From Where

This band sprang up right at the dawn of the 90’s in order to take part in the salvation campaign of the old school which was falling under the strokes from the oncoming groovy/grungy/aggro wave. Not so much in Germany, though, as valiant newcomers (Depressive Age, Tokkata, Brainamputated, Secrecy, Megace, etc.) slowed down this process over there quite a bit.

Salvation offer a classic complex, labyrinthine blend of power and thrash which nicely balances between the two styles, sometimes within one composition. They don’t rush it, though, and prefer the heavier, mostly mid-paced, ways of execution with very sparse stretches beyond the acceptable faster-paced confines. Such is the case on “Real Values” which is both an atmospheric and a dynamic way to start the album, with direct and technical riffs shaking hands without ever breaking the instilled mid-tempo “idyll”, the very good attached clean vocalist shining bright on the memorable chorus. “Human Insertion” is sustained in the same vein only adding a not very obtrusive keyboard background, and “Nightmares” is a nod to the American progressive power metal field with dark sombre undercurrents akin to Heir Apparent and Crimson Glory.

“Savoir Faire” is a true revelation, a short spastic technical thrash instrumental aptly backed up by “Inner Conflict”, a heavy progressive thrash masterpiece with slow burning etudes and abrupt hectic “disturbances” in the best tradition of Watchtower and Realm, the guys squeezing all possible intricate gimmicks from such a seismic mid-paced delivery. “Burning Assault” betrays its alluring twisted beginning with a more conventional Bay-Areasque approach later, but watch out for another nice memorable chorus; and “A Look Inside” is an eventful concoction of power, progressive and thrash recalling the feats of the Italians Eldritch and the Canadians Eidolon. The amalgam is preserved for the heavy semi-balladic “1991” which closes the opus in a quieter, more introspective fashion.

It’s interesting to note that a large portion of the acts (also Entophyte, Brainamputated, Of Rytes, Skeptic Sense, etc.) from the German technical/progressive thrash wave remained just one-album-wonders. It seemed as though the musicians were trying to disrupt the process of the groove formation, and as they became well aware that their efforts would be futile, they simply folded after just one showing. Our friends here also fall into this category, unfortunately, although they did make another effort towards “disturbing” the numetal peace instilled in the mid-90’s with an isolated demo. No idea how the style on that one evolved, but it was kind of a relief to see that attempts at retro metal salvation were still coming during those gruesome times; from here, from there… from where.