Album & EP Reviews

Small Town Saviours – Small Town Saviours

Small Town Saviours – Small Town Saviours
Self-Released
Release Date: 27/01/23
Running Time: 46:44
Review by Simon Black
9/10

Rock ‘n’ Roll never quite goes away, does it? 

Every few years though, this genre delivers up the goods with a rising new star that would have worked out a dream at pretty much any point in the last fifty years. Berkshire doesn’t jump out as the sort of place that would rock the joint, but them’s the licks. On the subject of licks, Small Town Saviours have a fucking bucket load of those ready to roll…

The band have been garnering stonking results live for a while, grinding the graveyard support slots for the likes of Warrior Soul (because some poor bastard has to), but their debut is only with us now, although definitely worth the wait. A rich, fat production job from Wildhearts knob twiddler Dave Draper keeps the energy turned up and allows the attitude to smack you in the face whilst still sounding raw and fresh. This is a refreshing beast of an album indeed. 

The tracks are the kind of high-octane stuff that don’t outstay their welcome in terms of run time, but the band somehow manage to cram in a full thirteen tracks into forty-six minutes without this feeling padded or overwrought. This sort of stuff is normally struggling to fill half an hour without feeling padded, but by bouncing around the styles a little whilst nodding to all their influences (The Ramones, The Wildhearts, The Clash and with a bit of fifties Rockabilly thrown in for good measure) this simply doesn’t have a chance to get dull. Even when things go all Kiss crossed with Avenged Sevenfold with ‘Translation Invariant’ (the bastard great grandson of ‘Heaven’s On Fire’ caught shagging ‘Hail To The King’) it still somehow works, because there’s a subtle vein of humour and tongue in someone else’s cheek to help carry it all off with aplomb.

This four piece manage that well rounded art of guitar weaving perfectly,  making it impossible to tell which of the two players is leading, but with a rhythm section behind that as tight as a gnat’s arse keeping things lively, varied and fun. More please chaps…

‘Moving On’ Official Video

TRACKLISTING:
01. No Rats, No Snakes, No Second Takes, 
02. E.N.E.M.Y
03. The Drinking Song
04. Cry
05. London Ain’t Calling
06. Home Town Hero
07. Translation Invariant
08. It’s All Going To Hell
09. Ride It Out
10. Drama Queens
11. Boy Who Cried Wolf
12. Wild West (Berkshire)
13. Moving On

LINE-UP:
Lance Skybaby – Guitar / Lead Vocals
T. Bone – Bass / Backing Vocals
Skinny Pete – Guitar / Backing Vocals
Carl D – Drums / Backing Vocals.

LINKS:

Disclaimer: This review is solely the property of Simon Black and Ever Metal. It is strictly forbidden to copy any part of this review, unless you have the strict permission of both parties. Failure to adhere to this will be treated as plagiarism and will be reported to the relevant authorities.

Leave a Reply