N.W.O.B.H.M. Wednesday: Salem-Attrition

Dissonance Productions
2018

Formed back in 1980 and initially only active until 1983, Salem is a N.W.O.B.H.M./hard rock band that is lead by Simon Saxby (ex-Deep Fix). The forthcoming "Attrition" is Salem's third full-length album since reforming in 2010. Opening by way of the incredible title track (a real rock and roll gem that is as modern as it is vintage!), "Attrition" is the highly-anticipated follow-up to "Dark Days". Including the aforementioned title track, there are eleven tracks in all on Salem's new release. Having first covered this majestic metal/rock band back in late November of 2011, Salem has had some awesome material to be sure. Honestly all it took was one listen to the group's 2010 compilation, "In the Beginning...", for me to fall in love with this group's sound. With that long history in mind, "Attrition" is the best thing that I have ever heard from this veteran band! Thanks to the contributions of all of Salem's band-members, "Attrition" also holds the distinction of the being the most care-free and versatile release to date from Simon Saxby and company!! Speaking of which, Salem is rounded out by Paul Macnamara (guitars), Mark Allison (guitars), Ade Jenkinson (bass), and Paul Mendham (drums). While it is true that everyone has helped out in the past, Salem's new album shows a older band that is not afraid of growth. Wisdom comes with age and Salem seems to understand this more than any other band their age. Now more than ever Salem has evolved to fit the times. Overflowing with catchy hard rock numbers and mature AOR/melodic rock tunes, Salem has taken up a sound and style that could rule modern day rock radio. For some that might sound like a sell-out, but they would be greatly mistaken about Salem's new approach. There is nothing artificial about this album and Salem are not claiming to be anyone but themselves. When it comes to the hard rock smashers, heavy rockers and beautiful ballads on this album it is all Salem and all good! Times might be changing around them, but that hasn't stopped Salem from stepping up to the plate and knocking things out of the ballpark!! Amazingly enough Salem does all of this while still maintaining that core essence that first made people take notice of this talented act. As great as their new studio album is, Salem should be on every top ten list from Europe to here in the U.S. That might seem like a long ways off, but I simply cannot see a whole lot of heavy & heard rock albums being as golden as this release is. With a due date of February 23rd, "Attrition" is a must-have for fans of Salem and anybody that loves hard rock/melodic rock. The album runs over fifty minutes, but with one great track after another it is a thoroughly enjoyable experience. Between this perfect album and Robespierre's latest release, 2018 is going to be one hell of a year for N.W.O.B.H.M. fanatics!

N.W.O.B.H.M. Wednesday: Salem-Dark Days

Pure Steel Records
2016

Regular visitors to Heavy Metal Time Machine should know that I am a long-time fan of the British metal band Salem. It was back in late November of 2011 that I covered this group's superb 2010 compilation, "In The Beginning...", and I followed that review up with write-ups of the 2013 EP, "X-Rated" and the group's last full-length album, "Forgotten Dreams". I've even had the honor of interviewing this legendary N.W.O.B.H.M. band so when I first heard about their brand new 11-track album here I was stoked! I'm here to today to lay down some cold hard truth for fans of Salem and that is as follows. With a due date of April 29th, "Dark Days" is not only a proper follow-up to Salem's 2013 disc "Forgotten Dreams", but it is easily  the best thing that this British band has ever laid to tape! Hell, "Dark Days" might just end up being one of my favorite hard rock/heavy metal albums of the year if not my undisputed number one!! Opening by way of the catchy-as-hell hard rocker, "Not Guilty" (Man alive I love this sick number with it's perfect mixture of  melody and metal madness!), "Dark Days" finds lead singer Simon Saxby (ex-Deep Fix) in top form and as these 11 tracks unfold he makes the case for being one of N.W.O.B.H.M.'s most underrated front man! Simon's not the only member of Salem to shine on "Dark Days" though. In fact he's just one key piece of the overall puzzle that is Salem the cult N.W.O.B.H.M. band. Guitarist Paul Macnamara and his brother in arms, Mark Allison, weave a deeply magical spell when it comes to Salem's new masterpiece. From the heavy rock/hard rock of "Not Guilty" all the way through to the powerhouse rocker "Tank"* that closes things out the technical guitar work on Salem's new album is nothing short of exquisite! The lead guitar solos are so good in fact that I found myself getting lost in the moment on more than one occasion!! Phrases like smoking hot and words like wizardly immediately spring to mind when you're talking about the six-string majesty that is Paul Macnamara & Mark Allison work on "Dark Days"! And how about the rhythm section of Salem? Can we just stop and have a little chat about bassist Adrian Jenkinson and drummer Paul Mendham (Innersylum, ex-Infobia, ex-Outland, ex-Q, ex-Rise, ex-The Hidden) for a moment? This pair adds the explanation point (!) to red hot British metal thanks to musicianship that is second to none! With the added benefit that comes from solid gold bass lines and impact is immediate drumming a band like Salem zips their merry way WAY past good hard rock/heavy metal and into the realms of the almighty epic!! Collectively-speaking, Salem is comprised of five top-tier musicians who have obviously taken the time to craft one of 2016's finest records. While I could work my way through each and every number on "Dark Days" let's just settle things right now and just say that they are ALL gems! In conclusion I'd just like you to take a moment and close your eyes for second. Now try to imagine a perfect hard & heavy platter where the likes of AC/DC, Deep Purple, Def Leppard, Diamond Head, Fifth Angel, Gillian, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Maineeaxe, More (N.W.O.B.H.M. band), Praying Mantis, Rainbow, Saxon, the Scorpions, Thin Lizzy, TKO, UFO, Van Halen, and Wild Spirit all come together for the sole purpose of creating long-lasting & highly- memorable music that is as catchy as it is clever. Add in the sound and style that is all Salem and Salem alone and you're talking about the greatest that is "Dark Days"! My friends it simply does not get better than this...




"Tank"* features a collaboration with former Nazareth guitarist Manny Charlton! 

Salem-Forgotten Dreams

Pure Steel Records
2013

If you are a frequent visitor to Heavy Metal Time Machine, or even if you are a long-standing fan of classic heavy metal and/or the N.W.O.B.H.M. scene, then you don't need me to preach the important role that the U.K. played in the development of heavy metal. The United Kingdom has long been fertile ground for all things loud and proud and Salem, who are also known as Salem U.K. in order to differentiate them from far too many similarly named groups, has been there since day one. Or at least day one as in 1981 which is when their first demo was released. It's been a long and winding road since then and yet, in grand style (and in similar fashion to other classic U.K band's like Hell for example), Salem are back with a brand new album and enough contagious energy to keep the fires of heavy metal burning for a very long time! The same Salem that made the limited-edition, 1982 single, "Cold As Steel/Reach For Eternity", (which has sold for nearly $1000 on the secondary market!), such a classic number has soldiered on making "Forgotten Dreams" one of 2013's best heavy metal albums! It's also the best "comeback" album that I've heard this year and an absolute MUST OWN for fans of straight-up heavy metal and N.W.O.B.H.M.! Now, this past March I had the privilege of covering Salem's much heralded "X-Rated" EP and, truth be told, the four tracks present on that EP are also on Salem's new full-length album. Those tracks, which were "When Love's In Your Heart", "X-Rated", "Ask The Lonely" and "Reach to Eternity" (2013 Version), have been re-mixed and re-mastered though, breathing new life into each and every one of them. With that said, let's take a brief look at what makes "Forgotten Dreams" such a strong contender for the "Comeback Album Of the Year" award and why bands like Salem are the past, present and future of heavy metal! Right up front it's worth noting that vocalist  Simon Saxby sounds phenomenon on this release! As the album kicks in with the title track, which is a strong number that lies somewhere between traditional heavy metal and epic heavy metal, Simon's vocals simply soar! Not only is (track number 1) "Forgotten Dreams" one cool-ass track, with guitarists Paul Macnamara and Mark Allison laying down riffs that are one-part classic rock and one-part heavy metal, but it's also the perfect way to open up an album! From there we move on to another new cut (track number 2) called "High Stakes". This one was an instant- fave of mine as the wicked guitar parts give off this almost Twilight Zone vibe with it's nightmarish riffs coming across as if they are also inspired by classic rock. The band, which also features bass player Ade Jenkinson  and Paul Mendham, has manged to take all of their various influences and turn them into a distinct, hard-driving style, that marries melody and metal madness. It's a perfect union as evident here. Alright, to make this review a little easier on the eyes I'm going to take things track by tracks, but with breaks into the sentences. Of course you are quite welcome!

Track 3) "When Loves In Your Heart"-I loved this number on the "X-Rated" EP and I love it here. This almost sleazy, hard rock number sounds more modern then anything and (again) features some simply smashing guitar playing. It also shows of the killer ability of drummer Paul Mendham who does so much more then simply keep the beat going! 

Track 4) "This Heart Is Mine"-Two songs in a row with "heart" in the title? Yes, and so what? This has a real charm to it and, as odd and off the wall as this may sound, it merges 80's metal, 80's rock and 90's melodic hard rock into one little number that is actually quite good.

Track 5) "Kazakafnu"-There is an interesting story about this one. Bassist Ade filled me in: "Kaza-Kafnu is the name of a 12-day trek from Kaza to Kafnu in the Indian Himalayas. Paul's daughter did the trek and when she came back she told us all about her experiences, so we kinda bastardized the name of the trek and made it into more of a place". Cool. Did I mention that it is also one of my favorite tracks on this album? No? Well, it is and frankly it doesn't get much better then this one. Throughout their new album Salem showcases how everyone from Thin Lizzy to Black Sabbath has allowed Salem's sound to evolve into this beautiful creature all it's own. The group's influences are really just about as varied as this album is. Wishbone Ash, Rush, Kansas, Rainbow and Deep Purple are just a few acts that have influenced the members of Salem and when it's played to utmost extreme (like on  "Kazakafnu") it's just something that's going to stick with you for a long time!

Track 6) "The Answer"-Short and sweet this one is really solid hard and heavy rock.

Track 7) "Reach For Eternity"-This updated version of an old Salem has hints of Deep Purple and Rainbow while it also carries itself in a fashion that says "Yes, I do think I can stand toe-to-toe with the modern rock radio movement and I'll prove it!". 

Track 8) "The Best Is Yet To Come"-Take the classic rock/AOR of bands like REO Speedwagon and Kansas (hear me out) and suddenly turn it into something mellow and marvelous that just screams out to be one of the album's singles!

Track 9) "X-Rated"-Another number that I loved on the band's previous EP and I love it here. Straight-up modern heavy rock having a make out session with 80's melodic heavy metal. What's not to like?

Track 10) "Break the Chains"-For some reason this one made me envision Styx and Ozzy's early (solo) band collaborating on a N.W.O.B.H.M. project!

Track 11) "Ask The Lonely"-From the previous EP and a subtle yet effective merger of classic hard rock and the light side of the N.W.O.B.H.M. movement (Praying Mantis, Bronz and White Spirit)

Track 12) "Aftershock"-A slower, almost doom take on Rainbow and Dio? Classic

Track 13) "Retribution"-Likely only to appear on the Japanese version of "Forgotten Dreams", which of course will serve as an incentive for fans to hunt down the Japanese version of "Forgotten Dreams", this one is really interesting. Reminiscent of  the early L.A. hard rock scene, this one features some crafty guitar work that, in another time and place, sure as hell sounds as if it could have been a hit for some hair metal rockers. Of course that's only if the number was fluffed up horribly as in Salem's hands it's way more reflective of a band that knows a thing or two about the virtues of classic heavy metal! 

Alright, so there you have it. A track-by-track breakdown of what just might be the comeback album of the year as well as one of my top 10 albums of the year! With the album's offer of variety, it's well-fashioned and technically savvy approach to song-writing, the epic skill-level of each and every member involved with the new album and a production (courtesy of bassist Abe) that highlights the classic appeal of U.K. heavy metal, "Forgotten Dreams" is an album that I've give a "A+" rating to and recommend for anyone and everyone reading this!

Salem (UK): X-Rated (Limited Edition EP) "Brofest 2013"

Self-Release/Independent
2013

Thanksgiving has either come really early for me or way to late. It just depends on how you look at it. Why, you may find yourself asking, are we talking about Thanksgiving in late March? Well, while I can't divulge all of the news and/or rumors that have found their way into my daily thoughts, as of late more and more cult eighties acts/N.W.O.B.H.M. acts have either released new music or are in the process of releasing new material. For me that's something to be VERY THANKFUL for! Or rather, this new music is something to keep this long winter (and it's every looming seasonal depression) we are having in check. All of that brings us to Salem. If you're already familiar with the band then you will know that they what I'm talking about when I say that they have always had the perfect blend of hard rock/traditional heavy metal and N.W.O.B.H.M.  If you're not familiar with the band then be sure to click on the link below where I have an interview with them as well as some reviews of their material. Beneath that you'll find all the other links you need to know when it comes to Salem and this new free digital EP. Yes, this new 4-track EP is free for the taking and, if you're   like me in anyway (in that you love great heavy metal), then just stop what you're doing and download this EP. Don't ask any questions. Just do it. You won't regret it. With "When Love's In Your Heart" setting the stage in true heavy metal fashion, followed by the ever so cool title cut, the band tears through 4 tracks of sensational hard rock/heavy metal. Lead singer Simon Saxby sounds better then ever. Truly, a track like "Ask The Lonely", showcases his youthful voice and shows that Salem still has what it takes to be a leading force in the field of British metal. The EP concludes with a re-recording of a song from 1982, "Reach To Eternity", and, if anything is wrong at all with this limited edition EP, you find yourself craving more! Paul Macnamara and Mark Allison offer up killer lead guitar solos to compliment Simon's youthful energy as Ade Jenkinson (bass) and Paul Mendham (drums) keep things solid in true rock steady fashion. Throughout this EP the band pulls out all the stops to give the listener four tracks of epic heavy metal that is both melodic and menacing. My only question to Salem now is this-when will we see another full-length album?

Interview with Salem:
http://metalmark.blogspot.com/search?q=Salem-%22In+The+Beginning...%22

All the other links you need to know!

www.SalemBand.co.uk

 

www.reverbnation.com/SalemUK

www.facebook.com/SalemBand