Saturn - Ascending (Live In Space) (2014)

Drawn from a steady diet of Sabbath, UFO, Budgie, Deep Purple, Rainbow and, perhaps most importantly, the Judas Priest of Sad Wings Of Destiny and Sin After Sin, the Saturn sound is one that declares a sincere and unapologetic debt to the greats of a bygone era, but this is no lazy exercise in retro posturing. Instead, Ascending conjures its own distinctive world of epic grandeur and gritty oomph via the dextrous weaving of ageless, hallowed ingredients and a jolting injection of contemporary exuberance and verve. Songs like Rokktori and Tower Of Terror exude both a deep affinity with the blues and an intuitive grasp of what occurred when metal’s original blueprint mutated into the tougher tirades of NWOBHM.

From the fiery clatter of opener So, You Have Chosen Death, through to astral mystery tour of the closing Moonstone, Ascending is an album that oozes a sense of timeless wonderment, as purity of intent and a fizzing, forceful delivery combine amid a batch of songs that revel in their mastery of hooks, grooves and hypnotic power. Saturn are dealing with universal truths, both in terms of their irresistibly classic gait and the conceptual bloodflow that keeps the band’s collective heart pumping like a fleshy metronome.

Hailing from the cities of Boras and Ulricehamn in south western Sweden, Saturn are further proof that the Swedes have an uncanny knack for producing bands that skilfully harness the vibrant essence of metal’s early years while bringing something entirely new and invigorating to the table. Beyond that, Ascending is an album that proclaims its creators as true originals and dedicated servants of rock’n’roll itself. Raw, untutored and freewheeling, and yet effortlessly succinct and emotionally impactful, Saturn’s debut is a thrillingly accomplished statement of intent that also points to a cavernous well of future potential that these young diehards are eager to start delving into. One step at a time is the only way to go, and Saturn are striding forward with supreme confidence.