SALUTE had released their "Toy Soldier" debut a couple of years ago (or less?) which I didn't have the chance to check out, hence it was a fresh relationship listening to their brand new "Heart Of The Machine" CD and write down some thoughts. The band hails from Sweden and one name friends of European Hard Rock shall probably recognize is songwriter/singer Mikael Erlandsson. This fine musician has already established a respected career in Scandinavia and Japan (these two go along most times!) and his deeds with melodic rockers LAST AUTMN'S DREAM and RADIOACTIVE surely cannot go unnoticed (HEARTBREAK RADIO's self-titled 2005 release is a hidden gem, too).

So, what's up in SALUTE's proposal? Well, we can possibly name this band as the 'heavier' act Mikael has participated in, since the songs here have enough volume and a pounding rhythm section giving a boost to the equally noisy guitars (don't imagine anything extreme, of course). The production is heavy, too, makes you knocking your feet hard while listening to powerful melodic Hard Rock cuts like "A Falling Star", "Heart Of The Machine" and "Train Of Rock 'n' Roll". I did recall the amplitude of bands like e.g. PINK CREAM 69, post-80s MAD MAX or JADED HEART or STAGE DOLLS (or the most recent ELEVENER) but with a more up-to-date songwriting profile.

45 minutes flow quite easily and the crossfire of rockin' cuts with more emotional moments ("My Part In This Pain", "Feed Your Hunger") does not omit anything from the album's general power. A sad fact is that you won't - probably - find a song or two to call them your own, and this does possibly affect the CDs will to smash your brain. Nonetheless, it's a decent release you won't get bored of instantly. If we'd have to pick up the MVP of the lineup the Oscar would most likely go to Martin Kronlund, who has really laid down some impressive leads and licks that keep the balance between the AOR/melodic Rock and more in-your-face Hard Rock standards, also offering pieces of traditional Hard Rock music the European way.

"Heart Of The Machine" is among the most representative releases of everything called Hard Rock in Northern Europe and has the essential elements of this genre: fine guitar work, a good mix of slower numbers and fast-paced semi-Metal moments and the same combination of clichés you've met in such bands the late years. I like this album for the fact that it has nothing to prove, but better music is also possible to be found elsewhere. Still, this album deserves a bit of credit for showing a good face.