You should have been jumping out of your seat you just heard "Savatage" one of the most unknown, underrated, underappreciated, metal bands of all time did you not hear the amazement in all of that, wow, I heard that over 30 years ago and still am astounded by there craftsmanship, and musical prowess simply awesome , please listen again without analyzing it just sit back and let it take you for the ride!! Forever metal thank you for posting DB1
Same here. My opinion John was a hell of a composer. I saw savatage live minus Chris and John and I talked a bit and I was surprised he spent time with me. I love Chris' talent.
Their debut, Sirens, came out in April 1983 before Metallica's Kill 'Em All. They were one of the great underground Metal bands at the time and we used to play their music on our college station in Cleveland, WUJC 88.7. Criss Oliva was a special talent and it's a tragedy that he died. I am thankful I had a chance to see him perform with Savatage around 1990, too.
CHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANCE! Really clever song in so many ways. But all their trademark vocal canons from that song on would be interesting to hear reactions to, certainly
Hounds, Believe, and as a total banger - Strange Fucking Wings!!!!!! (check out the live version with Ray Gillen.... insanity) (yes I know he's on the recording too, but it was great to see them perform it together on stage)
The old ones are mostly "fans-only" songs due to the not easily digestible, hysterical voice. WtCAG and Summer's Rain are exeptions. But the later works with canons in them such as The Chance or The Hourglass are open to everybody who has the ear to listen.
Savatage are such a great band. In this song in particular, Jon Oliva's performance is amazing. He really makes you feel the madness that the king is suffering from. I love it.
Savatage was more of a niche metal band. They had their own sound, and most importantly, they had a young, killer guitarist, Criss Oliva! He was good at everything. And he was known for practically playing his guitar all day long, every day. Criss had a fresh sound and was a high quality, high octane guitarist. Keep in mind that a lot of heavy metals' fan base is a bunch of other guitarists! Peace...
Criss Oliva was a MONSTER guitarist. He played metal because it was fun but the guy could play some of the most insane classical stuff imaginable. My Uncle knew Criss through mutual friends in bands and he had VHS tapes of Criss playing acoustic. People have no idea what a loss it was to lose that guy.
I've repeatedly asked for Fates to be on this channel and haven't seen them yet. Keep asking - he'll eventually have to give in! I was suggesting "The Light and Shade of Things" because it's more recent and would be a good primer...then he can work backwards from there (and forwards, too).
Savatage of all my favorite metal bands and any other bands i like have had the most infuence in my life as far as on a spiritual level. I am by no means a super religious guy but i do believe in some higher power and that we should strive to be the best people we can be. It was savatage's Streets album that changed me so much. Its what got me to consider the idea if God. I had been in church and had been talked to about God but never really interested me much until i heard that album. I was in Charlotte NC hours from home and i picked up the cassette in the mall. I was already a savatage fan. But i wasnt prepared for the epic that was Streets. A true rock opera. And some if the most wonderful and meaningfull lyrics for me at a young age. Really helped me cope with the bad things in my life. Definitely had a part in helping me become the person i am today. When i go back and listen to this album and read the lyrics its still hard to believe they did it. Their albums before and after are good too. Probably my second favourite is The Wake of Magellan. A wonderful rock opera about old age and not giving up and the idea that your most important accomplishment could still be yet to happen even when you think your way past your time. But Streets. Ahh what a masterpiece for me. So inspiring. The story and the music. Chris oliva one of the best guitarists out there who died way too young.
Glad to see Savatage on your list. Spent a year locked with the Oliva brothers, Paul O’Neil and Bob Kinkel as the recording & mix engineer on Streets. Was on RPNYC staff when they cut Gutter. Great guys. Sad to see Chris and more recently Paul pass. They were all very talented multi-instrumentalists; Jon was ambidextrous guitar. The full version of “Streets” with the narration is what I have on my engineer’s reference tape. Was bummed Atlantic cut it down when released but finally released the full length.
@@stormcorrosion176 Thanks for asking. Great tale. Jim Ball had tracked the project and I took over for OD’s and mixing. I was CofMaint at 321 and he had to go to another project and I was covering. I had not expected to wind up mixing. A life changing experience on every level, lot’s (too much)of fun ; 3stooges reruns, Trek metaphor’s, ripping through Queen & Beatles songs, oh the hilarity locked in a room for hours and days. As a guitar player working through solo’s with Chris day to day was mesmerizing and exhilarating. We share a common love of early metal and his technique was 2nd to none. Jon’s depth and power, and a great laugh. Paul’s intensity and drive to keep us all honest and real. If he did not “believe a take’, he let any of us know; a true visionary & task-masker. Bob Kinkel was of course instrumental in so many ways. We both came from a physics background so had a common bond and CYA on many an occasion as it was my first time in the frying pan so to speak.
You all created a masterpiece, I thank you! The Streets and Gutter Ballet albums speak to my soul like no other music ever has. True goosebumps, every...single...time!
You have to do "Chance" from Handful of Rain. It's epic, especially the second half, which you'll love. Other good choices are Believe, When the Crowds are Gone, Wake of Magellan, All that I Breathe, Mozart & Madness (right up your alley), and the combination of Overture/Sarajevo/This is the Time from "Dead Winter Dead", which is the album where the eventual Trans Siberian Orchestra song Christmas Eve (Sarajevo 12/24) first appeared on.
The entire Mountain King album is proto-Power Metal masterpiece. The last great pure Metal record they did before the opera and prog set in. Still a much loved and much undervalued band. Thanks for reacting 🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻
I just don't understand the trajectory of this band, they get this new producer and produce this absolute masterpiece, they didn't sound like this before this album, and they don't sound like this afterwards,I really expected this to be my next favourite band, it promised so much, but they didn't seem to match what this album promised. It's my absolute favourite Metal album.
Thanks for giving Savatage some attention. Still one of my all-time-favorite bands. If you want to check out another track, I would highly recommend either Gutter Ballet or Morphine Child.
That opera wail thing the singer does is hilarious. That gimmick alone made this group memorable. The music is pretty solid too, but the WAAH WAH WAH thing... too much. Good times.
I flipped over this song when I saw the video on MTV! Love this album and Streets: A Rock Opera especially. My eldest grandson used to watch a show called Lil' Einsteins, which played a different classical piece and focused on its composer in each show. He informed me at the age of 3 or 4 that he really liked Edvard Grieg's "Hall of the Mountain King."
10 years ago, on the occasion of the 25th anniversary, I had the pleasure to listen live to the complete album Hall Of The Mountain King by Jon Oliva's Pain.I still think back to that with pleasure. Thanks for the reaction.
When you finally got around to a Savatage reaction my biggest fear was that your first taste would either be "Christmas Eve" or "Hall Of The Mountain King". Because neither is truly representative of what this band is. I am glad you chose to include the intro, Prelude to Madness. Hall of the Mountain King marks the beginning of Savatage's collaboration with Paul O'Neil who is as important to Savatage as Sir George Martin was to the Beatles. Hall of the Mountain King marks the true beginning for what this band would eventually become. Each record after this is a remarkable growth period for the band. They get much more progressive while still maintaining that heavy sound while incorporating an almost broadway'esque quality which they put to good use. They produced 4 concept records during the 90's and early 00's. All of them are excellent. I'm looking forward to more Savatage reactions from you and I do think that when you get deeper into the catalog you will understand why so many people have been hounding you for this.
Thank you, thank you, thank you for finally including Savatage. They are perhaps the most criminally underrated band of all time. Please don't stop at just these tracks. There is so much great music in their catalog. R.I.P. Criss you were taken from this world much too early.
Thanks for doing Savatage, Doug. Maybe you could do "Chance" or "Believe' by the same band. I think you'll like those better. Both are great examples of Jon Oliva's masterful songwriting.
Dude has some amazing vocal ability, but the thing that always stuck out to me was the sheer AMAZING riffs! A lot of people will talk about Gutter Ballet, Crowds are Gone, and some others, but for me the hard hitting tracks like Commissar, Sirens, and Holocaust are more what I think of when I think of Savatage. Hall of the Mountain King is one of those killer tracks too.
There's a LOT of Savatage pieces you should check out, Doug. Such a underrated - in the most real sense of the word - band. When the Crowds Are Gone, Gutter Ballet, St. Pattrick, If I Go Away, Believe, Follow Me, All That I Bleed, Chance, Alone You Breathe, just to name a few.
Some songs you'd probably enjoy more are When the Crowds Are Gone, Chance and Edge of Thorns. Their catalog is just bursting with great music! I definitely miss Criss Oliva's guitar work. RIP
That 60-seconds in the middle of the song before the solo, with the repeating killer riff over the changing chords, causes an ear-gasm in me every time. I've always loved musical passages like that. You pointed out another great one towards the end of Dream Theater's Count of Tuscany, and a classic popular example of this is the main riff from Don Henley's The Boys of Summer.
The Oliva brothers are some of the most brilliant musical minds and talents to ever live! There’s no shortage of outstanding music to choose from to do next! Beyond the doors of the dark, city beneath the surface, tonight he grins again, streets, edge of thorns, believe, st. Patrick’s, gutter ballet, when the crowds are gone, labyrinths/follow me, all that I bleed, degrees of sanity, hounds, the unholy, Thorazine shuffle, conversation piece, mentally yours, I could keep going haha. And these are just the ones Criss played on. Madness reigns!! 🤘🏻
Jon Olive is a living legend and genius. Chatted with him in S.F. for about an hour about life and many other things. He is the most genuine and lovable person I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. One of the greatest experiences of my life. I have seen Savatage, Jon Oliva's Pain, and TSO in 88 thru the 2000's .... Always a memorable experience. Peace and love to Jon and especially Chris (R.I.P.).
It's cool reaction, as always. There's a lot great stories and music delivered by Savatage. Chance, The Wake Of Magellan, When The Crowds are Gone, The Ocean, Morphine Child, Gutter Ballet, Edge of Thorns... every of these songs is ready to be Your next pick :)
these two tracks take me back to being 16/17 years old when this album was released and going to my first rock/metal club. these tracks opened the night every week. brilliant band.
This takes me back to my freshman year of high school when I had the world by the balls. At least that's what my dad used to say to me. I cried real tears when I bought Handful of Rain only to learn that Chris Oliva had passed away. My jam of all jams is to listen to New York City and Ghost in the Ruins back to back. It's good to see other people's comments and know that I am not alone in my love for this band.
My favorite band! Their next albums, Gutter Ballet and Streets a Rock Opera really just get even better for them. RIP Criss Oliva, a truly amazing talent on guitar.
Doug you have definitely gone down a rabbit hole with this band when a saw it was Savatage I had to watch. John and Chris Oliva could probably be the greatest brother musicians of all time. Chris Oliva has inspired countless guitar players over the years including myself. Tragically Chris was killed by a drunk driver way to soon. But their parent’s were classically trained musicians I believe. Their parents took them to many classical concerts as well as being inspired by attending plays. Often times when you listen to their music you can imagine this. Please, please check out their rock opera Gutter Ballet there is a killer official music video for that one.
Hey Doug, so glad you did some Savatage, they were one of my all time favorite bands growing up. If u find some time, you should definitely check When The Crowds Are Gone (with its prelude, called Temptation Revelation), St. Patrick's, Edge of Thorns and Chance.
I'm a huge Savatage fan. It's one of my favourite metal bands. I love "The wake of Magellan" and "Desde winter dead". I suggest these two albums for future reactions. You won't be disappointed!
So glad Savatage made it to this channel!!! So many many great tunes you could explore. "The Wake of Magellan" (the song from the album with the same title) has some VERY VERY VERY nice counterpoints that I think you would enjoy A LOT. And then there's "The Storm" , "Chance", "Believe", "Morphine Child", "Believe" and so on and on...
So happy to hear Savatage. My suggestion for a follow up would be When the Crowds are Gone, especially the live version of it is just soulrending, the whole Gutter Ballet album is closer to this earth and hits to the feels so much harder.
Savatage, finally! Good job with the song selection too Dougie! I'd absolutely love to hear you analyze some old finnish prog, f.ex. Wigwam or Tasavallan Presidentti. Just a thought. Love the content!
I love that you react to these songs with all of your expertise while treating it with the respect of true analysis. I learn something new about so many of my favorite old songs and how the theory applies from every video.
Gutter Ballet was my first Savatage album. Still an incredible album. Criss was a phenomenal player. I have a tattoo with the legend “Silk & Steel” on it in his honour.
I've not heard Savatage before, but Prelude to Madness is completely familiar to me, as it seems to appear in just about every TSO concert I've been to over the years, I'll have to find a video reference to add to this. Found a good version: ua-cam.com/video/jmROlzAkmtY/v-deo.html enjoy!
Listen to "When the Crowds Are Gone". Then everything off of Gutter Ballet and Streets. Then everything else by Savatage. Then everything by Jon Oliva's Pain. (That's another band he made) If you do step 1, the other steps will inevitably follow. And you'll find masterpieces just like step one throughout your journey. No need to thank me. Thank Jon Oliva. And Criss Oliva. RIP Criss. :(
Yes, I was going to say the same. Prelude to Madness is in the second half of every T-SO holiday show I've been to, and I've seen them about 12 times so far.
TSO does a great live version of the Prelude in live shows. Can’t wait till they do Hall at some point hopefully- every year they seem to do one new Savatage song- like Handful of Rain in 2019 and Gotta Get Back in 2021. Chance live would be so amazing with the vocal counterpoint at the end of that song. Also, the video for Hall is so 80s good cheesy fun! In addition- the high pitched wails in later part of Hall is a nice reprise from Sirens on Savatage’s debut album. RIP Paul Oneil (producer of Savatage and TSO from this album on…). Also, RIP Criss Oliva, of course.
This album is the transition of Savatage from a hard rock / metal band and a prog band . Savatage is one of the greats ! Anything from their next albums Gutter Ballet , Streets , Edge of Thorns , Handful of rain , Dead winter dead , Wake of Magellan and poets and madmen are all outstanding,
I got to see Savatage live on three occasions. Edge of Thorns tour, Handful of Rain tour and Poets and Madmen tour. Glad I got to see and meet Criss before he passed. Johnny Lee is super cool! Was happy to see him with the TSO group that came through Dallas. I was in the 3rd row and was wearing a Savatage shirt. He gave me a thumbs up.
First time I have ever seen anyone react to the great Savatage!! Savatage is one of the most underrated and talented fantastic bands ever!!! Please do more reactions to them!! I subscribed because of your reaction to Savatage
Well that is the thing with Jon's voice, you either love it or it strikes a dissonant chord with you. Try some songs from their later works after Zac took over the singing duties. I love both of them equally. Criss Oliva was a master guitarist who never gets the credit he deserved. Sadly he was killed by a drunk driver after the release of the first album that Zac was on. Another great guitarist taken too soon.
Oh man, there are SO many outstanding Savatage tune. You mentioned "hitting you in the feels". They have a million songs that will do just that. "When the Crowds are Gone" is beyond amazing. Also, you should check out the "Streets: A Rock Opera" album. It's a concept album and has one superb song after another. "Tonight He Grins Again", "A Little Too Far", "If I Go Away", "Heal My Soul", "Somewhere in Time" and "Believe" will all hit those feels hard.
I apologize for the late response. I was so psyched when I saw it two weeks ago.. Great band and very underrated.. Saw Savatage during the "Hall Of The Mountain King" tour. Criss was amazing that night.. I was totally mesmerized of his guitar playing.. RIP Criss
Great and honest reaction, Doug. Thank you! I recommend listening to Gutter Ballet, Temptation Revelation (instrumental) and When The Crowds Are Gone in one go. In the instrumental Criss Oliva showcases his exeptional skills. Grieg inspired more metal bands, listen to Forever by Kamelot. You can hear Solveig's Song in there.
Really should react to Gutter ballet and When the Crowds are gone.. RIP Criss. I think you'd like those two songs way more. Hall of the Mountain King is a little different, this band has a lot of different styles etc.. but I really think Gutter Ballet and When the Crowds are Gone are probably the more "radio friendly" songs that are really great.
Long before I would know this was inspired by a classic piece, a little kid version of EphesiansSix picked this out note for note by ear in her bedroom till it was perfected. Thanks for giving this song proper shrift!! Much love!
You need to do the Zak Stevens (Vocals) era, they got much more progressive with him on vocals. Some songs "Chance", "The Wake Of Magellan", "Follow Me", "Alone You Breathe", "One Child", "The Hourglass"...and "Morphine Child" (Morphine Child has Jon Oliva on vocals)
If you want it to hit you in the feels, we need some later Savatage. "When the Crowds Are Gone" or "Summer's Rain" would be other good ones for Jon Oliva. Or any of the albums with Zak Stevens would be a good choice. Maybe "Chance" from Handful of Rain?
It's definitely something that grows on you. I recall feeling the same way and a few months later I saw the music video and a few days later at work I kept humming the song. I pulled the CD back out and it was like the first time I ever heard it. The CD rocks.
Savatage is one of my favorites, you should check out their Dead Winter Dead album, that's where "Christmas Eve - Sarajevo" comes from. I'd recommend "This is the Time" or "Starlight". Also, if you want more Grieg, you should check out Kamelot - Forever!
SUPER stoked that you've dipped your toes into Savatage! Going forward, they've got a bunch of songs with choral polyphony that are just terrific that I think you'll really enjoy.
Hall Of The Mountain King was the last straight up metal album from Savatage. Their subsequent albums had progressive elements in them as well. This song, I believe, is played in a drop tuning on the guitar. Not sure how often Criss Oliva used drop tuning, but I'm pretty sure this song was.
Criss Oliva was a master! He was right up there with Randy Rhodes in my humble opinion. R.I.P. Criss...
absolutely a one off player imho
Rhoads
Your opinion might be humble but it ain't wrong
Top 5 for sure
White Hawk, you are so correct! I knew Criss personally, and jammed with him back on Florida circuit.. Criss was just as great as Randy and Eddie!
You should have been jumping out of your seat you just heard "Savatage" one of the most unknown, underrated, underappreciated, metal bands of all time did you not hear the amazement in all of that, wow, I heard that over 30 years ago and still am astounded by there craftsmanship, and musical prowess simply awesome , please listen again without analyzing it just sit back and let it take you for the ride!! Forever metal thank you for posting DB1
After all these years I'm still so impressed with Jon Oliva's voice. When the Crowds Are Gone is the song to get the feels.
“Gutter Ballet” AND “When The Crowds Are Gone!”
Same here. My opinion John was a hell of a composer. I saw savatage live minus Chris and John and I talked a bit and I was surprised he spent time with me. I love Chris' talent.
Yeah, the poor guy. He picked the EPIC METAL song, which is epic.
But I bet if he picked When The Crowds Are Gone, he would've cried.
"Believe" off of streets, is also very very hard hitting on the feels.
Oh yes, When The Crowds Are Gone is so full of emotion and conviction. And the music video is epicly cheesy.
Streets - A Rock Opera by Savatage is one of the best albums ever made
No, it's the best album ever written!!!!!!!!!!!
My favorite.
Great album!!
My favorite album
do the entire album!!!
Hall of the mountain king is probably one of the best metal songs ever if you incl prelude . . . The prelude is literally the birth of TSO.
Their debut, Sirens, came out in April 1983 before Metallica's Kill 'Em All. They were one of the great underground Metal bands at the time and we used to play their music on our college station in Cleveland, WUJC 88.7. Criss Oliva was a special talent and it's a tragedy that he died. I am thankful I had a chance to see him perform with Savatage around 1990, too.
"Gutter Ballet", "Chance" and "When The Crowds Are Gone" are others phenomenal songs by Savatage!
CHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANCE!
Really clever song in so many ways.
But all their trademark vocal canons from that song on would be interesting to hear reactions to, certainly
Chance is a masterpiece.
Morphine Child as well, imo
Hounds, Believe, and as a total banger - Strange Fucking Wings!!!!!! (check out the live version with Ray Gillen.... insanity) (yes I know he's on the recording too, but it was great to see them perform it together on stage)
Perfect choices.
Finally some Savatage on your channel! You MUST do “WHEN THE CROWDS ARE GONE” next.
That's the one❤️
That song is an orgasm for ears.
The old ones are mostly "fans-only" songs due to the not easily digestible, hysterical voice. WtCAG and Summer's Rain are exeptions.
But the later works with canons in them such as The Chance or The Hourglass are open to everybody who has the ear to listen.
YES!
That and Gutter Ballet for sure...
Finally some Savatage!!!!! \m/
Although I think Gutter Ballet would be a better choice for Doug.
yes or anything of streets
Came to say this.
Gutter Ballet is amazing, I hope Doug does that as his next Savatage song. \m/
Strange Wings?
Savatage are such a great band. In this song in particular, Jon Oliva's performance is amazing. He really makes you feel the madness that the king is suffering from. I love it.
Savatage was more of a niche metal band. They had their own sound, and most importantly, they had a young, killer guitarist, Criss Oliva! He was good at everything. And he was known for practically playing his guitar all day long, every day. Criss had a fresh sound and was a high quality, high octane guitarist. Keep in mind that a lot of heavy metals' fan base is a bunch of other guitarists! Peace...
1 take Chris!!
Criss Oliva was a MONSTER guitarist. He played metal because it was fun but the guy could play some of the most insane classical stuff imaginable. My Uncle knew Criss through mutual friends in bands and he had VHS tapes of Criss playing acoustic. People have no idea what a loss it was to lose that guy.
Killed by a dumbass drunk driver.
FATES WARNING Is underrated in the reaction community!
True
Absolutely. Hooked on them
I think I went through Four cassettes of NO EXIT lol
I've repeatedly asked for Fates to be on this channel and haven't seen them yet. Keep asking - he'll eventually have to give in! I was suggesting "The Light and Shade of Things" because it's more recent and would be a good primer...then he can work backwards from there (and forwards, too).
@@chrisbeloff6689 I've asked for FW like in 10 videos of Doug
Savatage of all my favorite metal bands and any other bands i like have had the most infuence in my life as far as on a spiritual level. I am by no means a super religious guy but i do believe in some higher power and that we should strive to be the best people we can be. It was savatage's Streets album that changed me so much. Its what got me to consider the idea if God. I had been in church and had been talked to about God but never really interested me much until i heard that album. I was in Charlotte NC hours from home and i picked up the cassette in the mall. I was already a savatage fan. But i wasnt prepared for the epic that was Streets. A true rock opera. And some if the most wonderful and meaningfull lyrics for me at a young age. Really helped me cope with the bad things in my life. Definitely had a part in helping me become the person i am today. When i go back and listen to this album and read the lyrics its still hard to believe they did it. Their albums before and after are good too. Probably my second favourite is The Wake of Magellan. A wonderful rock opera about old age and not giving up and the idea that your most important accomplishment could still be yet to happen even when you think your way past your time. But Streets. Ahh what a masterpiece for me. So inspiring. The story and the music. Chris oliva one of the best guitarists out there who died way too young.
Hall of the mountain king was in heavy rotation on MTV in the day. Great song. One of the best of the '80s.
Glad to see Savatage on your list. Spent a year locked with the Oliva brothers, Paul O’Neil and Bob Kinkel as the recording & mix engineer on Streets. Was on RPNYC staff when they cut Gutter. Great guys. Sad to see Chris and more recently Paul pass. They were all very talented multi-instrumentalists; Jon was ambidextrous guitar. The full version of “Streets” with the narration is what I have on my engineer’s reference tape. Was bummed Atlantic cut it down when released but finally released the full length.
Gutter Ballet brings me to tears every time I hear it. Thanks for your great work!
I love this story John! How was it working with the Sava guys??
@@stormcorrosion176 Thanks for asking. Great tale. Jim Ball had tracked the project and I took over for OD’s and mixing. I was CofMaint at 321 and he had to go to another project and I was covering. I had not expected to wind up mixing. A life changing experience on every level, lot’s (too much)of fun ; 3stooges reruns, Trek metaphor’s, ripping through Queen & Beatles songs, oh the hilarity locked in a room for hours and days. As a guitar player working through solo’s with Chris day to day was mesmerizing and exhilarating. We share a common love of early metal and his technique was 2nd to none. Jon’s depth and power, and a great laugh. Paul’s intensity and drive to keep us all honest and real. If he did not “believe a take’, he let any of us know; a true visionary & task-masker. Bob Kinkel was of course instrumental in so many ways. We both came from a physics background so had a common bond and CYA on many an occasion as it was my first time in the frying pan so to speak.
@@johnkd2ogr107 As a fan, thank you so much for sharing this.
You all created a masterpiece, I thank you! The Streets and Gutter Ballet albums speak to my soul like no other music ever has. True goosebumps, every...single...time!
PLEASE do the song "Chance" off of the Handful of Rain album. It has some very interesting syncopated vocals.
Seconded - highly recommend Chance
Have you heard the acoustic version of Handful of Rain? Jon's vocals are just amazing.
This. Chance is phenomenal.
Yes please, I love how interesting that song is... also the vocal layering is awesome
Yep!
You have to do "Chance" from Handful of Rain. It's epic, especially the second half, which you'll love. Other good choices are Believe, When the Crowds are Gone, Wake of Magellan, All that I Breathe, Mozart & Madness (right up your alley), and the combination of Overture/Sarajevo/This is the Time from "Dead Winter Dead", which is the album where the eventual Trans Siberian Orchestra song Christmas Eve (Sarajevo 12/24) first appeared on.
The entire Mountain King album is proto-Power Metal masterpiece. The last great pure Metal record they did before the opera and prog set in. Still a much loved and much undervalued band. Thanks for reacting 🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻
Alot of alliteration in your description, but it's all true. Most important P is power! Love this album so much! 😅
I just don't understand the trajectory of this band, they get this new producer and produce this absolute masterpiece, they didn't sound like this before this album, and they don't sound like this afterwards,I really expected this to be my next favourite band, it promised so much, but they didn't seem to match what this album promised.
It's my absolute favourite Metal album.
Thanks for giving Savatage some attention. Still one of my all-time-favorite bands. If you want to check out another track, I would highly recommend either Gutter Ballet or Morphine Child.
I second both those choices, especially Morphine Child.
I'm not a Savatage expert, but Gutter Ballet and Wake of Magellan are great tracks.
That opera wail thing the singer does is hilarious. That gimmick alone made this group memorable. The music is pretty solid too, but the WAAH WAH WAH thing... too much. Good times.
Not on this album
The entire Wake of Magellan LP is great from beginning to end.
Wake of Magellan is excellent. I highly recommend it.
Great album to hear it in its entirety
I do too!!
I flipped over this song when I saw the video on MTV! Love this album and Streets: A Rock Opera especially. My eldest grandson used to watch a show called Lil' Einsteins, which played a different classical piece and focused on its composer in each show. He informed me at the age of 3 or 4 that he really liked Edvard Grieg's "Hall of the Mountain King."
Strange Wings of the same album is an absolute banger!
10 years ago, on the occasion of the 25th anniversary, I had the pleasure to listen live to the complete album Hall Of The Mountain King by Jon Oliva's Pain.I still think back to that with pleasure.
Thanks for the reaction.
I love Savatage a lot! My favorite album is Dead Winter Dead. But this was the first song i heard from them and it got me hooked.
My favorite album by them too. I would love to see him react to the whole thing.
One of THE greatest Metal bands of all time!
You need to add Savatage - Chance into the hopper for a listen - different singer but still epic with loads of layers and vocal/musical variety
I agree I like all the harmonies in it one of my favs from Savatage
Chance got me into Savatage.
This whole album is so great. One of my favorites ever
I highly recommend their song "Believe" from the album Streets: A Rock Opera.
When you finally got around to a Savatage reaction my biggest fear was that your first taste would either be "Christmas Eve" or "Hall Of The Mountain King". Because neither is truly representative of what this band is. I am glad you chose to include the intro, Prelude to Madness. Hall of the Mountain King marks the beginning of Savatage's collaboration with Paul O'Neil who is as important to Savatage as Sir George Martin was to the Beatles. Hall of the Mountain King marks the true beginning for what this band would eventually become. Each record after this is a remarkable growth period for the band. They get much more progressive while still maintaining that heavy sound while incorporating an almost broadway'esque quality which they put to good use. They produced 4 concept records during the 90's and early 00's. All of them are excellent.
I'm looking forward to more Savatage reactions from you and I do think that when you get deeper into the catalog you will understand why so many people have been hounding you for this.
Finally Savatage!! Please do Gutter Ballet and When the crowds are gone next. You Will absolutely love Them!!
or Mozart and Madness, Chance, to mention a few
When The Crowds Are Gone is probably one of my favorite vocal performances ever in metal
@@mcsm75 yes great as well!! But I do have a feeling those two are going To do hit him right in the feels!
And the whole streets album
Yes "When the crowds are gone" is so moody! 🎭
Thank you, thank you, thank you for finally including Savatage. They are perhaps the most criminally underrated band of all time. Please don't stop at just these tracks. There is so much great music in their catalog. R.I.P. Criss you were taken from this world much too early.
Thanks for doing Savatage, Doug. Maybe you could do "Chance" or "Believe' by the same band. I think you'll like those better. Both are great examples of Jon Oliva's masterful songwriting.
Dude has some amazing vocal ability, but the thing that always stuck out to me was the sheer AMAZING riffs! A lot of people will talk about Gutter Ballet, Crowds are Gone, and some others, but for me the hard hitting tracks like Commissar, Sirens, and Holocaust are more what I think of when I think of Savatage. Hall of the Mountain King is one of those killer tracks too.
I'm a huge Savatage fan and I've seen them play about 1/2 dozen times back in the day. Criss Oliva was an amazing guitarist and he is dearly missed.
There's a LOT of Savatage pieces you should check out, Doug. Such a underrated - in the most real sense of the word - band.
When the Crowds Are Gone, Gutter Ballet, St. Pattrick, If I Go Away, Believe, Follow Me, All That I Bleed, Chance, Alone You Breathe, just to name a few.
I listen to When The Crowds Are Gona at least once a shift at work. Even the acoustic version is quite nice to listen too.
Some songs you'd probably enjoy more are When the Crowds Are Gone, Chance and Edge of Thorns. Their catalog is just bursting with great music! I definitely miss Criss Oliva's guitar work. RIP
You gotta listen to the song "Chance" because it was the first Savatage song to contain the usage of counterpoint vocals, or "Morphine Child".
That 60-seconds in the middle of the song before the solo, with the repeating killer riff over the changing chords, causes an ear-gasm in me every time. I've always loved musical passages like that. You pointed out another great one towards the end of Dream Theater's Count of Tuscany, and a classic popular example of this is the main riff from Don Henley's The Boys of Summer.
The Oliva brothers are some of the most brilliant musical minds and talents to ever live! There’s no shortage of outstanding music to choose from to do next! Beyond the doors of the dark, city beneath the surface, tonight he grins again, streets, edge of thorns, believe, st. Patrick’s, gutter ballet, when the crowds are gone, labyrinths/follow me, all that I bleed, degrees of sanity, hounds, the unholy, Thorazine shuffle, conversation piece, mentally yours, I could keep going haha. And these are just the ones Criss played on. Madness reigns!! 🤘🏻
FATES WARNING - A Pleasant Shade of Grey or The Eleventh Hour!!!?
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Jon Olive is a living legend and genius. Chatted with him in S.F. for about an hour about life and many other things. He is the most genuine and lovable person I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. One of the greatest experiences of my life. I have seen Savatage, Jon Oliva's Pain, and TSO in 88 thru the 2000's .... Always a memorable experience. Peace and love to Jon and especially Chris (R.I.P.).
It's cool reaction, as always. There's a lot great stories and music delivered by Savatage. Chance, The Wake Of Magellan, When The Crowds are Gone, The Ocean, Morphine Child, Gutter Ballet, Edge of Thorns... every of these songs is ready to be Your next pick :)
these two tracks take me back to being 16/17 years old when this album was released and going to my first rock/metal club. these tracks opened the night every week. brilliant band.
Thank you for covering Savatage. Criss Oliva was a tremendous influence on me, and I feel he was one of the greatest guitarists ever.
Hall of the Mountain King is one of the best Heavy Metal albums in the planet earth (terra) history!!! Thanx Savatage!
This takes me back to my freshman year of high school when I had the world by the balls. At least that's what my dad used to say to me. I cried real tears when I bought Handful of Rain only to learn that Chris Oliva had passed away. My jam of all jams is to listen to New York City and Ghost in the Ruins back to back. It's good to see other people's comments and know that I am not alone in my love for this band.
My favorite band! Their next albums, Gutter Ballet and Streets a Rock Opera really just get even better for them. RIP Criss Oliva, a truly amazing talent on guitar.
Wow!!! So happy to see Savatage here! This is such a great album, as is Streets - A Rock Opera! 🤘🤘
YES!!! I hope it's the first of many Savatage reactions.
One of my favorite bands. "The Price you Pay" is a great and underrated song from the same album as "Hall"
Nice! Something from their 'Wake of Magellan' album would be cool. There are some amazing layered vocals on a few of the tunes you might enjoy.
Doug you have definitely gone down a rabbit hole with this band when a saw it was Savatage I had to watch. John and Chris Oliva could probably be the greatest brother musicians of all time. Chris Oliva has inspired countless guitar players over the years including myself. Tragically Chris was killed by a drunk driver way to soon. But their parent’s were classically trained musicians I believe. Their parents took them to many classical concerts as well as being inspired by attending plays. Often times when you listen to their music you can imagine this. Please, please check out their rock opera Gutter Ballet there is a killer official music video for that one.
Hey Doug, so glad you did some Savatage, they were one of my all time favorite bands growing up. If u find some time, you should definitely check When The Crowds Are Gone (with its prelude, called Temptation Revelation), St. Patrick's, Edge of Thorns and Chance.
I'm a huge Savatage fan. It's one of my favourite metal bands. I love "The wake of Magellan" and "Desde winter dead". I suggest these two albums for future reactions. You won't be disappointed!
So glad Savatage made it to this channel!!! So many many great tunes you could explore. "The Wake of Magellan" (the song from the album with the same title) has some VERY VERY VERY nice counterpoints that I think you would enjoy A LOT. And then there's "The Storm" , "Chance", "Believe", "Morphine Child", "Believe" and so on and on...
So happy to hear Savatage. My suggestion for a follow up would be When the Crowds are Gone, especially the live version of it is just soulrending, the whole Gutter Ballet album is closer to this earth and hits to the feels so much harder.
Getting goosebumps listening to Criss Oliva's guitar solo...
Such a tallent, shame how soon he was taken away from us.
Been a Savatage fan since the first album, when someone in my D&D group brought it over and played it during one of our gaming sessions. 1983? 1984?
Savatage is just great, one of those amazing musical journeys of discovery when you go through their discography.
Savatage, finally! Good job with the song selection too Dougie!
I'd absolutely love to hear you analyze some old finnish prog, f.ex. Wigwam or Tasavallan Presidentti. Just a thought. Love the content!
this added a dimension I was not aware of to one of my favorite rock bands!
Edge of Thorns is also amazing!
oh my goodness ,, im so happy somebody still remembers savatage
Give "Chance" a chance! Counterpoint, symphonic, epic, emotional, it's just great.
I love that you react to these songs with all of your expertise while treating it with the respect of true analysis. I learn something new about so many of my favorite old songs and how the theory applies from every video.
Gutter Ballet was my first Savatage album. Still an incredible album. Criss was a phenomenal player. I have a tattoo with the legend “Silk & Steel” on it in his honour.
Hi, what does it mean?
I remember hearing this when it first came out and being completely blown away. What a truly classic metal masterpiece.
"St. Patrick's" is a great Savatage song with much more interesting lyrical content. I think you'd dig it, Doug.
This one gets looked over even by some Savatage fans. Such an epic song.
Wooo!! love this song back in the day !! glad you listened to it!!
I've not heard Savatage before, but Prelude to Madness is completely familiar to me, as it seems to appear in just about every TSO concert I've been to over the years, I'll have to find a video reference to add to this.
Found a good version: ua-cam.com/video/jmROlzAkmtY/v-deo.html enjoy!
Listen to "When the Crowds Are Gone".
Then everything off of Gutter Ballet and Streets.
Then everything else by Savatage.
Then everything by Jon Oliva's Pain. (That's another band he made)
If you do step 1, the other steps will inevitably follow. And you'll find masterpieces just like step one throughout your journey.
No need to thank me. Thank Jon Oliva. And Criss Oliva. RIP Criss. :(
Yes, I was going to say the same. Prelude to Madness is in the second half of every T-SO holiday show I've been to, and I've seen them about 12 times so far.
Douglas, thanks for doing SAVATAGE. Great job at interpreting the lyrics. Power - isolation - madness. You nailed it as usual.
Great reaction! Savatage is one of the greatest bands of all time. I suggest anything from 'Streets: A Rock Opera' or 'The Wake of Magellan'.
TSO does a great live version of the Prelude in live shows. Can’t wait till they do Hall at some point hopefully- every year they seem to do one new Savatage song- like Handful of Rain in 2019 and Gotta Get Back in 2021. Chance live would be so amazing with the vocal counterpoint at the end of that song.
Also, the video for Hall is so 80s good cheesy fun! In addition- the high pitched wails in later part of Hall is a nice reprise from Sirens on Savatage’s debut album.
RIP Paul Oneil (producer of Savatage and TSO from this album on…).
Also, RIP Criss Oliva, of course.
The greatest band ever
This album is the transition of Savatage from a hard rock / metal band and a prog band . Savatage is one of the greats ! Anything from their next albums Gutter Ballet , Streets , Edge of Thorns , Handful of rain , Dead winter dead , Wake of Magellan and poets and madmen are all outstanding,
Now you must react to “When the crowds are gone” by Savatage!!
I got to see Savatage live on three occasions. Edge of Thorns tour, Handful of Rain tour and Poets and Madmen tour. Glad I got to see and meet Criss before he passed. Johnny Lee is super cool! Was happy to see him with the TSO group that came through Dallas. I was in the 3rd row and was wearing a Savatage shirt. He gave me a thumbs up.
savatage the most criminally underated band ever!
you're an inspiration to the music industry with the comments that you make
you have a great insight with your commentary
FATES WARNING FATES WARNING FATES WARNING!!!!
First time I have ever seen anyone react to the great Savatage!! Savatage is one of the most underrated and talented fantastic bands ever!!! Please do more reactions to them!! I subscribed because of your reaction to Savatage
Well that is the thing with Jon's voice, you either love it or it strikes a dissonant chord with you. Try some songs from their later works after Zac took over the singing duties. I love both of them equally. Criss Oliva was a master guitarist who never gets the credit he deserved. Sadly he was killed by a drunk driver after the release of the first album that Zac was on. Another great guitarist taken too soon.
Oh man, there are SO many outstanding Savatage tune. You mentioned "hitting you in the feels". They have a million songs that will do just that. "When the Crowds are Gone" is beyond amazing. Also, you should check out the "Streets: A Rock Opera" album. It's a concept album and has one superb song after another. "Tonight He Grins Again", "A Little Too Far", "If I Go Away", "Heal My Soul", "Somewhere in Time" and "Believe" will all hit those feels hard.
I would love to see your reaction to the german heavy metal pioneers Accept and their song Metal Heart. That song has a great solo with a twist.
I apologize for the late response. I was so psyched when I saw it two weeks ago.. Great band and very underrated.. Saw Savatage during the "Hall Of The Mountain King" tour. Criss was amazing that night.. I was totally mesmerized of his guitar playing.. RIP Criss
Great and honest reaction, Doug. Thank you! I recommend listening to Gutter Ballet, Temptation Revelation (instrumental) and When The Crowds Are Gone in one go. In the instrumental Criss Oliva showcases his exeptional skills. Grieg inspired more metal bands, listen to Forever by Kamelot. You can hear Solveig's Song in there.
Yes, I have been waiting for you to review this band.
Really should react to Gutter ballet and When the Crowds are gone.. RIP Criss. I think you'd like those two songs way more. Hall of the Mountain King is a little different, this band has a lot of different styles etc.. but I really think Gutter Ballet and When the Crowds are Gone are probably the more "radio friendly" songs that are really great.
Long before I would know this was inspired by a classic piece, a little kid version of EphesiansSix picked this out note for note by ear in her bedroom till it was perfected. Thanks for giving this song proper shrift!! Much love!
You need to do the Zak Stevens (Vocals) era, they got much more progressive with him on vocals. Some songs "Chance", "The Wake Of Magellan", "Follow Me", "Alone You Breathe", "One Child", "The Hourglass"...and "Morphine Child" (Morphine Child has Jon Oliva on vocals)
Loved this. Especially love the honesty and analysis.
If you want it to hit you in the feels, we need some later Savatage. "When the Crowds Are Gone" or "Summer's Rain" would be other good ones for Jon Oliva. Or any of the albums with Zak Stevens would be a good choice. Maybe "Chance" from Handful of Rain?
It's definitely something that grows on you. I recall feeling the same way and a few months later I saw the music video and a few days later at work I kept humming the song. I pulled the CD back out and it was like the first time I ever heard it. The CD rocks.
Savatage is one of my favorites, you should check out their Dead Winter Dead album, that's where "Christmas Eve - Sarajevo" comes from. I'd recommend "This is the Time" or "Starlight". Also, if you want more Grieg, you should check out Kamelot - Forever!
Starlight is pure evil. Love that song.
SUPER stoked that you've dipped your toes into Savatage! Going forward, they've got a bunch of songs with choral polyphony that are just terrific that I think you'll really enjoy.
Oh, and if you want to hear a different Jon Oliva band playing with some *crazy* guitar retuning, Jon Oliva's Pain -- Festival is worth a listen.
up next: SAVATAGE - "When the Crowds are Gone" & "Chance"
cheers!
Hall Of The Mountain King was the last straight up metal album from Savatage. Their subsequent albums had progressive elements in them as well.
This song, I believe, is played in a drop tuning on the guitar. Not sure how often Criss Oliva used drop tuning, but I'm pretty sure this song was.
They used drop tuning on most of the early stuff.
Criss Oliva, most amazing guitarist ever!!! R.I.P.
Maybe you could give a listen to “Streets - A Rock Opera”, that was their masterpiece!
Holy crap! Doug does Savatage! I clicked so damn fast on this one.