There must be something in the Oakland water - consider the still full-throttle metal underground centered in the city across the Bay around bands like High on Fire. Annihilation Time, and Saviours, the oft-lauded heavies out to make it louder and harder for all ye headbangers. The 2006 Level Plane album, Crucifire, by the latter group (which includes two vets of Yaphet Kotto, vocalist-guitarist Austin Barber and drummer Scott Batiste) was a blast of badass blasphemy that made Bay metalists perk up and listen: Barber apparently had his issues with archconservative fundamentalists in Arkansas and Colorado where he grew up.
No doubt the rock ‘n’ roll high life at the legendary crash pad where Saviours bunked down, at 51 and Telegraph in O-town, played into the abandon propelling 2008’s Into Abaddon (Kemado), which saw the outfit unfolding and extending its hell-bent-for-leather pummel. Imagine Rein in Blood-era Slayer, frantic Iron Maiden, and archetypal Motorhead retrofitted for wicked amounts of speed.
Now's time to welcome the irreverent rockers back from their latest European travels, where they communed with kindred locals Neurosis. Heck, it’s not often that you get to snatch high quality ear-bleed sounds free of charge. Consider this Saviours' recession-era special. And expect more noise in the near future: word has it the band is in the thick of recording a new full-length, produced, engineered, and mixed by old cohort Joe Barresi (Melvins, Tool). A tour with Skeletonwitch and Trap Them is coming, as is a series of 7-inch singles, only 500 copies of each.
Saviours appear with Suicide Bomb and Poison Control tonight, June 2, 10 p.m., free, the Knockout, 3223 Mission, SF. (415) 550-6994. www.theknockoutsf.com
