Assembled in 2005 by guitarist Mike Mexas and percussionist Doyle Hingle, the Houston, Texas based band Saturate became a well-known name in the local scene, largely due to their strong work ethic. After acquiring vocalist Jimmy Miller and bassist Hector Porras, the band went on to release multiple demos and EPs, played 3 tours spanning the entire nation and sold 1,000 copies of their album at over 200 shows. Judging from their history as a band and their perseverance in an industry that will eat you alive, I think it is safe to say that they’ve done their footwork and despite their pitfalls, the work is rightfully paying off.

Saturate is an alternative metal and rock outfit that delivers a mix of aggression and edginess, neatly packaged into a form that is easily deliverable to a wide array of listeners. When it comes to delivering melodic alt metal, they can be closely compared to other acts such as Stareblind, Mindslip and Sevendust at times. Their latest album The Point of No Return was mixed and engineered by David Troia (Mudvayne, DOWN, OTEP) and mastered by LNix Studios of Memphis Tennessee (ZZ Top, Beck, Veruca Salt). The Point of No Return is Saturate’s follow up to their 2008 release Element, and from what I’ve heard, they’ve matured well while holding true to their core sound. Their lyrics offer an array of vulnerable introspection, often coupled with a barrage of hearty downtuned guitar riffs and a well suited bottom end.

“Self Control” opens up with a thick slap bass, echoing rhythm guitar that promptly bounces into dirty downtuned riff goodness and is blanketed with Jimmy Miller’s often introspective lyrics. I found the hooks and choruses on this album to be catchy from the starting line and feel like they’re one of the most prominent driving forces throughout the entire effort. The same can be said about other tracks such as “Regression In Unison” and “Keep Digging”. Tightly knit into this mix, you’ll find infectious amounts of melodic groove and bounce that will get any venue moving, as well as some electronic effects work to strengthen the delivery (“Keep Digging” specifically). This is key to a band that is bound for the mainstream limelight that often favors easy-to-follow groove and rhythm work.

When it comes to delivering the aforementioned groove, this band has it down well. The heartier, heavier and groovier tracks fall easily into my list of favorites on the album. “Keep Digging”, “Against My Will” and “Regression In Unison” are prime examples. Each song features the signature slap bass you’ll hear throughout, accompanied by Jimmy’s swooning rasp in the vocal department, assisted by chunky guitar riffing. The hooks are memorable and will stick in your head after only a few listens. The heavier aspect is more my thing but Saturate is multifaceted.

For Saturate’s more introspective, vulnerable facets, tracks like “The Great Divide”, “Concrete Island” and “Hollow Eyes” deliver. Featuring more rhythm guitar work and less of the fat riffs you heard prior, these songs offer lyrics that cover everything from the self-destructive nature of mankind, to the plights of man and woman. Saturate paints us a diverse picture of what’s on their minds.

Saturate closes out the album with an unexpected surprise that might be great for some but completely misplaced for others. “Find The Definition” is an eclectic track featuring a reggae groove and vocals that further extend Jimmy’s skill set. The song is tied together with a simple drum and bass assembly, topped off with some organ piano work. The track is short and sweet at only a minute and 53 seconds in length. I grew up listening to Bob Marley and The Wailers as a young boy (age five), so it was a little nostalgic to listen to.

Like everything else, the album doesn’t go without its flaws. Clocking in at nine minutes shy of an hour, The Point of No Return is a good length for an album with twelve songs, but at times this seems to be a hindrance. I found that some of the songs are longer than they should have been and felt too drawn out or similar. I would lose my train of thought and things seemed to bleed together. The production pushed some of the tracks to be too loud, causing clipping in areas like the double bass drums and the sections of the album where things go into overdrive. Of all things that annoy me on an album or song, clipping is one of them.

Saturate’s The Point of No Return is a welcome addition to the mainstream alt metal scene and will do well. From what I’ve seen in my research, they have a fairly tight knit following and a fan base that feels like the band is very underrated. I think they will get their big break and continue to press on.

3.5/5