Cales - Savage Blood

Cales was always considered the side-project of Blackie, co-founder of the Dark Black Metal legend Root, until 2003, when he left the band. The project was born back in 1993 and since then Blackie released four albums helped by some major names in the Czech metal underground from bands such as SSoGE, Endless or Dying Passion. In terms of composition Cales has nothing to do with Root, as the first has a more "shiny" approach, almost leaving the boundaries of metal.

"Savage Blood" is the latest Cales release, a totally instrumental album altough on the 11th track there are some (and the only) female backing vocals. The opening track, "Transfer", induces you a false idea that you're listening to an AOR band, but slowly as the album flows, metal elements with viking, folk influences appear. The whole is centered around Blackies guitars, bot electic and acoustic, both melodic, epic and powerful ones. Sometimes the keyboards parts are not so inspired and cut a bit of the atmosphere, but overall it's a good add to Cales background. There is a mostly mid-tempo rhythm, but it has also fast and (mostly) slow incursions. It's not boring at all, but I think a more curdled approach wouldn't hurt. Surprising are the pop-ish elements spiced here and there.

A good effort, recommended if you want to relax, there's nothing offensive on it and the fact that it has no vocals doesn't diminish at all its quiet atmosphere.

1. Transfer
2. Volk Tektosag
3. Moravian Highland
4. Depredator
5. Tribal Unity
6. Insurgency
7. UnEarthly
8. Surviving Spirit Of Ancient Times
9. Warpath - Instincts
10. Dehumanisation
11. Groves Of Infinite Reminiscences
12. Dehumanisation
Metal Breath Productions
Reviewer: twansibon
Feb 26, 2009

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