Saving Abel are not a Christian rock band, despite what their name may suggest. They are a quintet from the American south who are trying to gain a place in the hearts of fans with this debut album of the same title.

This album at first sight and sound gave me the impression of a resurrection of the glam/sleaze movement. The opening track, “New Tattoo” combines the feel good style of Bon Jovi with the sleazy strut of Mötley Crüe and the heavy sound of what is know referred to as the post-grunge in the US. This is followed by the band’s hit single “Addicted”, which was also the one that got them signed, and what’s probably the most pornographic refrain I’ve ever heard. But with the exception of the two first songs on this disk and the ecologically themed “In God's Eyes” the remainder of the album is unfortunately just one of the same with the rest of the albums released by similar bands. Mid-tempo songs about love and loss that though I do have to admit were expected are still bringing the album down. They’re too many ballads even for a Love Radio ballad compilation.

Perhaps if they weren’t so hopeful in the beginning of the album then the fall later on wouldn’t have been such a steep one. The problem however remains that while Saving Abel prove that they can do something different, they have apparently decided to become just another pin-up band for American colleges dormitories and that they’re going after the same audience as Nickelback, Staind, 3 Doors Down and a pleiad of other bands. Obviously forgetting however that their main competitors have been playing this game for far longer and that it’s difficult for a new band to get established if it doesn’t differentiate. Perhaps they’ll realise it before the next album…