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LEFT TO BURN 2007
Written by: Ron Faulkner
"Well, here it is. After 3 years and a number of personal upheavals for members of the band, Salva have released their second album, ‘Left to Burn’ - a follow-up to the critically acclaimed ‘A Handful of Earth’
I was particularly looking forward to this release, as I’m a huge fan of the first album. Let’s look at it track by track:
"No Greater Wrath"
The first song starts with a softly spoken intro over an ambient backing, which soon gives way to a punchy clavichord/electric guitar/synth driven track. The song is a mixture of rock and, to my mind, European folk. What is basically an up-tempo, up-beat tune belies the cynical tone of the lyrics.
A powerful opener.
"Ord Ver. 2"
A very melodic track that is more folk than rock - one that will stick in your mind (in a good way) for many weeks to come. There’s a nice Wakeman-esque keyboard break in middle, and a superb guitar solo near the end. The words are sung in Swedish, and although I’ve no idea what they’re about, they seem to fit perfectly.
"A Dying Rose"
A gentle introduction, with the sound of children playing joined by, of all things, an accordion. This is replaced by a heavy guitar/keyboard riff signalling a heavier track with great keyboard and guitar work. At almost 11 minutes long, this piece is so skilfully put together that there is not even the merest hint of it out-staying its welcome. A special mention should be made of the lyrics, whose theme should resonate with many of us.
"Clara Leaving"
This track begins with a guitar-driven theme reminiscent of Yes’ ‘Shock to the System’. The vocals are exceptional here. The song has a very catchy chorus, and as a special bonus there’s a Hammond organ solo in the middle!
"Aska"
Folksy acoustic guitar is joined by the mellotron on a gentle, floating melody, which then gives birth to a heavier, slightly darker theme. There’s a wonderful guitar solo before the keyboards, acoustic guitar and mellotron close out what is a very accomplished instrumental track.
"Stained"
Starting with the whispered accusation; “unforgivable”, a middle-eastern acoustic guitar theme is pushed aside by a Dream Theater style riff. Vocals are drenched in melancholy, but are saved from becoming overly oppressive by some nice guitar interplay. The track is rounded off by a superb wah-wah driven guitar solo.
"Underneath"
For me, this track is the one most reminiscent of the work on the first album. At around 10 minutes long this is one of the three longer tracks on the album, which gives plenty of opportunity to explore the various musical ideas present. Plaintive vocals are set against some superb instrumental work for an impressive album closer.
In summary, the combination of folk, metal, and symphonic rock on display here, played with great skill on traditional, classic and modern instruments, creates a sound and feeling that is unique to Salva. I was impressed by the first album, but this is a true evolution. Very highly recommended - in fact, I believe it’s an essential purchase!"
Written by: Ronald Couture
"Follow up to "A Handfull Of Earth" (2004), their second release "Left To Burn" is an amazing album. SALVA is hard to pigeon hole; many genres of progressive rock including folk with strong JETHRO TULL influences, hard rock/heavy metal of DEEP PURPLE and URIAH HEEP and symphonic (nice WAKEMAN-esque keyboard breaks) with some great vocals/harmonies. It is a great skill played on traditional, classic and modern instruments.
In fact, it's an essential purchase from a brilliant band...!
My discovery of the year 2007...!"
Rating: *****
Written by: Ron Fuchs
"Salva returns about three years later with their sophomore release, Left To Burn, and one thing I noticed is the music is more focused and heavier than their debut Handful Of Earth. I’ll say this before I continue that Salva is one of the better modern Swedish progressive rock bands. They stay true to the progressive ways of the 1970’s as well as the modern sounds. One band that Salva truly reminds me of is, Trettioåriga Kriget., mostly from the guitar driven sound. All of the songs are sung in English with the exception of "Ord Ver.2" which is sung in the band’s native tongue. This song reminds me of how Trettioåriga Kriget sounds.
Some of the changes I hear on this album are the vocals and percussion have improved greatly. Also the use of tradition prog instruments are present here, such as Mellotrons, Moogs and Hammond organ. Along with mandolin, flute (samples) and French accordion. Left To Burn will please both old and new fans of symphonic progressive rock with a hard edge. Left To Burn is a very recommended release of 2007 and one of my favorites of the year!" H1>
Written by: Tam "ProgScot" Laird
"Swedish band Salva return with their second release Left To Burn which is the follow up to A Handful Of Earth.
Salva mix many genres of progressive rock including folk, metal and symphonic. This release has 7 tracks in all with two just over 10mins in length. There are some great keyboards by Per Malmberg and Johan Lindqvist including Mellotron, Hammond Organ. There is even a bit of accordion thrown in. The guitar playing by Per and Stefan Gavik, on this CD whether it’s the mandolin, acoustic, rhythm or solo is of a high standard.
Within songs there appears to be an acoustic folk theme going on then it changes into a much more heavier guitar sound, it is a great mix of traditional and modern music.
No Greater Wrath – An ambient (another favourite music genre of mine) feel to the start of this track before it explodes into punchy guitar riff over a great keyboard melody. Nice lead guitar throughout this track. Maybe the drums are a bit to the fore, but that is the only criticism of this track. Folk/Rock/Metal/Symphonic music all going on in this track. Nice mix of instruments for the main melody, guitars, keybards, accordion played at various parts of the song. A great opening track.
Ord Ver. 2 – What can I say, my favourite track on the whole album. It is the only song sung in Swedish on the CD. It is a beautiful track, it has a great melody and it has that great mix of folk and metal and there is a superb guitar solo near the end. This is one outstanding track and could be their big number when playing live.
A Dying Rose – Again a quiet start but then the great mix of punchy guitar with keyboard brings the song to life. The chorus is very catchy, the lyric ‘I question you’ sticks with you. Again some fine keyboards with a great guitar solo. There is a slight musical interlude about 7mins in, with what sounds like some male church choral voices, and some vocal overlays, the track then explodes into the main melody once more with superb guitar work, with keyboards in the backgrounds. One of the over 10mins tracks.
Clara Leaving – Dare I say there seems to be a blues rock theme going on at the start of this track. Nice melody and some vocal harmonies going on throughout the track. Hammond and mellotron work really well on this track, giving the track a lot of depth. A fine track.
Aska – The only instrumental track on the album. Melancholic sounding track that meanders along, like a small tributary of a major river. Mellotron leads into a slightly more upbeat about half way through the track. This then calms down into a similar melancholic sound that is at the start of this track, although the music breaks into a smile near the end of the track, with a nice change of melody.
Stained – Another gentle start to this track, feels very far east type music. Then into a heavy guitar riff that any hard rock/heavy metal group would be proud of. I am sure I can hear a sort of stoner rock riff later on, wow is there no bounds to what this group will do with the music. This is definitely one of the heaviest tracks on the CD. Great guitar solo using wah wah pedal to great effect. There are some lyrics but they are short within this track.
Underneath – Bright start to this track that slows down. The last track and they go and change the format of previous tracks. That’s the beauty of this band, you don’t know whats coming next, it certainly keeps your ears alert. Folk sounding track, with the now familiar heavier guitar and keyboard interludes, vocals are very nice. This is the 2nd of the 10min tracks and a great end to a great CD.
Well there we have it, Salva’s second release. Salva have such a great range of musical styles on this album. The mixture of traditional and modern instruments works really well and they integrate them so nicely into the music and I think that it brings a nice fresh dimension to the music they produce. The songs are well constructed and flow very nicely in and out of light rock/folk then heavy rock.
Also a word of note on the artwork on the cover of the CD, it was done by our very own Tonny Larsen of ProgPlanet, he failed to mention that in his review I notice. He is just too modest. Well done Tonny, the first of many I think.
Left to Burn was 3 years in the making, lets hope that Salva don’t leave it that long again to release their 3rd CD."
Rating: ****+
"Yes I'm giving this 5 stars too.
A stunning piece of genius. Quite simply this is the best album I've heard in a a long long time.
It's just got everything.
Imagine all of your favourite Prog, Rock and Metal bands rolled into one. The influences here range from King Crimson to Deep Purple and the likes of Uriah Heep and even ELO. Just listen to the riff on 'Clara Leaving' and you'll hear something that Deep Purple at their finest wouldn't have any trouble recording. they've actually made THAT hammond sound contemporary - amazing.
This album transcends the gap between 70's old school and the neo Prog of the 90's in one big happy slice of your favourite cake.
Only trouble is, like your favourite cake, there isn't any more.
Damn.
Reform guys PLEASE.
Go and buy. If you don't you'll never forgive yourself."
Rating: *****
Written by: Duncan Glenday
"Salva's sophomore release is a clear statement of the band's increasing musical maturity. It's more refined than their debut, and the band has apparently found its niche. Left To Burn is more focused and refined, and the instrumental and vocal performances are measurably enhanced - but you won't find quite the devil-may-care variety we saw in A Handful Of Earth.
Imagine third-wave progressive rock with strong Jethro Tull influences and a strong 1970s prog influence and you'll have a good idea of what to expect. The lineup is the traditional rock ensemble, but the fact the band is now a quintet rather than a trio also plays into its more established sound. Rich textures are added by 'Trons, Moogs and Hammonds, mandolin, flute (samples) and French accordion.
Band leader Per Malmberg's vocals remain the defining characteristic of Salva's music. They will find limited appeal with some listeners, yet for others, they will be the standout feature. His delivery is in a strong Ian Anderson-styled mid-range - albeit with a somewhat different timbre - and the vocal lines are typically pushed way in front of the mix yielding a sound that stops short of strident but certainly demands your attention. Malmberg's rich tones are best appreciated when held back in the mix, or when leading multi-part choruses such as those in "Clara Leaving". Love them or hate them - his vocals lend Left To Burn a folksy tone that, despite the relatively straightforward lyrics, will be appreciated by fans of acts like classic Jethro Tull or the more contemporary Guy Manning.
The lyrics are all in English, except for "Ord Ver.2" which is an interesting Swedish-language piece - very melodic, nice instrumentation, and the foreign language prose has a pleasing lilt. "Stained" is far heavier, although it has a soft undertone. It's mostly instrumental but whispered vocals are pushed to the front of the mix and it closes with a big wall of sound led by a guitar solo and an interesting staccato bass-and-male-chorus motif. Quite fun.
"Aska" is a 9+ minute all-instrumental track that starts with a relaxed acoustic guitar, soon enhanced by a flute and 'Tron that introduce the theme, then it settles into a series of pleasing, head-nodding sections in which each instrument takes its turn in the lead role, building on an essentially simple but pleasing theme. Tight and nicely constructed, this piece has an elegantly simple appeal and is probably the standout track.
Left To Burn will have equal appeal to fans of modern-era third wave and to those who preferred mainstream '70s prog."
Rating: ****
"Finally a new album from Swedish progband SALVA!
It has been almost 3 years in the making (in which Malmberg painstakingly...re-arranged / re-mixed / even re-recorded) but now it finally sees the light of day! And it really is my pleaseure, to tell you that our dear Swedish brothers, did good, bar one track!! First of all, you have to acknowledge Malmberg (& Co) for taking the time to make it right! The easiest thing would be to just chuck it out there, that follow-up album! But no, Malmberg being the perfectionist he is, would have none of that! So hats off to you Per!!
Now back to my sentiment: “Bar one track” and this is difficult for me, since Salva (and Per in particular) have become dear friends of the “house of Progplanet”. So here goes: I dont like the final mix on: “No greater wrath” it seems to me that the drums are weak in the whole (music) picture, as it were!! The intro are just fine, with vocal voice-over and the following theme played superb, but the drums sound quite “tin-canny” and weak, lacks the power that this track needs!!
For this is initially a great track!! That said, im just a reviewer, Per´s the musician/composer and he has done what he thought best for the band and the sound as a whole!! Music wise “No greater Wrath” are a superb track!
With the unmistakable brilliant guitars (both electric and acoustic) of Malmberg/Gavik, plus the always present folk mood that seem to intervene (meant the most positive way) in his (Malmbergs) compositions!!
Second track: “Ord Ver” sung in Swedish, are really a fine
folkish/progtune...with a nice build-up..and the native tongue suits the music perfectly, broken with a little synthesizer solo/ and guitar ditto!! Oh and its nice to hear a guitar solo with wah pedal!! A fine track!!
“A Dying Rose” starting with a gentle acoustic accordeon (played by Per) melody in which a staccato style guitar chord, tightens the tune theme. This song also has some fine guitar/keyboard soli. And the Chorus line: “ I question you”
get to be quite haunting/ earhanger wise, after several listenings!!
“Clara leaving” brings forth a tight rhythm theme until the B-piece, delivers a fine multi-vocal ridden section! Things change (again) with a superb Hammond solo leading into several breaks and twists (including mellotron) ...a true folk/ progressive track!
“Aska” starting off with brilliant acoustic guitar and mellotron, gliding into a soothing beautiful theme that even Tull would be proud of. Then suddenly a mellotron solo opens for a more tight/heavier theme that leads to a superb guitar solo, so this fine instrumental track are really magic!!
“Stained” are the heavy track on this album! But still with folkish leanings. Suddenly a slow theme, creeps up on you...with an almost whispering voice, telling the story! Wow, here it is again that fabulous wah-pedal soloing!! The whole thing ending with powerchords, superb track!!
“Underneath” a true Salva tune, with all the leanings that yours truly mentioned earlier, a bit folkish, a tad rock and some really fine musiciansship, this track shines as true folk/prog, with fine acoustic interludes! This is fine scandinavian folk/prog in excellent tradition. And the choral voices are a great input!! So, do I like the new Salva? Oh, yes i do, I think its a fine piece of work/music!
And may I say, that im proud on behalf of Per and Salva! After all the hard work, the re-arranging, the re-mixing, the
Re-recording, it all came out after all those years, as a fine album!! I cant help but thinking, that the next and third will
be their masterpiece!" Rating: ****
"Salva's long awaited second album, "Left to burn", is finally out and I'm happy to say it has been well worth the wait. They have even exceeded my expectations with this new release. I was a big fan of their first album, "A handful of earth", and have been waiting anxiously for the follow up. The rich symphonic prog with folk and metal-leanings is still the foundation for Salva's music but they have evolved and refined both their sound and their compositional skills since the debut album. This is noticable (at least to my ears) throughout the album.
I have a hard time picking out favorite tracks but if I was forced I would say; "Ord ver. 2", a beautiful folky song with one of the best guitar solo's I've ever heard from Mr. Gavik and lyrics sung in Swedish as a one-off; "A dying rose", one of two "epic" tracks on the album where the variation is quite superb, still it remains cohesive throughout the entire song; "Stained", the heaviest track on the album with haunting, melancholy and almost whispering vocals by Mr. Malmberg.
To sum things up; I would say that this is symphonic prog at it's best and I give it my warmest recommendations."
Rating: *****
Written by: Leo Christiansen
"Like others who dig Salva I’ve waited a long time for “Left To Burn”. And let me say up front that is has been well worth waiting for. A great second release from a band that sounds like no other bands around & have a unique way of composing their blend of progressive music.” If There Is A Will, There’s A Way They Say”. This line is taken from the last track “Underneath”. And it says it all, I think.!?! About Salva & especially Per Malmberg. Hats of to Per who have worked so hard to find the approach/sound he wanted so badly for “Left to Burn”. Just imagine sitting there with an album ready to ship, not liking it and doing it all over again? To me it shows not only an artist that search for perfection, but also an artist who has guts.
“Left To Burn” holds 7 great tracks running for nearly 56 min. Pers vocals has matured and thereby makes Salvas overall sound so much better. His got a voice that’s not unlike James Hetfield (Metallica) and at times it sounds like Zappa. Very deep and powerful. Also the percussion/drums are this time more “alive”, and to me it’s very important with a great drummer leading the way like a beating heart. Also, hats of to Per. He “dare” put on a great tune, which is sung in his native language Swedish.”Ard Ver.2”. A wonderful folksy sounding track with emotional acoustic guitars, a great guitar riff (electric one) and a keyboard sound/solo again with a great riff. Drums are accurate and precise. But the best to me is the wonderful vocals and the great lyrics (which I do understand, sorry) and Pers great guitar.” A Dying Rose” start out kind a like a
Sailor song/tune then suddenly Pers great guitar riff, a nice keyboard takes over the track. A very hard rock sounding track with some progressive tendencies and some great vocals/harmonies.
“Clara Leaving” is hard progressive piece, with Kansas alike vocals/harmonies and ends with the most wonderful sounding Hammond solo and Mellotron. Again Pers guitar sound/soloing is amazing and very heavy.”Aska” is a fantastic mix of acoustic guitars en masse and great synth/keys/Mellotron sounds. It has a wonderful folksy fell to it, almost like listening to some kind of magic being produced.” Stained” is without any doubt my fav. track of all. A very Salva sounding track; heavy and pushy, but still with that wonderful folksy fell to it (in the back of the mix). The vocals are superb and it all ends up in a fantastic power choir. Superb track, really. Last track “Underneath” again a very Salva sounding track. A sound that I adore so much. With heavy keyboards, Pers fantastic guitar/soloing/riffs. Ad to this a gentle and emotional (very simply sounding) piano. The vocals/choirs are outstanding. A great and very heavy progressive folk piece that some times slow down and do it with much beauty.
To sum Salvas new album “Left To Burn” up, I’m happy to say that’s has been worth the wait. I’m so proud on behalf of Per and the rest of the band. They have made a great album filled with great lyrics (meaningful all the way) and rare and unique musicianship. On a final note I have to make some kind of promotion for our very own T.Larz. He’s the master behind the great cover. It still a wonder to me, that they (Tonny & Per) could pull it of. Just through Per’s ideas and Tonny’s
imagination. A great cover done in the mind of 2 people who actually never met “in the flesh”, but simply “talked it over” by E-mail. Fantastic I think!?!"
Rating: ****+
A HANDFUL OF EARTH 2004
From www.seaoftranquility.org
Written by: Duncan Glenday
"At times it is hard to remember that this is just a 3-man outfit. But the fact that Salva is the musical collaboration of 3 childhood friends, under the guidance of Per Malmberg, doubtlessly contributes to the musical cohesion and to the way each contribution complements the other. A Handful Of Earth is Salva’s debut album. The band’s strength lies in its instrumentation and – particularly – in the variation from song to song. There are ballads, pure jazz, hard rock bordering on metal, and even some folksy moments; and above all it is wrapped in a cloak of pure modern progressive rock. Malmberg’s sense of melody is excellent, and Salva manages at once to build simple melodies into big sounds, and to break big concepts into simple verse.
The songs are richly structured with bold shifts and bolder mood swings, the walls of sound on some tracks are huge, and the instrumental and sonic variety would suggest a far bigger ensemble. Listen for the elegant xylophone that closes out the CD at the end of “Gone”, or the uplifting, lilting riff that starts the same track. Listen to the guitar and keyboard solos in “A Thousand Deaths”. The accordion, the mandolin, the cello patch on “Rain” – all contribute to a well textured body of modern progressive rock.
Per’s vocals may or may not have universal appeal. His singing is in a rich, mid-tone delivery with limited range, that lends itself to clearly enunciated lyrics. Which is lucky, since the self-manufactured CD does not include the words – you’ll have to listen carefully for them, or go to their web site which lists them in a very readable format. Salva’s music addresses some big themes but the prose itself could stand refinement and a few passages may leave you with the impression that the words were an afterthought, and were forced into an established instrumental layer.
“Faith Versus Reason” is an exploration of the concepts behind religion that recalls Jethro Tull’s Aqualung. (Per makes no secret that ‘Tull is his favorite band.) “Never Again” is a somewhat self-righteous, but understandably earnest examination of a child killed in a racial war. Other themes examine loss, loneliness and self-examination, and the standout track is the 9-minute “A Thousand Deaths”. This track looks at the inner struggle to overcome one’s cowardice. It is very strong musically, starting with powerful metallic riffs, a pondering, heavy beat and layers of hard-edged Hammond-driven keyboards. It shifts into an elegantly progressive, classically tinged instrumental section driven by piano and orchestral-sounds, and it ends in a surprising soft-jazz section that extends the piece’s themes and takes them as far from metal as you could possibly get. And as diverse as that all sounds, the piece remains cohesive throughout. You could easily justify the purchase of A Handful Of Earth on this song alone.
Salva is clearly a talented outfit with a good future. And judging by their debut album, we certainly hope there will be a sophomore release." Rating: ****
From www.progressiveears.com
Written by: David Campbell
"For people who like their Progressive Rock with a strong sense of melody, and a band that plays with understated virtuosity, Salva's CD A Handful Of Earth is bound to please.
The CD starts dramatically and introduces many of the elements that typify the band: big chunky guitar riffs, textural keyboards, strong assured vocals, and a real sense of drama and pacing.
Songs like "Never Again", A Thousand Deaths" and "Land of Obscurity" derive a lot of their energy from metal-ish guitar figures and hard-rocking organ, but almost always gracefully yield to more sparse verses where the subtle keyboard textures of Johan Lindqvist and Per Malmberg really shine. Adept at arranging, the band often juxtaposes these sparse sections with others that are lush and symphonic. The band's strong confident playing never overshadows the songs, but nevertheless, they are able to let loose when needed. In "Land of Obscurity" guitarist Stefan Gavik really shines, and keyboardist Lindqvist turns in a number of excellent solos (the one in "A Thousand Deaths" being my personal favorite).
Throughout, vocalist Per Malmberg delivers a stellar performance, at turns powerful and ballsy, then angelic and uplifting (especially in the gorgeous mid-section of "Faith Versus Reason"). He is the band's songwriter and blends all the different stylistic elements seemlessly. What seems like a Malmberg trademark is the overt melodicism, mixed with a real penchant for strong instrumental riffs. His lyrics are earnest and sincere, but never self-concious, and he is not afraid to tackle big themes ("Faith Versus Reason"), quirky pop ("Trick Of The Century", which in my buddies words is "the most upbeat and happy use of 5/4 I have ever heard") or even swingy jazz (the last part of "A Thousand Deaths").
As soon as I heard the opening tune, I knew I was going to like this band, but recently I find the last song, "Gone" to be my favorite. It features many of the same elements as the other tunes, with it's metalish guitar work and symphonic-styled keyboards, but in this tune, the band seems to stretch out more and plays with a little more dissonance. It is a beautiful contrast to the rest of the CD and makes an excellent closing piece.
All in all A Handful Of Earth is a class act. From it's evocative and moody art-work to it's clean, spacious production and tight, well-arranged songs, this CD is highly recommended."
From: www.progarchives.com
Written by: Dalt99
Heavy. Melodic. Pounding electric guitars. Acoustic beauty. Bombastic synth runs. Sweeping organ waves. Powerful vocals. Emotional singing. This is a band that has it all. This is what modern progressive rock is all about. Salva is a cross between symphonic prog ROCK, neo-prog, prog metal and art rock with an originality that is undeniable. I hear some techno influences every once in awhile in the synths and drums (similar to Ankh) but the guitars are almost always powerful, close to progressive metal and when they are not they are acoustic and beautiful with high emotion and feel. The melodies are everywhere. The songs are perfectly crafted. Each song is different than the other and a great pleasure to listen too. SO much to hear in each song. Constant yet always changing. My friends, this is seriously one of the best progressive rock albums of the new century. This music will NOT be heard enough. So many of you will never hear this album and that will be a shame. I am so happy to have this CD and hope that all prog fans can hear this one someday. Buy if you can find it. This is special.
Very special.
5 stars. For real. Amazing music.
Rating: *****
From: www.progressiveears.com
Written by: Sundstroem
A remarkable album sees the light of day. This is a great debut from Sweden under the name of Salva. I’m really impressed and pleasantly surprised. There are powerful chord structures...there are jazzy influences (track #3)...there are beautiful folkish arrangements a la Tull...there are great and furious guitarsolos.
The keyboard themes sometimes remind me of Kayak. The only "weak" point is...(sorry Per) the vocal which at best..are reciting the lyrics. Anyhow the music shines...and the compositions are brilliant. These guys know their way around their instruments!! So...in all I’m proud to say that these Swedes know their stuff!!
If you are into prog...with a taste for the early seventies..this one’s for you. Do not hesitate...GO BUY THIS FABULOUS ALBUM !!!
So...there you have it...Salva..another superb bright new prog band...and I for one am very excited and looking forward to their next album.They deserve your attention !!!" Rating: ****
From www.progarchives.com
Written by: José Roman
"It’s generally believed that most bands improve in their releases after a debut album. If this is to be true with Salva, then this is a band that will have to be watched carefully in the future, since what we have here is a really solid debut album.
Salva’s music is the result of a combination of many different styles: mainly keyboards- dominated symphonic rock, but you can also find here some hard rock (two out of three members of Salva mention Black Sabbath as one of their favourite bands), folk influences, and the occasional jazz part. For me, the summit of the album is the track “A Thousand Deaths”; if played at the appropriate volume, this song can finally convince your neighbours that you are suffering from some kind of schizophrenic syndrome, if you know what I mean (how can this guy be listening to so many different musical styles at the same time?).
The cons? Well, for me the main one (maybe the only one that I’m aware of) is that I find the programmed percussion rather weak throughout the album, and I think they would greatly benefit from the inclusion of a drummer.
Overall, and considering the rating system in Progarchives, I’m convinced this album deserves four stars: not really a “masterpiece”, but certainly a wonderful addition to your collection. And, like many other reviewers, I’m already expecting what is to come, but at the same time I’m sure this album will return very frequently to my CD player. Well done!" Rating: ****
From www.prognaut.com
Written by: Ron Fuchs
"A Handful Of Earth is Salva’s debut album. This band is clearly again what I call a modern progressive rock. The band which is a trio led by multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Per Malmberg. Salva can’t really be categorized easily due to the variation of the music that cover ballads, jazz, hard rock bordering on metal, as well as some folk.
Two minuses for me (and they’re not enough to deter my enjoyment) are Per’s vocals, which take some time to get used to. He doesn’t sound like anyone and to me that’s the plus side of things. The other minus is the percussion. I’m not sure how it’s done but there’s a electronic cold sound to it. I hope they’ll add a drummer for future releases.
Salva is a band that should have a promising future and gets a recommendation from me as a band to look out for. Help support independent progressive music and purchase a copy of A Handful of Earth soon. This is some good music here that you’ll enjoy the music for months and years to come."
From www.progressiveworld.net
Written by: Duncan Glenday
"I consider Per Malmberg to be a friend, but I promise to be brutally objective in my assessment of his band’s debut CD.
The lasting impression left on me by A Handful Of Earth was the variation. There are ballads, pure jazz, hard rock bordering on metal, and even some folksy moments; and above all it is wrapped in a cloak of pure modern progressive rock. Malmberg’s sense of melody may be his biggest strength, and Salva manages at once to build simple melodies into big sounds, and to break big concepts into simple verse.
Per’s vocals may or may not have universal appeal. His singing is in a rich, mid-tone delivery with limited range that lends itself to clearly enunciated lyrics. Which is lucky, since the self-manufactured CD does not include the words - you’ll have to listen carefully for them, or go to their web site which lists them in a very readable format.
Salva’s music addresses some big themes. There’s an exploration of the concepts behind religion in “Faith Versus Reason” that recalls Jethro Tull’s Aqualung. (Per makes no secret that ‘Tull is his favorite band.) “Never Again” is a somewhat self-righteous, but understandably earnest examination of a child killed in a racial war. Other themes examine loss, loneliness and self-examination, and my favorite is the 9-minute "A Thousand Deaths." This track looks at the inner struggle to overcome one’s cowardice. It is very strong musically, starting with powerful metallic riffs, a pondering, heavy beat and layers of hard-edged Hammond-driven keyboards. It shifts into an elegantly progressive, classically tinged instrumental section driven by piano and orchestral-sounds, and it ends in a surprising soft-jazz section that extends the piece’s themes and takes them as far from metal as you could possibly get. And as diverse as that all sounds, the piece remains cohesive throughout. You could easily justify the purchase of A Handful Of Earth on this track alone.
Although Salva bravely attacks themes that so many other bands avoid, the prose itself could stand refinement. In addition, a few passages left me with the impression that the words were an afterthought, and were forced into an established instrumental layer. (Shades of Echolyn?)
So Salva’s strength lies in its instrumentation, and it is sometimes hard to believe that this is just a 3-man outfit. The fact that band members are childhood friends doubtlessly contributes to the musical cohesion and to the way each contribution complements the other. The songs are richly structured with bold shifts and bolder mood swings, the walls of sound on some tracks are huge, and the instrumental and sonic variety would suggest a far bigger ensemble. Listen for the elegant xylophone that closes out the CD at the end of "Gone," or the uplifting, lilting riff that starts the same track. Listen to the guitar and keyboard solos in "A Thousand Deaths." The accordion, the mandolin, the cello patch on "Rain" - all contribute to a well textured body of modern progressive rock.
In summary: A Handful Of Earth’s biggest strengths are its variation, wonderful melodies, excellent arrangements and the bold attack on big ideas. It is successfully ambitious, and although it isn’t perfect, it is a remarkable debut."
From www.progarchives.com
Written by: Phil "PussyWillow"
"I am not going to disagree with my co-reviewers.
This is magnificent. How the hell I missed this band, is worrying....
Think Arena meets Crash Test Dummies, chuck in a bit of Purple, Kayak and an smattering of jazz (don't let that put you off btw) then you have almost got Salva.
I was surpsised to see they were Swedish - and that almost put me in mind of the more folky elements of Lake of Tears' work.
This album has everything you could want in a Prog LP riffs, keys aplenty, atmospherics, fine vocals, harmonies....ach it's all been said, and I can't really add anymore. Yes point taken about the drumming, but I thunk only old father times (like me) will notice the absence of a live human behind the drunkit here.
My only gripe is why do they call themselves Salva ? Sounds like a cold-sore cream !
Recommended." Rating: ****
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