Salvation hit the stores in 1997 and marked a tumultuous time for the band: Ricky Echolette had left Alphaville during the production and Marian Gold and Bernhard Lloyd struggled with the way the record label did the promotion, calling it "not very good for us".

[2] The subsequent split led Alphaville to establishing their own, concert- and online-focused communication, promotion, and distribution platform.

[3] A departure from the experimental predecessors, Prostitute and The Breathtaking Blue, the straighter, simpler style appealed to old fans and a younger audience alike.

MusicFolio's review of the album said "Their songs are still stirring and swirling with the drum machine pumping out a hectic flow of beats.

'Flame 'is the first single, a yearning ballad that grows to an arms-waving conclusion, 'Wishful Thinking', 'Point Of Know Return' (sic) and 'Inside Out' are more representative of the Alphaville sound.