Saviour – ‘Let Me Leave’ [Review]
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In music as in life, perseverance is half the battle. With several struggle-filled years behind them, Saviour are intimately aware of this fact – and as Let Me Leave shows, they’re more than prepared to put in the 110% required to fight, survive, and ultimately win in a harsh and unforgiving world.
Let Me Leave is, in essence, music as martial art. It’s a finely honed, trim and toned beast posed and poised right on a knife-edge between chaotic brutality and serene tranquillity. During opening offering April, tidal-wave chords wash up somewhere between Deftones and Paramore, simultaneously epic, expansive, familiar and yet idiosyncratic enough to remain intriguing.
Balance: Achieved.
When All I Am Is You kicks in, Paramore comparisons become inevitable – not because of the stock and flawed “rock band including female vocalist, therefore Paramore clone” logic applied by too many lazy critics, but because its half-lush half-stabby guitar work immediately brings to mind the male portion of Paramore’s work on All We Know Is Falling and Riot!. Besides, vocalist Shontay Snow tends to fall very close to Bjork territory, making her contributions (and the fact that co-vocalist Bryant Best can scream his balls off) Saviour’s ultimate differentiating factor at this point.
As a band establishing a new direction following an extended period of turmoil, Saviour deliver their best, most passionate performances during the above songs, along with The Quiet Calm, Pressure And Composure, The Cool Calm, and album closer Little Birds. On those tracks, Saviour spend their time pulling out sick beatdowns, a nod in the direction of Limp Bizkit (on Pressure And Composure), sweet dynamic swells (The Cool Calm), and perfect vocal hooks aplenty. While Forget Me, Like This, The Low In Hello and Wildfire are quality songs, Saviour set the bar so high with their opening salvo that the later pre-closer section comes across as polished and professional, but ultimately lacking the same degree of immersive emotional intensity.
Still, Saviour have absolutely levelled up with Let Me Leave. They’ve made their sound more accessible without losing touch with their roots; their musicianship is more than merely enviable; and they’ve turned an emotional shit sandwich into a pristine banquet of brilliant music. Hardcore connoisseurs: Open thy ears, rejoice, and prepare to become Saviour’s disciples.
TMMP RATING: 91% (Essential Listening!)
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