I’ve been reluctant to review “Saboteur” by Silver Snakes. Not because I don’t like it because I do. There are two reasons. One, it doesn’t easily fit the prog label but I do feel it has plenty of prog elements. The second reason was I had a hard time figuring out WHY I like it. It would be much easier to just write a review that says “fuck it, this is good. Go buy it.” While that is accurate, it’s not very helpful to you.

First off, the production and mix on this album is great. I love how punchy it is. Yes it’s loud but it needs to be. I love how fuzzed out the guitars get. Style wise, Silver Snakes are a combo of Intronaut along with a touch of Neurosis but the key is that aren’t playing slow, sprawled out epics all the time. Vocally, the band use harsh vocals as seasoning rather well too. It works to slap you in the face when needed.

Silver Snakes can go from a pounding opener like “Electricity” which would make a band like Kvelertak proud to more extended and moodier tracks like the album’s double barreled closers, “Dresden” and “The Loss.” “Dresden” has the space and atmosphere that I love. The song sounds like Trail of Dead jamming on a Neurosis track. “The Loss” is sounds a bit like Oceansize at their most experimental.

The band also incorporate elements of industrial metal, and no not like NIN and no it doesn’t sound dated. If anything, they use it more for a colder atmosphere as needed. And overall, “Saboteur” is dark and cold but not the least bit bleak.

As it turns out, I DO know why I like this band. They are talented and very interesting. Plus they fall into areas of post rock and prog metal that I love. “Saboteur” is not about how many notes you can play but what notes you play and when. Kudos to Claudio Sanchez for signing this band to his label in the US and to Robin Staps for signing them to Pelagic Records for the rest of the globe.

Rating: 8.5/10

Tracklist:
1. Electricity
2. Glass
3. Raindance
4. Devotion
5. Fire Cloud
6. Red Wolf
7. Charmer
8. La Dominadora
9. Dresden
10. The Loss

Label: Evil Ink / Pelagic Records