Modern metal project Soal have released their new track Savage, and according to the bio is the first single to come out that includes vocals.
It begins with a swirling guitar run that dominates the sonic landscape before the vocals kick in almost whimsically.
They are pleasant enough, but send the song into a slower downward spiral after promising so much.
But then they are gone, replaced by an angrier, harsh vocal tone, and the song suddenly finds itself back on the rails and headed toward salvation.
Everything is more intense straight away, but the momentum is cut short by a return to the cleans that are a little too clean to fit in here.
Not that they are bad – far from it – but they don’t suit the music for mine, especially in tandem with the harsher side of things.
They actually work well when they come together in what I am guessing is a chorus of sorts around the 1-minute-20 mark. When they are combining in unison, the two styles work quite well, but the separation when going from verse to verse with alternating styles is too much of a contrast.
Then things come together beautifully courtesy of a massive vocal breakdown that sees the harsh vocals assume control. From here the dual vocal attack returns and again the track is coming together well.
A wicked mini breakdown to close Salvage finishes things on a good note but considering this is the first time Soal have used vocals I might be being a touch too harsh. There’s enough here to like and listen out for in the future.
