Saturna – The Reset

 

 

Saturna – The Reset
Discos Macarras / Spinda Records – 2023
Rock, Metal, Prog, Blues, Psych, Stoner
Rated: ***

As you might know, might have seen, read and heard, we’ve had the honor of premiering their Your Whimsical Selfishness single and naturally also mentioned the follow-up called: The Never-Ending Star. Which means we should definitely write a few words of praise about the full The Reset album as well, right? Of course, cause we absolutely adored the earlier Saturna releases! This time around, they decided to move their psychedelic and stoner rock into more progressive and metal territories, taking everything they do into classic territory. That was already clear after hearing that first single, which opens the album. And that feeling carries over to the second track, The Never-Ending Star, with which we have also already spent quite some time. To hear it continue to, a bit more seventies, and a bit more hardrock on third track Smile, feels like a justification that our instinct was right. The guys want to embrace the metal past and aim for a timeless masterpiece. But continuing with Smile that almost AOR, traditional feeling isn’t all there is, for Smile does bare its teeth, Smile leaves a definite bitemark and that clench and grit only gets dispelled by following track December’s Dust. Twin acoustic guitars, vocal harmonies, a Saturna take on the classic ballad. It could have been written by any of the great rockers of yore. Into The Sun aims for a more proto, seventies, bluesy, Graveyard sounding approach. That blues touch is present in the following A Few Words To Say as well. With a vocal touch that also reminds of the formidable Kamchatka, which means the blues feels completely free of all constraints. A touch also heard in ninth and tenth tracks On Fire and A Way To Reset. That final A Way To Reset is so soulful, warm and completely rounded out. Ending the The Reset album on a high note and with forty-five minutes. The perfect amount for the vinyl treatment. Although the digital version has six bonus tracks, which will be tempting to be purchased as well! Looking back at 2023, I doubt I heard a better and more powerful blues, prog and classic rock statement than The Reset.

(Written by JK)

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