In a lattice of noise and volume, Saliva provides more reasons why nu-metal should be buried alongside rap-metal in the Graveyard of Senseless Trends. The Memphis rockers have unleashed their latest, a 10 track storm of tepid swill entitled Cinco Diablo, on a world of waiting fans who get the majority of their musical material from WWE wrestling entrance theme songs.
Cinco Diablo is actually Saliva’s sixth album and it features more of the same that we’ve come to expect from this sub-par quintet. Led by vocalist Josey Scott, whose closest brush with any major fame came with a duet alongside fellow bland rocker Chad Kroeger for “Hero,” Saliva is one of those bands that has managed to carve a niche out of a fanbase that essentially doesn’t know much about music and has bad taste.
With such classic cuts as “Ladies and Gentlemen” and “Click Click Boom” providing the more “energetic” end of the band’s catalog, Cinco Diablo is based on analogous foundations. The crunching but eventually pedestrian guitar is present, as are the half-assed vocals and the cavernous but unsettled low end.
In essence, Saliva is pre-chewed food for the elementary rock fan. The lyrics are infantile and irritating, the musical arrangements are basic three-chord progressions working upwards or downwards, and the structures of the songs are so tight that there’s no imagination or actual rock and roll there at all. Instead, Cinco Diablo demonstrates once more than Saliva is a paint-by-numbers rock band, capable of putting my mother to sleep with their predictability.
“Hunt You Down” showcases the band’s “aggressive” side with inane lyrics that wouldn’t threaten a preschooler. Introduced with an anodyne guitar lick and a “hooah!” from Scott, the track weakly slows as the singer tells us that he’s “the master of this game” and that he’s going to “stomp you into the ground.” The pitiful chorus allows Scott to attempt a scowl, but it comes across as more of a snivel as he cranks out each and every angry white male cliché. It’s embarrassing to listen to.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - jtalep
This review is really very bad. It attacks Saliva fans, saying we have bad taste in music. I for one, have an awesome taste in music, from Queen, to Three Doors Down, to Third Eye Blind. Haters shouldn't be allowed to review bands they don't like, because it's not impartial.
2 - Jordan Richardson
I for one, have an awesome taste in music, from Queen, to Three Doors Down, to Third Eye Blind.
Yes, I stand corrected. You certainly have "awesome" taste in music...
Haters shouldn't be allowed to review bands they don't like, because it's not impartial.
I hate awful music and Saliva happens to make it. If that makes me a "hater," so be it. I'm pretty happy with that label. Also, people should be "allowed" to review whatever they want.
3 - ha
How are you a reviewer? This review (if you can call it that, it's more just a "look at me I can bash music and try to make myself look intelligent over the interwebz!" rant) is horrendous.
But hey, someone that liked Prince Caspian so much, when it was worse than the first movie, can't really take them seriously.
Also, jtalep is correct, you full on hate Saliva, you shouldn't be reviewing this CD. Therefore, this thing is null and void. Good day.
4 - Josh
Dude, heres what I say, you can always say you don't like certain bands or albums, but to personally say this band sucks really shows YOU haven't a clue. I can't believe they let you do reviews!!! Josey is a bad ass singer, and they have platinum albums and over 8 hits on the radio. Theres a reason for that, wait I guess all of america has no musical taste then right?? Maybe you should sign bands.
5 - Josh
by the way, you thought tropic thunder was "delightful" hahah yeah, you need a new job..
6 - Byron
While Saliva will never be known for putting out complex music, I hesitate to bash it and the people who listen to it.
Is it simple? Absolutely. Is it derivative of what every other mainstream band has been doing for the past ten years? No question. Could a valid comparison between Saliva and fast food, with the mass processing and uniform taste be made? I just did.
However, I like fast food, and taking the metaphor further, I like fast food in the car on lengthy drives. Saliva has always made it into my driving rotation, along with many mainstream rock acts.
Taken on that merit, Cinco Diablo is one of the most enjoyable albums to drive with and have on in the background when I'm working.
7 - Yourworstnightmare
Wow....shooting down saliva fans...most people who put down certain band fanbases know squat about music and sit in mommys basement waiting for their milk and cookies.....At 45
8 - Jason
Technically since they have guitar solos in their music they're no longer Nu Metal. Anyone looking to write an intellectual review makes it a point to see that their descriptions are applicable.
So the question I have now is: How do we delete his review?
9 - Jordan Richardson
Lots of anger in the Saliva community, huh?
10 - Louie Louie
Your entitled to your opinion, but your review was unnecessarily harsh. So much so that it does question your ability to make an objective review. I have never read your reviews before and based on what I just read probably won't again. I listen to everything from Al Di Meola to Pantera and I've been playing classical guitar for twenty five years. Sometimes I like to listen to Nickleback or Saliva just to clear my mind. That doesn't mean I don't know anything about music. I like complex well formed music with meaningful lyrics just as much as the next musician. However, sometimes I like to listen to three chord progressions with the volume in my car turned up as it seems to make the long ride to work that much shorter. Saliva fills a need and they do it well. If you don't like them that's fine, but please restrict your comments to the band not the fans.
11 - Scarf25
Hey guys
Well i dont want to defend Jordan in any way,he is a grown man already but truth is I was really dissapointed by this album.In my opinion its a huge waste of good music thanks to bad lyrics.If these guys wanna play tough they have much to learn yet.
3 stars out of 10
12 - Aaron
I have been listening to Saliva since they were playing little bars in Memphis. Sadly to say, this is my least favorite record. However, the band is newly sober and it will take time to fond new creativity. I will always support the guys and I have heard way worse albums. One thing I can say is the album is way better than this review. Any review that makes reference to a "wet fart" is exactly that.
13 - Jordan Richardson
You're comparing a review of an album to THE actual album? I'm flattered. Thank you.
14 - Billy Goat
hahahaha! What a bunch of morons. This is just like the political process leading up to the elections the US just had. People spew hate back and forth at each other in feeble attempts to prove themselves right. Jordan obviously doesn't like Saliva and wrote a review form the point of view that he thinks they and their genre of music sucks. The Saliva fans are writing back without thought for their own cause. They say that Jordan shouldn't be allowed to write reviews of bands he hates but yet Saliva fans write back and say the review is bad just because they like Saliva. What a joke and a bunch of hypocrites. Try a real band like Sevendust.
15 - Justanotherfan1214
Personal attacks are not allowed, is that the way the comment policy on here goes? Well what about your personal attack on Saliva, Especially Josey and the Fans? I feel that you have personally attacked me because I am a HUGE Fan of Saliva.How dare you say that I have Bad music taste? How do you know what kind of music taste I have? I have read your other music reviews and it seems to me that YOU have Bad music taste.I have every CD that Saliva has ever made and this CD is just as good as all the Rest. You Compare this CD to a WET FART!! I think you know more about Wet Farts that you do Music.You gave Leona Lewis Rave Reviews ---why because she is beautiful and you want her attention and maybe free tickets to a show of hers? Try going to a Saliva show and watch Thousands of Saliva fans Rock our A** off and sing every word to every song while Josey is performing.But then again I bet you have never been to a real Rock show in your life.I know your job is to Review music but how can you personally attack Saliva this way and pick them apart while being so cruel at the same time? I hope Saliva never trys to Please Critics like you by changing their music and that they just continue to give us fans the Music WE Want!!
16 - vern halen
Technically, saliva is kind of just a wet fart coming out the other end, isn't it? Hi to y'all.
17 - Jordan Richardson
I would just like to mention that, along with these comments, I've actually had somebody email me via Eric pretending to be Josey Scott. I followed up on the email, only to have somebody reply that his "kids were screwing around on the computer."
I hope Saliva never trys to Please Critics like you by changing their music and that they just continue to give us fans the Music WE Want!!
Random capitalization aside, you make a good point. I truly hope that Saliva continues to make music that you and the other four Saliva fans want.
Seriously, though, I'm glad people like Saliva. I don't and I took a few cheap shots in my review. I'm sorry (somewhat) if I offended anyone, but it was all in good fun.
18 - Jason
So you purposefully wrote a review for a band you knew you didn't like "all in good fun"
That sounds like something a 12 year old who just discovered the internet would do. Just exercise a little maturity and common (or uncommon) sense.
19 - Jordan Richardson
I purposely reviewed what I was assigned to review and had fun with it. Explain to me how that defies your conception of maturity, Jason.
20 - Jason
I guess there in lies the problem, you were assigned a project you didn't like and it showed in your work. In that case I'd have to shift most of the blame to this site; which is why had it not been for google I wouldn't have found it.
That being said this one review alone eliminates what little credibility this site had to begin with in my eyes.
21 - Jordan Richardson
That's a shame.
22 - Christopher Rose
Fanboys are so cute. Oh, wait, they're not!
23 - Al U
Man, I COMPLETELY agree. I never liked Saliva, from their ridiculous band name, to their first single "Click Click Boom" and to the newest drivel on the radio "How Could You." I love hard rock and metal, but seriously... this band is of the lowest common denominator. "How Could You" has no melody, no good riffs, WEAK and whiny lyrics. Who the hell cares if some woman cheated on him? The song is completely forgettable.
It reminds me of back in 2003/2004 when Powerman 5000 released that gawd-awful song "Free," or even better, when Metallica's "St. Anger" stormed the radio waves that same year. It was hyped up for months, played endlessly for weeks, until people realized how much it sucked, and then promptly forgotten. Has anyone even heard those two songs on the radio since then? I can't wait till this song is forgotten as well.
24 - Rhanda
Honestly,I love Saliva.They are one of my favorite bands.Josey Scott is a great singer,and all I have to say about you bashing his voice is "Jealousy is a horrible sickness,I hope you get well soon".Cinco Diablo is awesome .I love it,my friends love it,my mom loves it,and I know A LOT more people that love it."How Could You" is possibly my favorite song on that cd,and then there's "Judgement Day",which is the best.You didn't bash it because you can't.XD Obviously,You're not a very smart person when it comes to music,so stick that in your juice box and suck it
25 - STUMPY
HEY HEY HEY
take it eezy every 1... i luv saliva itz my favouriteband upuntil blood stained love story and cinco diablo; those albumz suked ass. sure there music is predictable but there isnt much you can do with a singer who has an ulcer because he scream melodicly... that kind of screamin gets hard on your stomach its no wonder but oh no none of have compassion.