SAVAGE – Sons Of Malice

Minus2zebra 2012

Quintessential British Metal

New albums from New Wave Of British Heavy Metal survivors Savage are sadly few and far between. A band noted as a major influence on Metallica – Lars Ulrich of course being the main reason for that with best known track “Let It Loose” featuring on early Metallica set-lists and demos – this is just their sixth album. After a decade plus hiatus though Savage are with us once more and in “Sons Of Malice” deliver a rock solid return and a terrifically impressive one at that.

Their influences, drawn still from classic 70s bands, are evident but only in the mix as Savage are no mere copyists. The excellent “Hanging Tree” proves one of many outstanding numbers worth listening out for, emerging from a classy introduction into a memorable track UFO would be happy to deliver. There’s a distinctly Blackmore style riff driving “Choose Revolution” and the lyrics of “The Rage Within” are delivered in a torrent pleasurably reminiscent of the late, great Philip Lynott circa “Thunder And Lightning”. To only name-check three songs seems unfair to the filler free remainder though as hard-hitting “Now”, the groove laden “Black And Blue” and the instantly noteworthy title track too all hit the spot. Hell, the whole lot does! At near enough an hour in duration this is a set longer than they’d have been able to squeeze onto vinyl back in the early 80s and the lack of output in subsequent years is somewhat compensated with both quantity and quality in spades, whilst a better sound than you suspect any budget back then would have enabled proves an added bonus.

Noted in Malc MacMillan’s NWOBHM Encyclopaedia as one of the few bands from the genre to truly deliver quintessential British metal its a genuine pleasure to find that 30 years later they’re still capable of doing the same. An excellent album.

****1/2
Bill Leslie

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.

Next session: Sunday 19 January

Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio

David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 1 December 2024.

UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 3 December 2024.

How to Listen Live?

Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)

Listen via Windows Media Player. Click or tap here and “open file”
Listen via other media player (eg. VLC) Click or tap here and “open file”

Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.

More information and links at our radio website where you can listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com

Power Plays w/c 9 December 2024

In this sequence we play ‘The Best of 2024′ GRTR! reviewer selections

Featured Albums w/c 9 December 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2024 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2024 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2024 (Singer Songwriter)