Release
date: 3rd September 2016 . Label: Self Released. Format: DD
Saviours
– Tracklisting
1.Insanity
Grows 05:50
2.The
Heckler 03:03
3.Your
Pointless Gods 03:00
4.Sand
and Stones 05:23
5.Burning
Torch 04:19
6.Watch
Me Flying 05:02
7.Never
Confessed 04:54
8.Refused
04:11
Band
Members:
Tim:
Guitar
Sven:
Guitar/Vox
Bert:
Bass
Mike:
Drums
Review:
Blood
Diamond’s second album – Saviours – owes a huge debt of
gratitude to the earlier heavier sounds of Baroness and Mastodon. As
the album visits the similar kind of sounds those two bands made
their names with. It’s kind of refreshing and exciting to hear
after all these years. Sure there have been countless other bands
that have released similar sounding albums over the years but Blood
Diamond are perhaps the first band to try and do something new with
that sound.
Saviours
feels like the natural successor to Mastodon’s landmark album –
Leviathan and that’s no bad thing. You know what to expect. Fast
paced and heavy precise progressive sludge metal riffs with the band
showing a flair for psychedelic stoner metal grooves from time to
time.
Opening
track Insanity Grows opens the album with a track that holds your
attention throughout with razor sharp guitars and the familiar style
of clean/grizzled growls from lead vocalist Sven. It starts with a
superb haunting ambient noise before the guitars come crashing in.
Insanity Grows is one of the albums standout tracks on the album and
it’s a wise decision to open the album with this track. As it shows
you what’s in store for you over the next eight tracks.
Second
track – The Heckler – is pure Mastodon riff-loving worship but
Blood Diamond still create their own moments of psychedelic sludge
madness with perfectly played riffs that move from slower paced
moments to the more manic faster and heavier noises.
Third
track – Your Pointless Gods – has a more classic progressive feel
compared to the other tracks on the album. The drumming is a major
highlight of this track with spiky lyrics making this another great
tune to check out. The riffs and vocals both battle for their
attention in the spotlight. The production sounds super-fresh as
Blood Diamond start to create their own identity.
Fourth
Track – Seed and Stones – captures early-era Baroness with a more
stoner based vibe and it’s a song built upon a simple premise but
delivered with the band’s own verve and style. The psychedelic
guitar solos add an extra touch of class that will have you
head-banging in total agreement.
So
four songs into the album and you will now have a total feel on how
the album will play out for the remaining four songs. As the mood and
overall atmosphere of the album remains the same. Blood Diamond
perhaps create the most exciting moments on the second half of the
album. The album becomes heavier with Blood Diamond opting for a more
faster and progressive style of music especially on tracks: Burning
Torch, Never Confessed and Refused.
If
you miss the days before Baroness/Mastodon went a little bit too
commercial then Blood Diamond perfectly bridges the gap between the
earlier years of the Progressive Sludge Metal sounds and today’s
modern Stoner Metal grooves. Saviours is a fantastic sounding album
and is one that will entertain the hell out of you over and over
again.
Excellent
and Highly Recommended.
Words
by Steve Howe
