Saturna Strives for a More Live-Oriented Sound on Sixth Album "Light and Shadow"

 

Saturna band photo

Saturna, a heavy rock band from Barcelona, Spain, has become a household name here in the heavy underground, and for good reason. Not only has this talented quartet been making music for over a decade now, but their emotionally charged, authentic rendition of 70s era heavy rock is absolutely unforgettable. 

For their sixth studio album Light and Shadow (released on September 17, 2026 via Ripple Music, Spinda Records, and Discos Macarras Records), Saturna explores duality, homing in on light and darkness, love and hate, and life and death. Regarding their sound, the band appropriately takes a more authentic approach. Recorded and produced by Saturna themselves and mixed by drummer Enric Verdaguer, Light and Shadow strives for "a more organic, honest, and live-centered approach". And, it probably goes without saying, but Saturna absolutely nailed it. 

Saturna - Light and Shadow 


Saturna Light and Shadow Album Cover Photo

On Light and Shadow, Saturna continues to charm us with their spot-on blend of 70s/80s hard rock with nods to heavy blues. However, as alluded to above, the band makes beautiful use of more subdued tones here, especially when compared to their previous album The Reset. As a result, the emotional expression is stronger than ever, even easier for the listener to access through this more intimate, cozy atmosphere. 

In spite of the slightly more stripped-down feel, Saturna effortlessly maintains every facet and shade of their dimensional, colorful sound. This is evident in moods that seamlessly drift from a melancholic haze to crisp, buoyant notes bathed in hopeful light, and the natural inclusion of the swells of emotive intensity the band is known for. In fact, I would argue that both feeling and depth are even sharper for Saturna on this album, made infinitely more tangible through a more natural lens. 

Don't get me wrong, a few songs do toe the line, possessing an electric, live show- or open highway-ready energy, with the tracks So Long and No Question being a standout examples. In stark contrast, songs such as fifth track About You are fittingly bare-bones and almost painfully raw, never failing to tug on the heartstrings of the listener. 

 
A gorgeous live version of "Self-Told Lies, recorded at Siete Barbas Studio in Barcelona. 

With all of that said, my favorite thing about Light and Shadow is its inviting feel. Throughout the album, Saturna's inherent warmth surrounds you, inviting you to settle in and listen like the crackling of a bonfire. 

Light and Shadow truly feels like a career milestone for Saturna. This release is less about honing a "signature sound" or composing the perfect, catchy riff. It's a palpably honest outpouring from a band whose magnetism and magic as musicians is incredibly evident. 

To end, I'll leave you with the spoken words Saturna utilizes on Light and Shadow's final track A Strange Mix of Humans, a testament to the group's creative chemistry and longevity: 

"There are things that happen in music, which only happen in music. We try to make good music, every one of us. But the truly great bands only happen by accident because once in a while, a strange mix of humans make a band, and for some reason, it works perfectly. But we can't control it." 



More About Saturna

Saturna Is: 
James Vieco - Vocals, Guitar
Max Erikkson - Guitar 
Rod Tirado - Bass
Enric Verdaguer - Drums 


You can follow Saturna and listen to their music at these links: 

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