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.
Track Listing:
1. No greater wrath (8:37)
2. Ord ver. 2 (4:49)
3. A dying rose (10:47)
4. Clara leaving (6:34)
5. Aska (9:05)
6. Stained (5:49)
7. Underneath (10:05)
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