10. Turn Down The World Tonight
11. The Journey (Revelation).
12. Let It Take You Back (European Only Bonus Track)

Disc 2: Greatest Hits Re-Recorded:

1. Only The Young
2. Don't Stop Believin'
3. Wheel In The Sky
4. Faithfully
5. Any Way You Want It
6. Who's Crying Now
7. Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)
8. Lights
9. Open Arms
10. Be Good To Yourself
11. Stone In Love.