QUICKIE REVIEW OF AN UNSIGNED BAND: SALVADOR

From time to time, new MetalSucks editorial intern Dave Mustein will be doing some short reviews of unsigned and lesser-known bands for us. We hope you enjoy…

The MS Mansion recently received a an album entitled Cleansed Through Fire and Blood from a Portland, Oregon band called Salvador. Although I would expect a band with that moniker to play Spanish-themed deathcore or something, Salvador actually plays some excellent stoner rock/metal à la sludgier Baroness and early-to-middle Mastodon.

What separates Salvador from the rest of the stoner metal herd is guitarists Aaron Lum and Wayne Fidler soloing skills. While “Vultures” is the the obvious highlight, solo-wise, the axe-slingers’ abilities are obvious throughout the album. In fact, the guitars are reminiscent of MetalSucks faves These Arms Are Snakes.

Aside from the guitars, though, everything else is your pretty standard stoner metal fare. There are plenty of low yells mixed with the occasional growl and high pitched scream, giving the record a more metal edge than it might have otherwise. But even if Salvador isn’t going to top the greats of stoner metal, they’re definitely worth a listen.

-DM