Since it’s incarnation in the summer of
2004, Savage Wizdom has been a staple on the local scene in the
southwest United States. Formed by ex-Prowler vocalist Steve Montoya,
guitarists Wes Rivera and Chris Herrera, bassist Morris Branch and
drummer Chris Salazar, the band members had all come from different
musical backgrounds and soon realized that there was little common
ground in terms of influences among them.
Using this to their advantage, the band began to craft a sound that had the punch and aggression of some of the modern metal bands with the sensibility of the 80’s metal music.
After three years of playing in the bars and clubs in Santa Fe, New Mexico, the band had amassed a substantial amount of original material and in the fall of 2007 released their debut full-length release; No Time For Mercy. However, for some of the members, it seemed that the band had run it’s course and by the end of the year the group
had disbanded.
Montoya was not ready to call it quits on the group and in February 2008 decided to reform it. With a new line-up now consisting of his son Steven on guitar, ex-Fear Of God drummer Steve Cordova, guitarist Pablo Roybal and bassist Sean Coblentz, the band re-emerged on the local scene in late 2008 and began to regain the momentum that had been cut short less than a year earlier.
As new songs began to emerge, the identity of the new Savage Wizdom began to reveal itself as being more melodically based than the group that had been featured on the debut album. The themes were still similar, but with the new band came a renewed sense of drive and determination that was reflected in the music. Gone were the thrashy Slipknot based influences that were prevalent on the first album and in it’s place emerged a more sophisticated and melodious sound heavily influenced by the likes of Iron Maiden and Helloween.
The band welcomed their newest member James Stuart III in the summer of 2014 when Sean Coblentz left to pursue another path in his life. For James, who had attended almost every one of the band’s shows since the reformation, the experience of transitioning from a fan in the audience to a full fledged member of the group was “a
dream come true.” The appreciation was mutual as his enthusiasm for the music breathed new life into the band when they needed it most.
Now, with a new release aptly titled: A New Beginning, the band stands taller and more proud than ever before. Tracks like “Do Or Die” and “Chase The Dragon” reflect the attitude of daring to chart your own course through life. “Shattered Lives” speaks of one of the darkest chapters in human history while songs like “Point Of No Return,” “Far
Away” and the heavy hitting title track carry the central theme of the album. Indeed, the band members feel that this is the strongest material that they have ever been involved
The current line-up of the band is proud to support the original vision of where it came from. With the band members ranging in ages, there is certainly no shortage of knowledge, experience and wisdom from very different perspectives. Above all, they hope that their music will be a source of both entertainment and empowerment for their listeners as they unleash this new animal in front of unsuspecting crowds, large or small.
Using this to their advantage, the band began to craft a sound that had the punch and aggression of some of the modern metal bands with the sensibility of the 80’s metal music.
After three years of playing in the bars and clubs in Santa Fe, New Mexico, the band had amassed a substantial amount of original material and in the fall of 2007 released their debut full-length release; No Time For Mercy. However, for some of the members, it seemed that the band had run it’s course and by the end of the year the group
had disbanded.
Montoya was not ready to call it quits on the group and in February 2008 decided to reform it. With a new line-up now consisting of his son Steven on guitar, ex-Fear Of God drummer Steve Cordova, guitarist Pablo Roybal and bassist Sean Coblentz, the band re-emerged on the local scene in late 2008 and began to regain the momentum that had been cut short less than a year earlier.
As new songs began to emerge, the identity of the new Savage Wizdom began to reveal itself as being more melodically based than the group that had been featured on the debut album. The themes were still similar, but with the new band came a renewed sense of drive and determination that was reflected in the music. Gone were the thrashy Slipknot based influences that were prevalent on the first album and in it’s place emerged a more sophisticated and melodious sound heavily influenced by the likes of Iron Maiden and Helloween.
The band welcomed their newest member James Stuart III in the summer of 2014 when Sean Coblentz left to pursue another path in his life. For James, who had attended almost every one of the band’s shows since the reformation, the experience of transitioning from a fan in the audience to a full fledged member of the group was “a
dream come true.” The appreciation was mutual as his enthusiasm for the music breathed new life into the band when they needed it most.
Now, with a new release aptly titled: A New Beginning, the band stands taller and more proud than ever before. Tracks like “Do Or Die” and “Chase The Dragon” reflect the attitude of daring to chart your own course through life. “Shattered Lives” speaks of one of the darkest chapters in human history while songs like “Point Of No Return,” “Far
Away” and the heavy hitting title track carry the central theme of the album. Indeed, the band members feel that this is the strongest material that they have ever been involved
The current line-up of the band is proud to support the original vision of where it came from. With the band members ranging in ages, there is certainly no shortage of knowledge, experience and wisdom from very different perspectives. Above all, they hope that their music will be a source of both entertainment and empowerment for their listeners as they unleash this new animal in front of unsuspecting crowds, large or small.
“I wanted a band name that conveyed brute strength, but also knowledge and intellect” says vocalist Steve Montoya as he describes the origins of his band’s name. “The Z was thrown in to replace the S just to mix things up a bit.”
LINE UP
Steve Montoya-- Lead Vocals
Pablo Roybal-- Guitar
Steven Montoya-- Guitar/Vocals
Steve Cordova-- Drums
James Stuart III--Bass
Genre: Power Metal
Hometown: Santa Fe, New Mexico
Current Label:Unsigned/Independent
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/savagewizdom/
My Space: https://myspace.com/savagewizdomofficial
Spotify: https://play.spotify.com/artist/4TfW1hjg63Cs1veoCILNul?play=true&utm_source=open.spotify.com&utm_medium=open
I Tunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/savage-wizdom/id266486602
CD Baby: http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/SavageWizdom1
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/s/?field-keywords=music:%20%22Savage%20Wizdom%22&tag=allmusicdotcom-20
Press Contact/Booking: savagewizdom@gmail.com
Discography
A New Beginning ( Full Length Album - 2014)
No Time For Mercy ( Full Length Album - 2007)
