Burning Saviours
Nymphs & Weavers

THE REVIEW

In the Swedish revival scene, there are also the Burning Saviours, a band born in Orebro (a real hub for bands) in 2003. Like other (more famous) groups from Sweden, the Burning Saviours revive the doom of early Pentagram and Black Sabbath, along with the blues/rock of Led Zeppelin and Jethro Tull, thus banging their heads against the wall many have now termed "rock revival." However, while bands like Witchcraft and Graveyard have managed to find their place and a somewhat personal touch, the Burning Saviours of singer Fredrik Andersson stand out for their complete lack of ideas and inventiveness.

After the first two episodes (not very brilliant ones at that), the five members of the group nonetheless decided to challenge the critics, and in 2007, they returned to the studio to bring to life what remains the band's last full-length album to date. "Nymphs & weavers" was released with the help of a small label like Transubstans, assisted by the Saviours themselves. This was meant to give a vintage atmosphere to the sound, with the clear intention of reviving the acid vibes of seventies records.

However, the result is certainly not what the band expected: apart from some episodes that are more or less positive (particularly "The spellweaver" and "Hillside mansion"), the remaining pieces are a poorly executed mishmash of riffs from the past that have been heard a thousand times before. Occasionally, the band delves into some folk rock escapades with dismal results, which, besides highlighting the lack of ideas, also showcase technical skills that are not exactly top-notch. Over all this looms the grating, off-key, and unbearable voice of Andersson, which heavily contributes to destroying those fleeting moments that seem to have a semblance of catchiness.

Agreed, the revival scene is certainly not a beacon of originality. But it is also true that numerous bands (to varying extents) have managed to carve out a space by producing valid and somehow personal albums. The Burning Saviours have not made it with three releases, and many believe they probably never will...

1. "Looking After The Phyre" (5:06)
2. "Pondhillow's Finest" (4:10)
3. "The Spellweaver" (5:00)
4. "Woodnymph" (6:34)
5. "Dreaming Of Pastries" (4:07)
6. "Signs" (5:24)
7. "Trinity" (3:17)
8. "Hillside Mansion" (4:08)
9. "Exposed To The Heat Of Solace" (6:15)