About.com Rating

Nostalgic metal may not be the “popular” thing in music today, but Saviours could care less on their fourth album Death’s Procession. The haze of late ‘70s/early ‘80s metal drifts over every moment, choking any modern techniques out of the surroundings. Once there was a time where guitarists were one entity solidified in their harmonies and leads, and the rhythm section was not just some triggered-heavy enhancement.

Death’s Procession is the anti-hipster album; a dirty, foul creation for the crowd who still remembers when metal used to be like this all the time.

After three albums, Saviours have been able to find a comfortable sonic avenue to work from. Don’t fret if the thoughts of an AC/DC-type situation comes to mind; they are more like Motorhead in building albums that have small changes, rather than monumental ones. Saviours have a few excellent qualities, mainly with the twin guitar riffage, and write songs that make copious use of that. It’s a formula that produces 45 minutes of stirring material that should provide air-guitarists with hours of enjoyment.

Guitarists Sonny Reinhardt and Austin Barber are tight-knit in their delivery, not letting one guitarist take the reins over the other. The harmonizing between the two reaches its apex on “The Eye Obscene” and “Fire Of Old.” They also shine on the epic seven-minute instrumental “Earth’s Possession & Death’s Procession,” a spiritual prelude to the stoner metal vibes on closer “Walk To The Light.”

The guitars are not the only positive trait from Saviours, but they sure are the best developed. Barber’s vocals are average, his wails stifled by the overpowering musicianship; it’s clear the vocals are not a priority on Death’s Procession. The band tends to stick to a tempo that suits a stoner/doom style, though “To The Grave Possessed” and “Crete’n” bursts with crackling momentum.

Who doesn’t love an album packed with smoking guitar licks and excess harmonies? Saviours does almost everything in their power to make Death’s Procession true to classic metal. The band has a vibrant sound that is hard to not bust out a big grin over. Death’s Procession is consistent in its quality and ability to wow listeners with stellar guitar chemistry.

(released September 6., 2011 on Kemado Records)

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