By the time The Revolution By Night was released in 1983, Blue Öyster Cult was already highly successful, but in order to stay relevant to the times the band took their music in a new direction with this release. Gone, somewhat, is the multi-layered and high production value of their 70s output and while this album may not be as stylish as those that have come before, Blue Öyster Cult actively carved out a new direction for their music, experimenting with various styles, adopting contemporary trends, while simultaneously retaining some of their signature sound. It’s fair to say that Blue Öyster Cult had never quite sounded as mainstream as they do on this album, but if we weren’t to compare this release to their storied output, I’ve no doubt you’ll find yourself captivated by an incredible hard rock album that’s difficult to ignore.
While The Revolution By Night failed to be successful, by any metric, it doesn’t change the fact that the album is not only an exceptional Blue Öyster Cult release, but it’s also one of the best albums from 1983. Granted, there isn’t a standout hit to be found but as someone who appreciates the linear album structure, the lack of hit songs isn’t a primary motivator as there’s an undeniable cohesion, within the album’s sequencing, that I thoroughly appreciate. As to why the album failed to achieve even modest success, that’s anybody’s guess, but one can point to the somewhat mundane album artwork. Yes, MTV was all the rage in 1983, but just as mainstream networks still shun rock and roll, for the most part, Blue Öyster Cult would have received minimal to no coverage on that network. As a result, album covers still influenced music buyers, when they visited record stores, and let’s just say that The Revolution By Night isn’t memorable and certainly wouldn’t have stood out.
Turning our attention to the sonic quality of the album and the lossless Apple Music stream, an Apple Digital Master, is quite enjoyable to listen to. It isn’t, however, the final word in sonic quality for this album. Some moments are lovely and spacious while at other times you’ll experience crunching cymbals, a shallower soundstage, and a lack of instrumental separation. That all said, it’s still an entertaining listen and it’s moments like this that we have to acknowledge that we’re lucky to have such a solid release considering how poorly the album performed commercially. It’s, subsequently, highly unlikely that we’ll see a proper remaster of The Revolution By Night. Never say never, of course, but unless a career-spanning albums box set were to be released, it is highly improbable. Even then, all that we may receive is a reissuing of the existing mastering and end up with no sonic improvements. At any rate, the stream is more than satisfactory and as we all know, it is all about the music so let’s explore the songs that make up this highly underrated release.
Take Me Away launches the album with a burst of energy and does an excellent job of setting the tone for the entire record. The driving guitar riffs and rhythmic backbone ensure that you’ll not only be captivated but you’ll be drawn to the catchy chorus that is highly reminiscent of the radio-friendly production trends of the early 80s.
Eyes On Fire is simply magnificent and while the focus is still on a solid rock performance, Eyes On Fire harks back to the 70s era Blue Öyster Cult. It’s subsequently fresh and perfectly suited to the era. Yes, purists may suggest that Eyes On Fire is too pedestrian, and perhaps that is true when comparing this song against their back catalogue, but I’ll be damned if this isn’t one of the best songs Blue Öyster Cult ever recorded.
Shooting Shark shifts the tone of the album to a synthesizer-heavy focus with pop-rock elements; a style that was perfectly suited to the era. While it was never going to be a standout, it’s a sensational album-only track, with some killer guitar licks, that explores the band’s willingness to experiment.
Veins returns the styling to that of a more traditional hard rock sound, featuring driving rhythms and dynamic guitar work with a vocal presentation that creates a sense of urgency. Veins, while not a standout, is a thoroughly enjoyable album-only tune with, again, some killer guitar licks.
Shadow Of California is an incredible rock track with evocative lyrics and a dynamic musical arrangement. As to why it wasn’t released as a single is anybody’s guess, but this is a driving rocker that would have rocketed to the top of the charts had it been released.
Feel The Thunder borders on the psychedelic, particularly during the introduction, but it quickly shifts to being a more straightforward rock song; a shame for those who were hoping that Feel The Thunder would hark back to Blue Öyster Cult’s 70s-era output. Nevertheless, it’s a solid tune that works well within the album’s linear structure.
Let Go introduces a bluesy and groove-oriented vibe to the album and while it’s a solid song, it’s a little too teeny-bopper to be considered a true Blue Öyster Cult tune; especially given their illustrious 70s era recordings.
Dragon Lady features energetic guitar riffs and a driving tempo that returns us to the band’s hard rock styling whilst still ensuring they remained relevant to the era in which this album was released.
Light Years Of Love features a dreamy atmosphere and is a magnificent synth-driven ballad that is most certainly a highlight from the record. It’s a fantastic closer that allows for contemplation and encourages me to play the album again.
The Revolution By Night stands as a testament to Blue Öyster Cult's resilience and adaptability in the ever-changing rock music landscape. While it may not be considered a classic, on par with some of their earlier albums, it remains one of their best and is severely underrated. From hard rock anthems to atmospheric ballads, The Revolution By Night is 100% Blue Öyster Cult for despite their experimentation, their core identity is maintained, thereby making it a compelling and dynamic addition to their extensive discography.
