Saffire is a band that flew under my rock-radar for way too long. I knew of them but never bothered to listen. For reasons unknown. Their second album For The Greater Good (2015) had been out for a little while when I gave it a spin, again for reasons unknown. To say that I was floored is an understatement. Of course, I had to buy it right away and for good measure, I ordered the debut From Ashes To Fire (2013) too. I loved both and voila, I was a fan. The last record Where The Monsters Dwell (2018) was equally as good, if not even better and I started to wonder if more rockers did the same thing I did – never gave them a chance. If you’re this good you should be big – and to me Saffire is one of the finest bands Sweden have to offer.
In between Saffire albums, at least two of the members hasn’t sat idle either. Guitarist and main song writer Victor Olsson is also the guitarist and main song-writer for Swedish AOR project Gathering Of Kings, a project that also features Saffire lead vocalist Tobias Jansson. What’s really striking is that Olsson never seems to be short of high-quality material, no matter if he writes AOR for Gathering Of Kings or 70’s meets 80’s Hard Rock/Classic Rock for Saffire. This means that since 2013, Olsson has (co) written no less than five albums – # 6 is on the way this summer – without a bad song in sight. This of course brings on some major expectations now that Saffire release album # 4.
Just like we know and love ’em, “Triumph Of The Will” kicks off rough and edgy on a stompy rhythm, a Classic Rock groover with a firey organ and crunchy guitars. The Rainbow and Deep Purple influences remains but there’s also a more 80’s Melodic Rock expression involved and the mixture of both marries like a charm. The chorus grabs a hold right from go and never lets go. A solid rocker that will work splendidly live. Very good. “Mr Justified” is a powerhouse as well that continues from what the opener brought style-wise. It sports a big 70’s swagger and catchy melodies rubs shoulders with thunderous rhythms and a muscular guitar – and the refrain is direct and infectious. Great stuff.
On a heavier and darker note “The Rapture” is built on a stone-hard foundation and a chunky groove. While it’s a darkening track it also contrasts with some uplifting melodies and a 70’s smelling keyboard sound. The band throws bluesy Rock, Melodic Rock and a pinch of Metal in a blender and pushes the button and the result is of great taste. I really dig this. The single “Read Between The Lies” is slower in pace yet still both heavy and highly melodic. It’s a rhythmic piece with a delicate main-melody, an 80’s laden Arena Rock vibe with an insert of 70’s Classic Rock – and the chorus is massive with a crowd-friendly, sing-along pleading melody. Brilliant.
Come the title-track and leading single, we’re given a straight-forward and uptempo melodic hard-rocker with a big pop-laden hook. The base is – as always – 70’s Classic Rock but this one holds a smoother melody-line and I have the feeling that Olsson’s involvement in GoK has rubbed off on him here, at least a bit. There’s a slight Whitesnake vibe in here as well. Crunchy guitars, organ, piano and a contagious chorus takes the song for the win. Awesome. The pop-hooks stays on for the highly groovy rocker “Silver Eyes”. The guitar and bass parts brings Talisman to mind and the smoother vocal melodies comes in a brilliant mix with the crunchier 70’s vibes. The chorus is a mastodon with glueing hooks that sticks right off the bat. Should be a future single. Magnificent.
Latest single “Fortune Favors The Bold” throws in everything everything but the kitchen sink musically. It’s a fat, hard-hitting tune that dwells within a grand soundscape. It starts out with an intro and continues in a darker way, quite heavy that brings Tony Martin era Black Sabbath to mind with a strong main-melody and the path to the chorus throws in some Classic Rock and explodes with a conspicuously catchy Melodic Rock refrain, so hooky it leaves marks. This is pure brilliance. More edgy and straight ahead, “Wendigo” is a powerhouse rocker, rough and in-your-face with a big chunk of Metal. The chorus is smoother which brings on a nice contrast. It’s a good song but maybe not as strong as the previous ones.
“Roses (Electrify)” might start out with a shreddy guitar-intro but as a whole it’s a bit mellower and softer rocker yet with a big groove, crunchy guitars and a groovy stomp – 80’s Rainbow comes to mind. It’s a pop-flirtatious number with a direct hook and another chorus that sticks like a tattoo to the brain – the hit-potential here is massive. Should be a single. Very good. The album closes with the fine-tuned ballad “Flight Of A Thousand Wings”, a slow and soothing number with acoustic guitars, piano and keyboards. It’s low key, mellow and a bit melancholic in a big soundscape and it lays itself out like a warm blanket over the eardrum. A great song with easily embraced melodies all over.
While it’s more or less impossible to keep up the impressing song-writing quality that Olsson has been doing for too long – the dip must come sooner or later – it feels good to state that it hasn’t happened with this album. Sure, I hold Saffire’s two previous records a bit higher than this one but the record is still terrific. Also, who knows what I have to say about it in a year or so. If you’re into Deep Purple, Rainbow and Whitesnake and doesn’t have a problem with touches of Melodic Rock and AOR as well as Metal thrown in here and there, then this album – and the rest of their catalogue – is for you. Again, highly recommended!
8/10
More Saffire reviews:
For The Greater Good
Where The Monsters Dwell
Tracklist:
1. Triumph Of The Will
2. Mr. Justified
3. The Rapture
4. Read Between The Lies
5. Taming The Hurricane
6. Silver Eyes
7. Fortune Favors The Bold
8. Wendigo
9. Roses (Electrify)
10. Flight Of A Thousand Wings
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