Another good old-school suggestion, thanks all

[ElectricWiz]

All the talk about Jon Oliva's pain here made me think I might check them out. I downloaded Manical Renderings from iTunes, and whoa, it's really better than I even expected based on the laudings it gets here. This is my first Savatage/Jon Oliva CD ever....and really, just really tasteful, tuneful, heavy, etc. When I'd heard samples sometime back I was a little turned off by his voice, but in context of the album (and the style generally speaking), it's just great. I would even say I'll need to re-think my end of year list. Just....a great great album. It kind of reminds me of Bruce Dickinson's better solo efforts in that it's heavy, uncompromising, tuneful, and somehow melds the old-school vibe into something new....without being purely retro. Awesome! GREAT SONGS!

Thanks all....great album.

 

[desert_demon]

The fact that you compare it to Bruce Dickinson's solo stuff is praise indeed. I love those albums! I'm also a fan of Savatage but they haven't put out anything new since God knows when so I'll definetly be looking into buying Jon Oliva's solo stuff for some more Savatege-y metal.

 

[ElectricWiz]

The fact that you compare it to Bruce Dickinson's solo stuff is praise indeed. I love those albums! I'm also a fan of Savatage but they haven't put out anything new since God knows when so I'll definetly be looking into buying Jon Oliva's solo stuff for some more Savatege-y metal.

Keep in mind it's a bit of an abstract comparision though. Only that the melodies are great, but not "obvious," in that they really only fit on a metal record.....nothing radio friendly. I think the reason I compare them is that they are both (say Chemical Wedding and Maniacal...) unapologetically metal, heavy, emotional....and just plain outstanding albums that a lot of folks just won't get to hear.....Plus, they kind of fall onto the European side of the metal scale, as opposed to the American side.....soundwise. Also, they are both vaguely concept albums that mix metallic metaphors (swords and kings) with current, relavent stuff....political and whatnot.
Great stuff.

 

[carnut]

Try to catch JOP¨live Wiz, it's a very solid band, and the old Savatage classics combined with this new stuff puts up an amazing show !!

 

[Trans-Siberian Outcast]

Wiz is in the same boat as me, he lives on the West Coast. No chance of seeing JOP here. He's already stated any US tours would be brief and all east coast shows stretching from NY to Florida.

Glad you finally took the plunge, Wiz! Savatage and Jon Oliva are an acquired taste I believe, but once you cross the threshold there is no going back! The good thing is, if you're liking the songwriting on Maniacal Renderings, it's pure Jon Oliva. That means you can go back thru the Savatage catalogue and discover some of the greatest albums in metal history.

In fact, shame on you for not taking the plunge earlier! Better late than never, I guess.

 

[ElectricWiz]

Try to catch JOP¨live Wiz, it's a very solid band, and the old Savatage classics combined with this new stuff puts up an amazing show !!

I'll keep an eye out Carnut, but like TSO says, it's not likely to happen on our coast. Ah well. The album is really killing though....just loving it.

 

[ElectricWiz]

Wiz is in the same boat as me, he lives on the West Coast. No chance of seeing JOP here. He's already stated any US tours would be brief and all east coast shows stretching from NY to Florida.

Glad you finally took the plunge, Wiz! Savatage and Jon Oliva are an acquired taste I believe, but once you cross the threshold there is no going back! The good thing is, if you're liking the songwriting on Maniacal Renderings, it's pure Jon Oliva. That means you can go back thru the Savatage catalogue and discover some of the greatest albums in metal history.

In fact, shame on you for not taking the plunge earlier! Better late than never, I guess.

Yeah, better late than never. So many bands, so little time. We'll see if Savatage clicks the same as this album does for me.....but I hope so. I love getting into a band with a bunch of albums I don't have....a phenomenon that happens less and less these days....

 

[Trans-Siberian Outcast]

Yeah, better late than never. So many bands, so little time. We'll see if Savatage clicks the same as this album does for me.....but I hope so. I love getting into a band with a bunch of albums I don't have....a phenomenon that happens less and less these days....

I'll agree it is a rare phenomenon to discover a band with an extended back discography. I was lucky to find Rage last year, and this year I found Tarot (although I've yet to explore Tarot's back catalogue, I do plan to).

Savatage will click for you, at least most of their albums, because it's all Jon Oliva. His songwriting style hasn't changed much over the years, with the exception of added bombast during the mid-90s albums with Zak Stevens on vocals (that which spawned Trans-Siberian Orchestra).

Look up the following albums to get started: Hall of the Mountain King, Gutter Ballet, Streets, Poets and Madmen. Doesn't matter what order you get them, they all slay and all have Jon on vocals.

 

[Death Animal]

Yeap I been listenin lots of savatage lately.
Tough i haven´t never check they later music after Criss did died.
I wos thinking to check oliva´s new solo cd when i just wound it.

 

[JonnyD]

Look up the following albums to get started: Hall of the Mountain King, Gutter Ballet, Streets, Poets and Madmen. Doesn't matter what order you get them, they all slay and all have Jon on vocals.

Get "Edge of Thorns"!!! Doesnt have Jon on Vocals but it is a Masterpeice!