You all know I am very honest – or, at least, I try to be – about the bands whose albums I write reviews here frequently telling my real feelings about the music they present. Therefore, always following my heart, there two fun facts about Savaged “Rising” that I soon realized. First of all, if a band plays its music with all the heart and soul possible, the more clichès they use, the better is the music. Do not get me wrong, but “Rising” is filled with all – or, at least, almost all – Old School Heavy Metal clichès; hence, that is why it is so deliciously fantastic. It is clear to me that to Savaged their heart and soul comes first than technique. Although tracks as “Across The Burning Fields” struggle to prove me wrong. It is something one feels. There is a lot of heart with “Rising.” Second of all, and I am a bit ashamed to tell it, but at my first look at the cover I thought I saw a cat… For the argument sake, it was because my first look was at the top of it and images can deceive if one does not look at it right. So sorry guys, but this cover is too much of a clichè too. Well, not so good, but that is all I’ve got in my defense.
As you all know it’s been a while since I’ve been writing many reviews here about Old School Heavy Metal bands. Most of them were full of clichès as well, but missed the heart and soul Savaged does not lack. That’s why, as the press release tells, ‘without even having an album released and they performed at Headbangers Open Air 2023 next to bands such as Riot V, Jag Panzer, Sacred Reich, Fifth Angel and many more.’ Today’s review subject, their sophomore “Rising” has that teenage spirit of rebellion. The album is fun, exciting, and full of energy. It’s an album to a non-stop headbanging just the way Metal albums are required to be. Tracks as “The Conqueror” showcase a grand and epic mood we all love. Tracks like this one shows one more facete of Savaged that is to be a all or nothing band regarding to the way they build up their songs. Or they are straight-ahead and sharp as razor blades, or they are full of instrumentals flourishes. Maybe it is just their heart.
To some extent, some tracks of the album makes Savaged do remind me of other Old School Heavy Metal great band as Whaldemar, whose hearts were before technique as well. Jamie Killhead’s vocals do call my attention every time he uses his high pitches as the great Bruce Dickinson and many others. “The Long Walk” is a great sample of them. I will never stop loving the twin guitars the band uses all the time here. Same goes to the Chorus pedal effects the band use a lot here.
“Rising” is an album to be heard with hands held high and a heart full of passion for Metal music. It is an album for metallers who have such deep respect and devotion for Metal music.
Savaged “Rising” will be released on June 13th via No Remorse Records.
Track Listing:
1. Ascension
2. Fire It Up
4. The Long Walk
5. Across The Burning Fields
6. The Conqueror
8. Texas (Bloody Texas)
9. Rising
Watch “Queen of My Salvation” official music video here:
I’m just a lucky guy who has chosen metal to live with for a long time. Metal changed my life for good. It made me more confident and stronger. Metalheads are naturally far away from the mass mediocrity and don’t accept impostures from anybody else. Metal is more than music, it’s a life changing oportunity!