Review: Gorilla Riot – Salvation
TMR Music (October 11th, 2024)
Reviewer: Paul Dubbelman
Released on October 11th, Gorilla Riot’s latest album, ‘Salvation‘, delivers a powerful blend of gritty blues rock, grunge, and Southern-infused riffs, marking a step forward for the Manchester-based band. Known for their ability to seamlessly mix genres and create a dynamic atmosphere, ‘Salvation‘ is a testament to their evolution in sound, maturity in song-writing, and emotional depth.
Produced Mixed and Mastered by Martin King and Jim Spencer and recorded at Eve Studios, the production quality is outstanding. The gritty yet polished sound complements the band’s aesthetic perfectly, adding a layer of depth to their already multi-faceted music. The production doesn’t overshadow the band’s energy but rather enhances it, making every guitar riff, drumbeat, and vocal line feel impactful. Lyrically, ‘Salvation’ explores themes of redemption, inner turmoil, and personal battles, channelling emotional intensity through both hard-hitting riffs and soulful melodies. The band’s ability to craft songs that resonate on multiple levels – whether through the lyrics, the guitar solos, or the intricate arrangements – reveals new growth and maturity in the band.
From the opening track ‘Molotov Sister‘ the listener is pulled into a world of raw emotion and powerful musicianship, Arjun Bishma’s vocal switches easily from gritty grunge-filled growl to melodic soulfulness, and is perfectly balanced by Luci Vee’s honeyed tones, particularly on the back-and-forth of ‘Over You‘ but present throughout the album. Charly T’s guitar, meanwhile, is delivering sonic landscapes that enhance the tone and feel of each track, from the Allman-esque riff on “Salvation” to the hurt-evoking solo on ‘By Your Side‘. Deggy’s Bass and Matt Talbot’s drums hold it all together and keep feet tapping and heads nodding all the while. ‘Wrong Side of Town‘ is one of the outstanding tracks on the album, with Charly straying into heavy rock territory on the solo, and Arjun and Luci’s voices playing counterpoint to each other.
It is on the slower tracks, ‘Wait On‘, ‘Slavers Song‘ and ‘One More Day‘, that Gorilla Riot’s collective musicianship really comes to the fore. Arjun’s emotive lyrics and vocals are at their most raw and vulnerable, with the band’s sound perfectly balanced, almost understated, to allow the power of the songs to shine through. The track that is guaranteed to give you is a grin is the low-down-dirty rocker ‘Blush‘. A mix of rock riff and sleazy solo open the story of the effect that a woman can have on a simple red-blooded man.
‘Salvation‘ is a tour-de-force from Gorilla Riot and demonstrates how the band have matured since 2020’s ‘Peach‘. It is not a slap-you-in-the-face and sit-up-and-listen album, more a slow-burner and repeated listens will bring rewards a-plenty. Salvation is likely to remain a long-time favourite in many collections. Whether you’re riding a Greyhound through Alabama or stuck in a jam on the M25, Salvation is what you need to see you through.
Track Listing:
- Molotov Sister (4:29)
- Salvation (3:11)
- Wrong Side of Town (3:31)
- Wait On (4:02)
- Slaver’s Song (4:07)
- Over You (4:05)
- Blush (4:14)
- By Your Side (5:42)
- One More Day (5:32)
Line-up:
Arjun Bhishma (vocals/guitar)
Charly T. (guitar/vocals)
Deggy (bass)
Matt Talbot (drums)
Luci Vee (backing vocals)
Additional musicians:
Liam Henry, Will Lewis, Sarah-Jane Pearson, Andrew Jones, Martin King
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