Local Metal Juggernaut Headlines The Chapel
One of the more celebrated metal bands to come out of Oakland in the wake of East Bay juggernaut High on Fire, Saviours has built an international reputation with its string of progressively more savage and intricate albums as well as a brutal touring schedule. Formed in 2004 by principles Austin Barber (vocals/guitar) and drummer Scott Batiste, within a year the group had issued its debut EP Warship and scored a deal with Kemado Records. The group's early efforts nodded to the ferocious sound of thrash pioneers Venom, Slayer and Metallica while developing their own complex, interwoven guitar style and dynamic range.
Given the group's staggering amount of roadwork – they've trekked through the U.K and Europe several times and have even visited Japan – Saviours have maintained a steady output of new music. The band's 2008 album Into Abaddon touched on elements of psychedelia and doom while displaying dynamics and versatility rarely heard among most modern metal bands. On Saviours' follow-up effort Accelerated Living (their first to feature guitarist Sonny Reinhardt), Saviours continue to refine the hectic riff alchemy that has become the band's trademark with the deftly harmonized twin-lead guitars and a seemingly endless fusillade of riffs.
The band enjoyed some down time after that album and touring cycle, with Barber relocating to Los Angeles and teaming up with Black Mountain mainstay Stephen McBean and switching to bass for their corrosive punk band Obliterations. The current line-up of the band band with new bassist Andy Anderson reconvened and continued it's relentless road work in 2014 and 2015, road testing new material that would eventually be tracked in Portland, Oregon, with noted producer Billy Anderson (Sleep, Neurosis, Fantomas, Acid King). The group's latest effort -- and first for new label Listenable Records -- Palace of Vision came out last fall to another round of glowing reviews. For this San Francisco show Friday night at the Chapel in San Francisco's Mission District, Saviours will be joined by atmospheric LA-based doom/drone act Ides of Gemini (who Batiste recently joined on drums) and rising SF metal quartet War Cloud.
Saviours
Friday, April 22, 8 p.m. $15
The Chapel
