It seems that Fear Dark (the label that brought us Tefilla) is getting pretty consistent on putting out average (or to some listeners, below average) thrash bands. Salutary falls well into the category of an "average thrash" band. The music is mostly all mid-tempo chugga-thrash with some fast parts thrown in here and there just to show that they "can do it" but every time a fast part starts it usually ends within a few seconds and we go into the Tefilla style groove-thrash mode again. The vocals are the harsh gruff type similar to bands like Anaemia, Mortification, and Tefilla (although I prefer Tefilla vocals and music over all these). There are a couple of vocal lines that are delivered in a very nice guttural death tone but that's about it. I am listening to this CD as I am writing this and for some reason I just wanna call this "Gargoyle Rock" heh, it just seems to fit ... so if you see that term in my future reviews you will know what I am talking about. Ok... back to the review. There are 8 songs on this cd and it is a full-length BUT the last 4 tracks are recorded live so you not only get some poor sound quality (and the vocals sound worse, almost punk-ish on one song), you also get to hear two of the tracks repeated only live this time. Overall I enjoy the CD and am able to headbang to it but for the discriminating listener it falls short. There are some tempo changes but nothing really technical or amazing here. For some this might be a nice concept since tech-metal has been really big again lately, so if you wanna just grab a fairly good thrash disc and mosh around your living room this might be for you!
6/10
Other coverage for this album
Dead Zine 2002Reviewed by D_ListerAfter hearing Tefilla's Grievous Anguish and then reading SORG's review where he compared Salutary so much to Tefilla I decided not to go out of my way to get this album. As it is the CD has come through my hands and I couldn't be happier that it did! Salutary does indeed play nothing more than what you call THRASH, and hey that's quite alright with me. With Violated Holiness they do not approach…Similar sounding releases
1990Seventh AngelHeed the Warning
1993MartyrWickenstraut
2003MortificationPower, Pain & Passion
1991BetrayalRenaissance by Death
1999FocusedThe Wheels of Progress 1992-1996
1996Ashen MortalitySleepless Remorse
