Slavior - Slavior   

Prog rock that's more rock than prog

When you bring together members of Fates Warning (Mark Zonder), Tribe of Gypsies (Gregg Analla) and Michael Schenker Group (Wayne Findlay), you could expect the result to be pretty firmly planted within the realm of progressive metal and rock. Well, that's not really the case with Slavior with this trio siding more with straight forward rock and roll with plenty of groove more so than the technical widdly diddly world of prog rock. Their debut self titled effort is more accessible than what you'd think but that certainly doesn't mean that it's lacking any punch. Quite the contrary really as you'll see.

Thick, weighty riffs greet you as Origin finds its pace in no time at all. It's almost a Helmet vibe at times without being quite as heavy which is both interesting and engaging at the same time. It's not as proggy as you'd expect at this point - it's just a flat out solid start. Shatter is neither here nor there and is entirely overshadowed by the outstanding Swept Away with convergence of styles and a variety of vocals making it one of the album's highlights. Altar is a complete change in tack as the trio head comfortably down a more melodic path injecting further variety into the album before the first real funked up, prog number appears in Another Planet which has Analla's vocals sounding very much like Alice In Chains' Layne Staley.

Deeper is a return to the safer confines of straight up rock which has a Living Colour vibe going on, whilst Dove explores reggae rhythms early on before opening up into more traditional anthemic rock towards the end. The slow rock groove of the band's name sake track Slavior - which has an Unjust feel to it - works as well as you'd expect at this point by the calibre of the material on offer and on the other side of that is the rappin' Give It Up which is completely generic and forgettable. The nine minute Red Road brings the album to a progressive inspired close with an epic chorus in a track that manages to stay on the right side of interesting for the most part.

Slavior won't be for everyone. The musicianship is without question and it may be a surprise for some that it isn't as progressive as you might expect. In fact, it's probably more in line with just good solid rock if anything with dashes of prog thrown in here and there. Enough said, really.

(Inside Out Music/Riot! Entertainment)

Added: January 25th 2008
Reviewer: Simon Milburn
Score:
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