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Salem: Dark Days
Salem Dark Days CD Album Review

Salem: Dark Days

Melodic Hard Rock/Metal
4.5/5.0

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Pure Steel Records
Words: Craig Hartranft
Added: 20.04.2016

A certain clarity comes with age and, if you have some proper sense, some maturity. Born out of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal movement in 1979, and resurrected some six years ago, UK's Salem plays classic melodic hard rock and metal with determination, enthusiasm and, ultimately, with purpose true to their history and musical instincts.

Salem Band Photo

Salem

That's to say, with their latest album, Dark Days, Salem plays their "keep it true" hard rocking metal by keeping true to themselves. If anything, for these 50-something metal dudes, this latent revival has given them revived creativity. Sure, the band revisits ballsy heavy metal with groove in the blistering Dark Days, heavier Tormented, and sturdy, reserved, yet thumping Complicated. But then, alternatively, they have the bravado to start the album with the subtleties of Not Guilty, mixing acoustic guitar and fine vocal harmonies with heaviness. Then there's the eight minute epic Nine Months with more acoustic guitar to start, a strong vocal presence and those lingering choral vocals, all laced with Salem's sharp and harmonious guitar lines. That guitar presence is abundant and I love the opening to Prodigal Son. The riffs and leads sing with harmony and flair. Then, perhaps to throw you off, even tossing caution to the heavy metal winds, Salem offers Toy Story. This song is loaded with rock groove, haunting melody, and a catchy refrain. It's AOR melodic metal with arena rock groove, something that post-Schenker UFO might have done.

Hey, heavy metal brothers! It's all good. Salem delivers another album of solid and satisfying melodic heavy metal infused with hard rock groove in the New Wave of British Heavy Metal tradition. Dig it. Get it. Recommended.

Salem - Not Guilty


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In Short

Hey, heavy metal brothers! It's all good. Salem delivers another album of solid and satisfying melodic heavy metal infused with hard rock groove in the New Wave of British Heavy Metal tradition. Dig it. Get it. Recommended.

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