You’d never guess it by Saving J are from Kilkenny: they seem determined to convince us they are a Placebo-style mid-Atlantic rock group. They certainly put their heart and soul into it. Every strum of the guitar is made with a determined hand and the occasional exploratory solo courtesy of Liam Redmond (no relation) can be quite thrilling. Some tracks do well to break out beyond the Blink 182/’American Idiot’ model, but the irresistibly punchy ‘Indication Street’ proves to be the only real crossover song on the album.
What Saving J do have going for them are riotous harmonies, drums that never drop below the level of ferocious and a staunch and battle-ready attitude. Time will tell whether that is enough.