Metal Reviews

In my opinion one of the most underrated eighties bands regardless of genre, do you like Hall of the Mountain King or their latter work?
Opinions?

For some reason it just didn't click. Do you have any recomendations?

The fact that they are basically (and i haven't confirmed this, i'm taking eddie trunks word for it.) touring as TSO reeks of "sell-out"

Savatage is pretty much my favorite band. Poets & Madmen is my favorite album from them.. Prefer them with Oliva on vocals too, I do enjoy the Zak era albums but he sings like he's bored out of his mind, I dont hear much emotion from him at all whereas Oliva's voice is all emotion.

Hey absolutely, Savatage were kings and never got their due. I loved the early stuff, Power of the Night still holds up today though have to admit the stuff with Zak on it was also pretty killer.. but is there a better power metal meister than Jon Olivia...

Sirens
The Dungeons Are Calling
Power Of The Night
Hall Of The Mountain King
Gutter Ballet
Streets
Dead Winter Dead
Poets And Madmen

+1
And better from Sirens to Streets. Chris Oliva was one of the most underrated guitar players of the 80's

I've never really listened to them, but this reviewer dude I know on another forum thinks they're the greatest thing to ever happen to metal.

Oh yes, enormously underrated. To the point that it's absurd. Love the early albums for the riffage and rawness. Love the later (Gutter Ballet and Streets) albums for the theatrical nuances. Oliva has one of the most emotional/expressive voices out there. Zack's voice is smoother, but, I find some of the Zack songs to be a bit more dull.

Pffft! First of, Eddie Trunk is an idiot. Second, it reeks of "people are fucking retards." TSO is an entirely different band, though they are very similar to Savatage considering those behind it.

It is true that "Christmas Eve (Sarajevo 12/24)" was on Savatage's Dead Winter Dead first, but it's not like the band put that instrumental track on Christmas Eve And Other Stories because they knew it would be a hit. Who could have predicted that one? And the sad thing is, as big as TSO and that song are around the holidays, no one would give a shit if it was "Savatage" doing those shows and playing that song.

People are fucking stupid. Old people--and I'm talking elderly people in their 70s and shit--will go see TSO live. And they'll fucking LOVE it! But they'd turn up their nose at Savatage. This is perception and trend at work, and that is sadly what this world is built on these days. And we're all guilty.

Savatage did not sell out in any way. TSO is a legitimate side-project that has simply become a huge draw. The fact that their biggest hit happened to first be a Savatage song is mere circumstance.

As for the band, I love them! One of my all-time favorites. I prefer the Zak era, personally. I tend to find Jon's voice too grating on my ears on a lot of the early tracks. But when he started coming back on Dead Winter Dead, and then on Poets & Madmen and with Jon Oliva's Pain, I think his voice is much stronger, and I love it. I think a lot of my issues with his voice on the early album is simply because of the mix/production.

And as much as I miss Savatage, I think I'd rather not have them so we can continue to enjoy Jon Oliva's Pain, Circle II Circle, and Chris Caffery's solo albums (though his are fairly hit or miss).