Few bands make me have to grab their latest slab the day it’s released. Memphis-based hard rock unit Saliva is one of them. Their latest slab, “Under Your Skin” (Island Records, producer Howard Benson), released last month, was worth the wait. And while, the band is officially one less member (minus Jonathan Montoya, who departed last August), you sure as hell wouldn’t know it as Josey Scott (vocals), Wayne Swinny (guitar), Dave Novotny (bass) and Paul Crosby (drums) have no less momentum moving forward in this new ten-song effort. Sans Montoya, Swinny holds down all the crunch and leads with flawless aplomb as Novotny and Crosby continue to prove themselves as one of the most underrated, underappreciated rhythm sections in this genre. As for Scott, the darkness is still dominant, letting in the light only when he’s damn good and ready. The formula still works and is very much in play here.
Every Saliva album has something pulse-pounding to offer; some less than others but that’s just the way things are with any band. You might disagree and that’s perfectly fine. To this writer, the most effective Saliva albums were their major label debut, “Every Six Seconds,” 2002’s “Back into Your System,” 2007’s “Blood Stained Love Story” and this new release, which doesn’t disappoint with ass-kicking rockers, heart-wrenching ballads and contemplative life lessons. In this review, I offer my views on the album’s strongest cuts.
