On their new album "Savage Blood", Cales gives us an instrumental soundscape which, apart from a distorted guitar accompanying the compositions, has little to do with metal on larger parts of the album although the amount of metal present is enough to call it a metal abum in the end.

The basis of opening song 'Transfer' is a typical American eighties popculture chord progession. On second song 'Volk Tektosag' the amount of metal increases resulting in a mixture of folk and viking metal. On third song 'Moravian Highland' the poppy chord progressions return and the song balances between Jesu orientated dissonant chords and some clean guitar riffs that are heavily influenced by Andy Summers / The Police. Yet sixth song 'Insurgency' has some similarities with viking-era Bathory but with  some groovy rhythms that in fact damage the composition.

Apart from the album being very poppy at times, it is quite enjoyable. I even have to admit the non-metal sections of this album are the most enjoyable ones since they create a certain dreamy atmosphere (at times reminiscent of the 'Bloodflowers'-era The Cure or even Metallica on 'To Live Is To Die') which makes the album worth playing while relaxing.

As said, the album is instrumental and this is something of a bummer. It could have done with some melodic vocals on certain parts (there are some distant female vocals on 'Groves Of Infinite Reminiscences'). A few great songs can be found on "Savage Blood" but also a lot of bad ones.  People interested in soundscapes a la Jesu and My Bloody Valentine with a hint of The Cure but also instrumental viking-folk metal might want to check this out.