By David O’Neill
For anyone who has lived under a rock for the past six years, South of Salem are a five-piece hard rock/metal band from Bournemouth. Fronted by horror movie fan Joey Draper, anyone who has seen them live know that many of the songs have dark inferences in them.
This is the second album from a band who have been touring hard since the release of the 2020 debut, ‘The Sinner Takes It All’, and the band have developed quite a following in the intervening period. With forthcoming appearance at Planet Rock’s Winters End and support slots with none other than South Devon’s resident cage fighting rocker Kris Barras, things are definitely on the rise.
The second album kicks off with the high voltage tub thumper ‘Vultures’, with stomach rumbling basslines and some seriously heavy drums in the background, the lyrical performance of Joey Draper adds to the dark feel. The track reminds me of ‘A Little Piece of Heaven’ by Avenged Sevenfold by its implied (and explicit) meaning although it does appear to have a very tongue in cheek message. This message is also carried through into ‘Static’, but it is an equally heavy track and I’m sure it will go down a storm live; the breakdown is particularly impressive and it has a really catchy hook.
‘Jet Black Eyes’ is another track where the drumming is very prominent (and very well played) despite the lyrical and instrumental content being equally impressive and whilst there are many different influences on display this is an out and out banging rock track.
‘Stitch The Wound’ is another great rock track with the rhythm sections driving the track and I have a vision of the Winter’s End crowd bobbing their heads in time to the backbeat. The guitar solo at the breakdown is fabulous with a lovely high ringing clear tone.This should be a tour track no doubt.
The chugging guitar/bass opening to ‘Left For Dead’ is a classic rock opener and this carries the track underneath Draper’s vocal performance. ‘Hellbound Heart’ has an equally impressive opening before the gentler vocal approach takes it through the first verse up to the instrumental crescendos that pierce the final lines into each chorus. This is also going to be another staple on the live show.
‘Bad Habits (Die Had)’ is going to be a real crowd pleaser as it has the ideal hook for the audience to join in on! The title track ‘Death Of The Party’ rattles through the just over four minutes of full on in your face rock displaying much of what the band has to offer.
‘A Life Worth Dying For’ is another real rocker and with an anthemic singalong just before and after the breakdown its good stuff. The final track, ‘Villain’, opens with distorted vocals but it is still another well written, very well produced, well performed track.
The album has been a bit of a slow burn for me: it has taken about five listens, but these were mainly as “background” whilst driving. It wasn’t until today through a decent set of headphones that it began to grow and get the appreciation it rightly deserves.
Anyone at Winter’s End next month who hasn’t seen SOS before will become a die hard fan on this display.
- ‘Death Of The Party‘ is released today.
- South Of Salem play a hometown album release show at Bournemouth’s O2 Academy tomorrow (Saturday 20 January):
- They also play a series of unplugged instore shows over the course of the next week:
- South Of Salem then tour with the Kris Barras Band in April:
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