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SALEM
Forgotten Dreams

Pure Rock (2013)
Rating: 8/10

With the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal getting a big revival boost I’m still sceptical in the most part of this fad, but occasionally some bands do emerge with enough class to rise above the derivative. Salem are a British troupe who conjure the bombastic splendour of denim clad Saxon and the main reason it works is because these guys are authentic, having spent the early 80s spewing out a small batch of demos before disappearing off the face of the planet.

Forgotten Dreams is the third release following on from 2010’s In The Beginning… compilation and the X-Rated EP from earlier in 2013, but it’s good to have them back so soon. After all, we’ve waited long enough since those fiery demos.

The band consists of vocalist Simon Saxby, guitarists Paul Macnamara and Mark Allison, with bassist Adrian Jenkinson and drummer Paul Mendham propping up the rear-guard.

Salem doesn’t offer anything new but the 12 tracks on offer are expertly crafted, as one would expect from seasoned veterans within their chosen field. This is, as the record label touts, “pure rock” which is true to its heart, boasting a rigid spine of bass, drums and guitars which provide the perfect backdrop for those deadly serious vocals which at times flirt with that Biff Byford (Saxon) type of oily angst.

The album opener – the title track – really sets the tone for this opus, and with those plodding riffs and hard drums it evokes images of Angel Witch, Grim Reaper, Saxon and several other armoured-plated bands as it soars into the gang-chant chorus.

The greatest quality of this record however is the menace, mainly evoked through those leathery riffs and Saxby’s vocals. This again is evident on the ‘Ask The Lonely’ which, just like the title track, begins with intent before becoming an upbeat rocker with some intriguing, more measured slower segments.

Elsewhere on the record the Hull-based quintet rattle through the superb ‘High Stakes’, which melts together classic Iron Maiden with even a sprig of Whitesnake, while ‘The Heart Is Mine’ is a classic ballad. But if it’s fire and meat you’re after then check out the driving force of ‘X-Rated’ which hints at Judas Priest at their most convincing. However, pick any track at random and you’ll be drawn into this hard rock chamber – the sort of place that exists on its influences, ranging from Deep Purple, Black Sabbath to even modern meanderings. But right through it you’ll find an iron spine that refuses to give as each song acts as an impenetrable fortress.

Forgotten Dreams is a simple record that gives us a great insight as to why those original NWOBHM acts were so revered and still are to this day, and it’s great to have these guys back where they belong.

Neil Arnold

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