Saviour Machine - Saviour Machine I

\r\nSaviour Machine is not a common band. The subjects of their lyrics are not similar to many others’s bands and their music cannot be easily categorized under a specific kind of metal music. Furthermore the fact that their lyrics are mainly christianic makes them a Christian metal band, which does not favors them in the first place since such terms remind of quaint bands who try to preach with music as their ‘’weapon’’. We should keep in mind that we talk about metal music, a kind of music where whatever deals with different things than what Saviour Machine deal with, is rarely considered to be quaint, whilst bands with Christian subjects in their lyrics face depreciation, even if they shouldn’t. However Saviour Machine come to prove that when you do your job in a right way, with honesty and with your soul in it, and without pretending to be a priest, everyone in the end will recognize it’s worth. And this way, all these years Saviour Machine have managed to gain respect and to be considered one of the most important and most distinctive bands that we have ever seen in metal music. \r\n

\r\n

\r\nThe band is a creation of brothers Jeff and Eric Clayton from California who took the name from the well know David Bowie’s song. In the year 1989 they release their first demo which was proved to be quite successful and in the year 1993 they sign with Frontline Records. The same year they release the Saviour Machine I, their first full-length album and one of the best debut albums of all times. \r\n

\r\n

\r\nSaviour Machine I consists of 12 songs, all of them of great quality. We should keep in mind that we do not talk about an album with 3 or 4 great songs and some others just good, like usually happens in ‘’great albums’’. In fact, we talk about an album with 12 equal songs from which you just cannot choose some as the best. This is simply impossible and unfair for the other songs. From the opening track Carnival of Souls since the last one Jesus Christ every songs deserves your attention. The album is mixes of progressive/symphonic/gothic even doom metal with the structure of the songs being quite complicated, with nice guitars and catchy but at the same time epic choruses. Middle Eastern music influences can be also seen in the album, and the use of keyboards creates a special atmosphere and gives a feeling of rock opera to the final result. \r\n

\r\n

\r\nThe lyrics deal with personal matters around faith issues. So, in the songs you can find subjects such as criticism for the hypocrisy that dominates the world and characterizes the organized church, the inner battle for keeping the faith in hard times, and themes straight from the book of Apocalypse. Some times lyrics are darker and mystical some others more define, declaring the pure faith to Jesus and the hope that it can give. \r\n

\r\n

\r\nAmong the songs, the ones that are my favorites are: the opening track Carnival of Souls a really touching song that speaks straight to your soul. The dark and torturing Wicked Window with the purifying chorus, the powerful ending and the great drumming during all its length. The mid tempo and atmospheric Killer with the bass lines that remind of Sabbath and with the music from the movie ‘’Dracula’’ closing the song in an extraordinary way. Finally the amazing ballad A World Alone, where Clayton sings in a hear-breaking way about the world’s suffering from humans’ evil actions and human recklessness. Among the other songs none lucks of inspiration. As a result whenever I listen to this album, I always listen to it as a whole and never one or two random songs. Saviour Machine I, despite its length is not tiring at all. All you can do while listening to it, is just to sit back in your chair and enjoy MUSIC, feeling like taking part in a music mystagogy that you just do not care when it will end. \r\n

\r\n

\r\nThe main thing that marks the album is the amazing and operatic way of singing of Eric Clayton, who does not sing just.. perfect his own songs, but puts his soul in them creating such a feeling that makes them sound even better than they really are. The man’s performance is so breathtaking, that I really cannot find the proper words to describe the feeling that you get when you listen to his voice. Concerning the other band members, they do their parts in a just perfect way. Dean Forsyth is playing phenomenal bass and sometimes you think e is the only one that sounds. The other Clayton, Jeff, sometimes dynamic some other times melodic but never tiring puts some great riffs in the songs, while Samuel West is equal to the others having his own great moments. We must not forget Bob Watson who is behind the keyboards which are not just additional but in many times they come out giving something extra in the album. \r\n

\r\n

\r\nThe production took place in the Geen Room and The Mixing Lab studios and the producer was Terry Scott Taylor (Deliverance, Jacob’s dream etc) and co-producer was Eric Clayton. The album was re-released in the year 1996 from Massacre with different packaging. We should mention that right after its release the albums was banned in USA since some people did not like a lyric from the song Legion and the general attitude of the band, which was considered quite provocative from religious circles. .. \r\n

\r\n

\r\nSaviour Machine I is a must-have album. A diamond that even if we discovered it quite late here in Greece, never lost its shine and keeps captivating anyone who spends a little time to admire its beauty.. Atmospheric as much as it can get and so emotional that word cannot describe. Melancholic but angry at the same time, dark but without wanting to lead you into darkness and leave you there. Purifying in the end. True vastness. Such albums should not be rated at all. \r\n

\r\n

\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

\r\n

\r\n

\r\nPanagiotis Agalopoulos \r\n

\r\n\r\n

\r\n \r\n