Savatage

[RamonesFan2020204]

I first discovered Savatage in 2002, when I bought an old metal compilation LP record by Atlantic Records called "Power Chords Vol. 1". The first CD of theirs I got was "Hall of the Mountain King", which I ordered with a gift card in December 2002, but didn't recieve until a month later (if I remember correctly), but didn't listen to a song on it other than "Strange Wings", and I don't think I touched it for the rest of the year. Anyway, I haven't been that interested in them until earlier this month, when I got "Power Of The Night" and "Edge Of Thorns". I got "Dead Winter Dead" today. I got all three of those albums copied to my iTunes library for my iPod, and I don't think there are any other artists in my iTunes library that have three whole albums of theirs copied to the library. I think the only runner up is "The Darkness", who's only two albums are copied in whole to the iTunes library. Anyway, getting to the point:Savatage are pretty awesome.... I didn't think they were that popular I only discovered 'em in '02. Another thing I like about Savatage is that they don't have to tamper with their sound or change their style in order to, um......blend in...... That's good, because they just keep doing what they've been doing, and don't change a thing to sound like a band from today. Some of the songs on "Edge Of Thorns" and "Dead Winter Dead" don't exactly sound metal (more like AOR radio rock), but Zach Stevens' voice fits in on ballads like "All That I Bleed", "Edge Of Thorns" and "This Isn't What We Meant". I don't think I like him or Jon Oliva better than one another. I think I like both singers just as much. Jon's the right guy for the rocking stuff, and Zach's the man for the ballads. And let's not forget about the band's holiday season side project, the "Trans-Siberian Orchestra". Speaking of TSO, not only do a few tracks on "Edge Of Thorns" and "Dead Winter Dead" sound like TSO material, but "Dead Winter Dead" is where "Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24" appeared before TSO turned it into a big hit on their debut album. Savatage is a great band.

[NicholasDWolfwood]

Get Gutter Ballet.

RIP Criss Olivia. One of the best guitarists in metal, ever.