In recent weeks I’ve received a few albums from new artists marketing themselves, and very effectively. But I’ve not received any Welsh releases, until today. Sal from South Wales released their first album (DYSFUNCTIONAL) back in 2005 and on the strength of this new album I’m glad the band ’stuck around.’

Cat (lead vocals), Noog (guitars), Chris (bass) and Den (drums) is a heavy rock band with a strong punk vibe and truckloads of pop sensibility. And this album is not only a very good one but a very clever one. The band can also deliver live and recently won ‘Best Live Act’ at the Exposure Music Awards 2009.

The album opens with ‘Get Your Facts Right’, a rather conventional, driving punk rocker which provides a first vague hint at what’s to come, and a female lead vocal that’s just a bit special. ‘Swallowed Pride For Hollow Promises’ also takes a rather conventional, unspectacular route but I persevere and come up trumps with the first real indication of how good this band is. ‘Jekyll and Hyde’ opens with a an attractive piano passage and rather comical last twinkiling notes, just before the rock onslaught starts. Heading the charge is Cat on vocals (mercifully without that American twang singers are so fond of) who gives a powerful, passionate performance that travels the vocal range. The drums begin to sound decent while the guitar riffs are just what the doctor ordered. It’s a good song with great melody and just about perfect production, courtesy of the band’s guitarist Noog. 

The song opens a virtually non-stop barrage of great tunes starting with the dark, slow, thoughtful and quite beautiful ‘Demons.’ And this is the clever bit - the band has very wisely mixed pace and sound to keep the interest bubbling. Cat’s vocal is dosed up with expression and sincerity, while the band provide a perfect backdrop which falls during verses and soars in choruses. Another fabulous melody and epic vibe completes one of the highlights on this album. The pace and mood changes dramatically with ‘Devil May Care’ (used as the theme for the Sebastian Faulks James Bond audio books) which explodes into action led by a drums and a threatening guitar rhythm. Cat’s vocal is exceptional (again) and the aggressive guitar riffs are terrific.

‘Perfection’ then slows things down again with a moody and touching vibe beautifully created by a moving vocal from Cat and subtle guitar backing, both perfectly matched to this glorious, super-melodic pop song. The choruses eventually gain in momentum and catepult this song into epic, chart-busting territory - I kid you not! ‘Ordinary Guy’ loosens the brake and jaggedly drives along in rampant punk rock style. It’s a bass-driven winner.

Later highlights include the contemplative power pop rock, ‘California’, slow-burning rocker ‘Invisible’, and mixed pace, rhythmic punk pop of ‘A Love Song For Alcoholics.’

This is an album designed to drive this excellent band into the big time, in super-quick time. And it’s deserved. Cat’s vocals place her at the top of the female lead rock vocal tree, and the band supports her with instrumental performances that are supremely well-judged, while Noog has pulled off an exempliary production job. There’s melody to burn and wonderful diversity of sound, vibe and pace. My only criticism is that a couple of the songs are a tad over-long, but I’m penny-pinching. It’s a hugely entertaining album that deserves major success, and I can’t wait to see the band perform live. As they say: JOB DONE!

4/5