GHOST STORY

SALVA, Swedish group which started when S. GAVIK and P. MALMBERG played handball and found themselves with the same love of music. They started in 2003, immersing themselves in many musical genres! Personally, I have known them since 'Left to burn' from 2007, a flowery, Hispanic and colorful prog with a very particular sound; uncompromising progressive rock, heavy rock, AOR and adventurous pop. Note that R. REED has worked to make them known; this 7th album is a concept about the story of an introverted boy discovering an overwhelming passion for music; slightly self-taught in itself.

'Awakening' tumbles on a hovering then symphonic neo prog intro to launch the title river with a melodic heavy prog declination; varied, thunderous, that's how we could classify it, reminiscent of the ROYAL HUNT for the twirling side; it starts on a long classic crescendo with melodies that quickly catch the ears, between heavy and neo prog. "Discovery" in radio edit shorter, nervous and fits in, AOR limit; a synth solo followed by an evolving guitar moment in break then the majestic voice of Per giving a solemn tone; second more airy solo then return to the chorus on this basic synth sound and finally heavy. "Gig" arrives on a soaring psychic note from the intro starting on notes that JETHRO TULL could have played for this nervous and intuitive guitar; the voice and the rhythm still launch on a ROYAL HUNT boosted by airs of ALAN PARSONS harder, strange and disconcerting; we can find on the keyboards of Johan and Per a rather marked groovy side sailing on ELOY, HAMADRYAD, all sprinkled with a last vibrating guitar solo reminding me of the good period of MANFRED MANN.

'Ghost' aerial piano intro, SUPERTRAMP symphony; vocals pulling on the desperate energy of a MIDNIGHT OIL, proof of the variety of this sound off the beaten track; good thunderous sympho prog rock stretching pleasantly thanks to the fat instrumental part which gives intensity and charm; a sudden cathedral break, the voice as a megaphone, a title with a striking and intoxicating melody; note again a fruity guitar solo juggling between neo and heavy prog decked out with fat synths as one wishes; a finale that reminds me from afar of the BLUES & TRAVELERS just for the flute and the folk accordion. "Everysong" arrives for the uplifting, soulful ballad with lead vocals and piano. "Score" and the final, divine intro...listen; Per with his characteristic high-pitched voice here offers a slow melodic declination; the sound of the synths is unlike any other except IQ; the evolution is as symphonic as it is intimate and launches juicy guitar solos; it goes away it comes back it goes away to distant spaces where the musical sap flows freely; it is especially better over time, a sign of unmistakable quality.

SALVA makes neo heavy symphonic prog different from current sounds, a positive point. SALVA offers long titles with adventurous developments and damn chiseled breaks to offer a rich air entangled with various reminiscences. SALVA makes integral art music surfing on neo and heavy, offering a singular escape on the cold Scandinavian lands; a very good disc pushing the multi-colored sound in its most ardent buttresses.