Album Review: ALBUM REVIEW: Saviour - 'Shine & Fade'

This is, Shine & Fade by Saviour.

Younger

I was quote floored the first time I heard this song & I feel the same way now. It has huge vibes for an opening song & builds really nicely with some epic drums & HUGE anthemic vibes. The softer moments with clean vocals from Shontay Snow are captivating & in true Saviour format, pair oh so well with the heavy vocal brutality brought in by Bryant Best. Particularly with that 3,2,1 countdown into the breakdown. WHAT A MOMENT! This song is just everything Saviour are encapsulated in 5 minutes and 35 seconds that somehow doesn’t feel too long? It sets the tone for an epic record. Let’s not forget the epic & stunning video that accompanies it either.

Reshape Me

This was the first single that we heard from Shine & Fade. Our number 66 on the Hardest 100 is a slightly faster-paced track than the opener. The song introduced the band as part of the Greyscale Records family. We hear a beautiful play of heavy vocals between Bryant & for the first time with Saviour, bass player Chris Pearce adds his voice to this song. The way the two play off each other was a new level of depth for the band & made for a VERY strong lead single.

Racing Home

This track starts very strong and catchy. It’s very upbeat & punchy & explores a different tone for the band. There’s this epic guitar moment after the first verse (1:30) where the newest member, Curtis Tunks shines incredibly bright. As I listen through I am really loving the structure of the track. There is no ‘traditional’ verse-then-chorus set-up. It really takes you on a musical journey & it gives the song a nice edge. I find myself wondering why this wasn’t a single! It still might be but damn this is a really strong song. 

Modern Curse

This song starts a little softer and relaxes you down after the epic vibes of the last number. Make no mistake though this is not a soft song. The breakdown in the middle of this track is the grungiest we’ve heard yet & you’ll be making a mad stank face, let me assure you. Shontay’s vocals on this song are the most front & centre she’s been yet & it’s great to have this change of pace still feel so strong. So far I am finding myself thinking every single song could have been a single.

Tidal Wave

Another single we have already heard that’s accompanied by another stunning video. This song is maybe the most ‘melodic’ we have heard so far. The standout part of this track is that every instrument is being played to its absolutely max. The drumming throughout is felt in your soul. The intricate guitar work is superb. I spoke at length with Bryant about this song in our interview last month. Make sure you watch it back to get all the deets!

Black Rosary

When the track kicks in, on first listen I thought this might be a slower track but once again, the way Saviour introduce their heavy takes you on a journey. At the 1:30 mark, the song really starts to come into this beast mode moment. I can picture this song doing really well live as a closing track. The song ends on one of the heaviest parts of the album with the last minute being in a completely different place from the first minute. Well played, this keeps you on your toes.

Cynical

It’s hard to believe we are already on the second last track. Once again you’re tricked into thinking there might be a slower-paced track to come. However, around the one minute mark, it kicks in again. The guitar work on this track is superb. There’s a melodic riff throughout that’s definitely on a level of its own. I found myself clinging to this one lyrically too. It covers some heavy self-reflection & self-critical themes. The track fades out with Shontay melodically repeating, ‘it's all my, it's all my, it's all my fault’ and I just know this is the one adding to my ‘sad day’ playlist when I need to feel understood. ‘Behind this masquerade, a lot goes on’

Wishing Well

From the get-go, this song stands out as completely different from the rest of the record. I am not sure if I heard this song alone I could immediately pick that it’s Saviour. I love that they have stepped outside the box here for the last song. Unlike a lot of the rest of the record where each song builds up towards a certain point, this song builds down. So beautifully as well in the way that it's experimental until it hits a familiar point with Shontay’s voice at 2:30 then it fades out into this stunning end to the record. But not before one final epic moment. I love this. I think it might be my fave on the record. Well done, gang.

Overall notes, I think this is such a step in a different direction for the band. Their last record, A Lunar Rose, was such a beautiful body of work that felt like it was meticulously planned out in its full sound and structure. There are interludes & opening tracks and it had a certain flow & story to be told. 

This record, Shine & Fade, feels like every song could be a lead single & one after the other could be their best yet. Whether it was approached differently or the same, the outcome is dramatically different and I hope it catapults them forward in the heavy world because this band is incredible, housing so much individual talent in a super group and this album proves that.

Shine & Fade is released tomorrow, Friday 29th of April via Greyscale Records.