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“I wanna take my love and hate ya ‘til the end.” I just love that line. When I first heard the sexually explosive “Addicted” last year, I just had to get more.
So when Saving Abel, the self-titled debut CD arrived from Amazon, that did me in.
The band was formed in 2004, in the town of Corinth, Mississippi, by lead vocalist Jared Weeks and guitarist/vocalist Jason Null. Today, there’s also Scott Bartlett on guitar, Blake Dixon on drums and Eric Taylor on bass.
Why the name, “Saving Abel”? According to the band’s Web site, Null was googling the biblical Cain and Abel (I have no idea why), and he ran across a part about “there was no Saving Abel.” Somehow that hit a nerve.
What hit me, and hard, was the raucous opening cut,“New Tattoo,” based on a real-life road trip. These guys must lead exciting lives. Even the slower-paced songs, like the hit “18 Days,” employ heavy guitar riffs and gritty vocals that keep the intensity. My favorite cut is “Drowning (Face Down),” with its passionate vocals, catchy riffs, and awesome guitar solo.
While the vocals and guitars in the lingering but still powerful “Sailed Away” sound a lot like Hinder, Saving Abel embraces their own style in most of the songs. This is most evident in “Beautiful You,” where Weeks belts out southern style vocals while the quick lead guitar is accompanied by heavy riffs. Fiery vocals, candid lyrics, and swift guitars surge through the album.
Saving Abel combines post-grunge and contemporary southern rock similar to that of Hinder and Nickelback. In fact, they’re touring together this summer. Personally, I can’t wait; and yes, I already have tickets.
It doesn’t make sense to download just a few songs from Saving Abel; each of the eleven cuts is solid—memorable, explosive, and raw. It’s definitely one to plunk your cash down for.
