Metal Reviews

The stuff I've heard from Savatage was a bit too hard rockish for my taste. Im not saying it isn't metal it just has a hard rock feel to it.

Don't worry, there's no flamewar evolving. He just said something stupid. I pointed it out! =)

And yes, those are all side-projects. Circle II Circle is Zak Stevens' project after Savatage and it sounds a lot like Savatage because Chris Caffery and Jon Oliva co-wrote a lot of tunes along the way. Chris Caffery's solo stuff sounds like a heavier, more modern Savatage, Chris' vocals are much like Jon's. Obviously Jon Oliva's Pain is going to sound like Savatage, and Doctor Butcher is an old Jon Oliva and Chris Caffery side-project from the 90's that's recently been re-released, making it much easier to find. And Trans-Siberian Orchestra is Savatage gone Broadway, they've done three Christmas album (which are badass, don't doubt) and one non-Christmas album. Seeing them live around Christmas time rules!!

Anyway, they're all similar in ways to Savatage, and all well worth checking out.

I said for me some bands are just better left in the 80's. What I mean by that is I want to listen to their 80's shit and don't care what they are doing now and don't want to buy their CD's. I didn't say anything about about the quality of their recording which I am sure is just fine. I just don't need if you do, more power to you. I don't have to buy albums I don't want to buy believe it or not and you just have to deal with that.

I am not going to buy modern Savatage output just like I wouldn't buy a new UDO album, or new Warlock album, are new Raven album or new Saxon albums etc. It just isn't what I want to hear anymore and their 80's shit is fine. Sirens and Hall of the Mountain King is all I need from Savatage. You just have to deal with that.

And if you read my post correctly you nitwit you would see the point I was getting at and it has to do with my personal taste and what I want to hear and has nothing to do with how good their modern output is. Besides I did read crap reviews for Poets and Madmans in Terrorizer so blame them, not me.

All hail Savatage they can keep it reall for 20+ years, that is awesome, I just don't want to buy albums buy them anymore.

I do know TSO and Jon Oliva's PAin, and i must say TSO is far superiori. Beethoven's Last Night is a lot better than the christmas records though...

Saying you've heard bad reviews, then saying you will pass, and then saying some bands were just made to stay in the 80's is not someone saying they just like that early stuff. Those words imply that the 80's Savatage is better than the newer Savatage, which earlier you stated you'd not heard.

But go on and spin it.

leee must like living in a time warp. Too bad, because there's a ton of 80s sounding music out there with MUCH better production. Not just Savatage or other established bands from the 80s. You also have newer bands like Cage, Tad Morose, Morgana Lefay, Benedictum, Pharoah, Icarus Witch, ...the list goes on and on.

Pharaoh, Cage and Icarus Witch? All in the same sentence? HELL YEAH!!!

On topic now, Hall of the Mountain king simply dominates the entire Savatage discography. It's one of those albums that you are cursed to never surpass. Haunting atmosphere, top musicianship, deranged vocals, a power metal monument. Edge of thorns is also a great album, oerhaps the perfect balance between metal and brodway musicals! Gutter ballet is another great one, the rest range from very good to yaaaaaaaaawn in my oppinion.

I think the 80's is when leee had friends, thus he likes to stay there.

Yep HotMK is my favourite, and WTF hapened to Cage?, i havent heard from this guys in a lot of time.

I cant stop listening to Poets And Madmen. Now that I own the real copy of it, it may just beat out HoTMK as my favorite Savatage album, not by much mind you, both albums whenever I put em in I cant stand skipping a track else its bothersome. However with HoTMK I sometimes skip Strange Wings and Prelude To Madness.

I would buy this album for Commissar, Morphine Child, and Back To A Reason alone.

Im gonna go nuts and say it deserves a 96/100. definately in my top 3 fav albums since I've become serious about music.

I listen to those bands. I am not in a time warp. I just want 80's band in the 80's and new bands now.

ha ha ha I have lots of friends man. My friends just don't go around starting flame wars over Savatage.

I say again: At least i don't start flame wars over Savatage and Europe.

Look back, you whiner, they weren't flamewars. I thought we were having a conversation about music. I think anyone who has read along can see that it hasn't the mood of a Zad/Eyesore conversation.

It's just a good old music discussion to me. I just happen to think you're a fag. Not really a big deal.

Fear not because according to the official site:

5/20/06 ... For those of you who were wondering CAGE is alive and well and currently working on several exciting projects. The ambitious nature of these is such that all must remain secret for now. For up to the minute CAGE conversations and info, click on this link for our myspace page which has recieved quite a lot of activity in the past few months. Stay tuned and patient and all will be rewarded! - Sean Peck

March of the Cage!!!

They've been involved in some kind of heated legal battle and haven't been able to release a new album under the Cage name. Not sure if it's with their label or what, but it's put them on haitus these past few years. One good thing, with all this extra time to work on the new album, it should be a real killer! Anything close to Darker than Black and I'll be happy!

By the way, for those who don't mind doing a little reading, some friends of mine did a really awesome interview with Jon Oliva a couple months ago. In it, he talks about the new JOP, TSO, finding the lost Criss Oliva tapes, and what's going (or not going) on with Savatage.

Excellent read when you've got the time!

http://www.digital-steel.com/DS/index.p ... iews&id=10

btw anyone know anything about the new TSO album?