But what the new look Saliva has done has put together a 12 song set on their new album that in the simplest of terms �..F***ing just kicks ass!!. I can't tell you how long it has been since I heard a new album I can't take off my stereo. The title track and first song on the album "Rise Up" just blisters and will no doubt find itself denting the charts. Track #2 just keeps it going with the song "She can sure hide crazy" - ( I love the line in this song where Amuru states , "you live in Hollywood, where you can be a dime a dozen"� I just love it.

Tracks 3, 4 & 5 "No One But Me", "Lost" & "1000 Eyes" respectively� Show the growth this band has gone through and experienced - "Lost" is a ballad - but by no means a typical one and works with Amarus awesome harmonies and the backing vocals of his veteran band mates. Track #6 "Redneck Freakshow" sounds like a heavy version of Nashville Marilyn Manson. But it works marvelously. A really fun song that I can only imagine how much fun it must have been to record. Track #7 "Choke" is a great song - obviously written for someone who didn't believe in this band or Amaru's talents as a vocalist.

Let this be said right now. All the things considered - Saliva musicianship is top notch. These guys play by feel. And onstage telepathically. This sets up Bobby Amaru to do nothing but succeed. That's another point to take note. Many bands lose their singer and just never come back because there is no chemistry. That is definitly NOT the case here. The musicians in Saliva give Amaru all the room he needs to let it rip. And to his BIG CREDIT�..He rips it up.

As the album plays down into the last 4 tracks we get a heavy dose of what we all the sudden become used to. "Closer" is an easy to song with great acoustic work. Track #10, "In it to win it" no doubt could be the second single on this album - A very strong effort. This critic feels it be very radio friendly��.And a ton of hooks! Let's see how good I am and see if my prediction on this one is right. But I would look for this song and the title track "Rise Up" to be coming out of your car stereo speakers within a very short period of time. Especially if you frequent the newer rock stations of your FM radio dial. The last two songs "The Enemy" & "I Don't Want It" just scream beautiful dirty guitars with double quick drums. And then you are sitting there going�."Was that the last song?"�..That's when you know you have a special piece of music made by a rock outfit that does it because they love it.