For the longest time CALES have been mostly noted down as a side-project/other band of former ROOT member Blackie, but not matter how much cult ROOT are, CALES deserve to be seen as a completely separate entity and the fact that “Savage Blood” is their fourth album since 1997 should also contribute to this. To actually pinpoint the style of CALES, though, is a completely different challenge, because Blackie does not make things easy for us reviewers. I’ve only known “The Pass In Time” before and Epic Metal is the maybe best description, made even more so by an unusual fact that at first didn’t even come to my mind, but then hit all the harder: “Savage Blood” is completely instrumental!

I know what you’re thinking, how the heck could he not have noticed that there were no vocals, but that was the case and I think that it is a very big compliment, as it means that they managed to pull an instrumental endeavour off without having me think that something was missing! Opening “Transfer”, for example, is relaxed, with an acoustic guitar accompanying the electric one and you don’t miss the vocals even once! And even we get a little more energetic, as on “Volk Tektosag”, or...or...I am not sure what to call, for example, “Moravian Highland”, which is just beautiful, evoking images of rolling fields and meadows, untouched forests, lakes and streams... I guess that’s what you call the power of music, don’t you?

Not all songs can conjure up these images, though, the relative shortness of the single songs diminishes this flaw to some extent and in the end the ratio between good and not so good tips towards the good songs, especially due to the atmosphere that is built up, giving this kind of dreamy touch to many of the songs, which acts as a welcome counterpart to the Metal passages.

“Savage Blood” definitely is a mood album, as you will not always find yourself able to absorb the dreamy nature of many of the songs, but if you want to relax a little, CALES’ latest is an excellent choice (and no, you can also enjoy it, if you don’t want or need to relax)!

(Online February 14, 2008)