Saliva
Rise Up
Rum Bum Records
2014
This is the ninth full length album by Memphis, TN alternative metal band Saliva. However this time something big is different. Josey Scott is out and Bobby Amaru is in as the lead singer. Saliva may have started out with a much more nu-metal sound (mind you that was back in 1997), but they’ve long since taken a turn for modern hard rock, post-grunge and rap metal paths similar to bands like Drowning Pool, Papa Roach, 3 Doors Down and Sevendust.
Saliva were always known for their ability to produce radio-friendly tunes which somehow remained both tough and easy-to-listen-to at the same time. This is also the case with “Rise Up”, the guitars pack a punch, the bass is grooving, the drums are blasting the right way and the vocals are pretty tight. After all Amaru is a young guy eager to sing his ass off. At the end of the day, how could it be any other way? I mean these guys have been cooking up songs together for so long, they’ve perfected the recipe.
However, don’t expect them to deviate from that recipe one bit. That is to say that you shouldn’t expect a whole lot of originality. This is like comfort food for the modern rock music lover: you get the feeling you’ve heard it all before, but it sounds right.
On a more personal note, I’d like to thank Saliva for sticking a ballad in “Rise Up”. “Closer” is a sweat and powerful power ballad with the mandatory arena-size chorus. You know what? I’ve missed a good ballad. It seems that bands today think that if they include a slower jam in their record people will think they’re not tough enough or something. By the way, “The Enemy” is also a ballad, and a decent one too, but for some reason I prefer “Closer”.
Apart from “Closer”, the rest of the album’s highlights would have to be the opening “Rise Up” which sets the mood right, the larger than life hard rock anthem “Redneck Freakshow” and finally “Army” which is the most suitable song to get pumped-up before a fight.
All in all, Saliva managed once again to produce a highly enjoyable record that may not change or add anything new to the genre, but keeps the listener entertained all the same. If you are a fan of Drowning Pool, Papa Roach, 3 Doors Down, Blackstone Cherry and Sevendust you are probably a fan of Saliva as well, so you don’t need me telling you this album is for you.
Saliva were always known for their ability to produce radio-friendly tunes which somehow remained both tough and easy-to-listen-to at the same time. This is also the case with “Rise Up”, the guitars pack a punch, the bass is grooving, the drums are blasting the right way and the vocals are pretty tight. After all Amaru is a young guy eager to sing his ass off. At the end of the day, how could it be any other way? I mean these guys have been cooking up songs together for so long, they’ve perfected the recipe.
However, don’t expect them to deviate from that recipe one bit. That is to say that you shouldn’t expect a whole lot of originality. This is like comfort food for the modern rock music lover: you get the feeling you’ve heard it all before, but it sounds right.
On a more personal note, I’d like to thank Saliva for sticking a ballad in “Rise Up”. “Closer” is a sweat and powerful power ballad with the mandatory arena-size chorus. You know what? I’ve missed a good ballad. It seems that bands today think that if they include a slower jam in their record people will think they’re not tough enough or something. By the way, “The Enemy” is also a ballad, and a decent one too, but for some reason I prefer “Closer”.
Apart from “Closer”, the rest of the album’s highlights would have to be the opening “Rise Up” which sets the mood right, the larger than life hard rock anthem “Redneck Freakshow” and finally “Army” which is the most suitable song to get pumped-up before a fight.
All in all, Saliva managed once again to produce a highly enjoyable record that may not change or add anything new to the genre, but keeps the listener entertained all the same. If you are a fan of Drowning Pool, Papa Roach, 3 Doors Down, Blackstone Cherry and Sevendust you are probably a fan of Saliva as well, so you don’t need me telling you this album is for you.