SAVIOUR // Talk About Their Triumphant Fifth LP ‘Shine and Fade’.

It feels like it’s taken everyone a while to get onto Saviour.

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Having first burst onto the Perth scene in 2008, the group played a key part in the now prominent trend of combining melodic hardcore with elements like strings and keys. But whilst other bands immediately got credit for adopting such a bold approach to metal, it’s taken punters quite some time to realise how unique Saviour are. 

“I think we played our first show in 2009. So it’s been 13 years, which when you think about it feels so weird because so many people have just jumped on us recently,” says the group’s lead vocalist Bryant Best.

“We get a lot of people who are like, ‘you guys look like you’re a good up and coming band, and you guys are gonna do things.’ We’ve been doing things for ages,” he laughs.

“And then there’s the other side of the coin, which is where people are like, ‘I’m a big fan of your older stuff,’ and it kind of feels like, you know, we’re doing the final tour or something. I’m like, there’s still plenty of time, man.”

Upon hearing that it’s a sentiment I’ve thought myself previously, he humbly responded, “That’s actually awesome to hear, because a lot of times we’re releasing new stuff and people will be like, ‘oh, that sounds like sounds like this,’ and then you look at the band they’ve only been around for a little bit, and it’s like, god damn it. We’ve been doing this for friggin’ over a decade.”

But that doesn’t mean the group are slowing down, as Best stated himself Saviour aren’t wrapping up for a farewell tour just yet. Instead, they’re gearing up for the release of their triumphant fifth LP Shine and Fade.

“I definitely think it is our best work yet,” states Best.

I feel like you’re always competing with your own back catalogue to make your previous record second place.
[ Bryant Best ]

“I feel like you’re always competing with your own back catalogue to make your previous record second place … and albums are definitely one of those things where you end up poking holes in it before the time it’s even released. But this album you know, I’m still listening to it at the moment and there’s probably only a handful of things I’d change. Really the majority of it, I’m still a big fan of which is probably different to how I have felt before at this stage.”

A statement backed by the group’s bassist Chris Pearce, who added “Yeah, I’m stoked with it. I think Curtis [Tunks] coming into the band really helped, he really brought forward a new writing style that was just a new, fresh take that felt invigorating for all of us. I think because of that, it kind of just made us push everything as far as we could.”

“Bryant really pushed himself vocally, I think his style has changed a fair bit, he’s even borderline singing on some of these tracks. Compared to Once We Were Lions, where he was just making dirty mongrel noises, that’s massive.”

A compliment which Best takes on pride, “I haven’t really held a microphone and played a set for the last two or three years now, so I’m hoping it sounds half as good as that live.”

“But I really spent a lot of time just making sure that every line, every word was how I wanted to be with this record. I’m glad I did. It took ages, but I’m glad I got the product I ended up getting with this record.” 

“It’s probably the most mature piece of music put together from, you know, our bloody 12 years of doing the damn thing.”

Purchase and stream here.