The Savatage Thread

[The Dark Master]

I think that would be cool if they would have a Savatage set open up for TSO, even just like 45 minutes.  Finally Savatage would be getting much needed recognition and publicity.

Because of the way TSO shows are structured, with the first part of the show being a live narrated version of a TSO album, it's better for the first set to be the TSO set, and then have the second set be the Savatage set.  That's what was supposed to happen on the 2011 spring tour; they were going to play TSO's Beethoven's Last Night in it's entirety with narration, and then after that have a Savatage reunion.  Plus, the general rule of thumb with TSO shows is that the second set is much more metal then the first, so having the Savatage set being the second set would also make more sense in that regard.

Now as far as the Wacken show is concerned, I think the TSO portion of the show will just be a mix of stuff from various TSO albums.  Jon Oliva said that TSO will play for the first 45-50 minutes, and the after that they will play Gutter Ballet which will kick off the Savatage portion of the show (which I think will probably be about the same length as the TSO section).  I really hope someone at Wacken records the whole thing, cause that show looks to be pretty kick-ass!

[jjrock88]

There is no Zak right?

[Deathless]

There is no Zak right?

Haven't seen him mentioned anywhere, sadly. It would be awesome to see both he and Jon onstage.

So it will be Caffrey, Middleton, Pitrelli, Plate, and Oliva then?

[The Dark Master]

I could have sworn I saw somewhere that the entire DWD/TWOM lineup was confirmed for the Wacken show.  I don't really have time right now, but I'll check later.

[jjrock88]

I could have sworn I saw somewhere that the entire DWD/TWOM lineup was confirmed for the Wacken show.  I don't really have time right now, but I'll check later.

When it comes to Savatage, The Dark Master knows all!

[The Dark Master]

Found it!

https://bravewords.com/news/savatage-vocalist-zak-stevens-on-wacken-open-air-2015-reunion-show-it-means-so-much-to-me-to-be-a-part-of-it

Definitely looks to me like Zak will be in the lineup for Wacken.

I could have sworn I saw somewhere that the entire DWD/TWOM lineup was confirmed for the Wacken show.  I don't really have time right now, but I'll check later.

When it comes to Savatage, The Dark Master knows all!

Heheh.  I generally try to keep myself well informed!   

[jjrock88]

That's good news, it wouldn't be the same without Zak.

I actually have a good feeling that this will lead to more, likely one last album

[wolfking]

I think Zak definitely deserves to be there.

I actually have a good feeling that this will lead to more, likely one last album

I really really hope so.

[jjrock88]

At the very least I would hope this Wacken performance is released on DVD/CD

[wolfking]

At the very least I would hope this Wacken performance is released on DVD/CD

Yeah, it's gotta be.

Speaking of Zak, listened to Seasons Will Fall this morning.  Man, such a great album, I love this one.  It might be my second fav of theirs.

[Prog Snob]

Listening to Circle II Circle after Zak left Savatage was the best way for me to continue with Savatage. I felt like that first C2C release reminded me of Handful of Rain in so many ways.

[wolfking]

Listening to Circle II Circle after Zak left Savatage was the best way for me to continue with Savatage. I felt like that first C2C release reminded me of Handful of Rain in so many ways.

Oliva and Caffery had a lot to do with that first album, which explains it.

[jjrock88]

At the very least I would hope this Wacken performance is released on DVD/CD

Yeah, it's gotta be.

Speaking of Zak, listened to Seasons Will Fall this morning.  Man, such a great album, I love this one.  It might be my second fav of theirs.

Seasons Will Fall is still my second favorite behind Burden of Truth

[Prog Snob]

Listening to Circle II Circle after Zak left Savatage was the best way for me to continue with Savatage. I felt like that first C2C release reminded me of Handful of Rain in so many ways.

Oliva and Caffery had a lot to do with that first album, which explains it.

I figured as much. I just wasn't 100% on that so I waited for someone else to mention it.  I was too lazy to Google it.   

[bl5150]

Seasons Will Fall didn't get much of a chance from me - a few of you guys said it's a grower but I never got around to it.

Speaking of Savatage ..........I'm a bit of a black t-shirt fiend and there's been a gaping hole in my collection all these years that will soon be rectified.  Looking forward to finally getting my Edge of Thorns t-shirt in the mail in the next few days - one of my fave cover arts of all time.

[wolfking]

At the very least I would hope this Wacken performance is released on DVD/CD

Yeah, it's gotta be.

Speaking of Zak, listened to Seasons Will Fall this morning.  Man, such a great album, I love this one.  It might be my second fav of theirs.

Seasons Will Fall is still my second favorite behind Burden of Truth

You got it man.

Listening to Circle II Circle after Zak left Savatage was the best way for me to continue with Savatage. I felt like that first C2C release reminded me of Handful of Rain in so many ways.

Oliva and Caffery had a lot to do with that first album, which explains it.

I figured as much. I just wasn't 100% on that so I waited for someone else to mention it.  I was too lazy to Google it.   

Yeah they wrote a lot of it and played on it too.

[jammindude]

I was working with a co-worker who was an old school metal fan.  Classic rock stuff like Judas Priest, Iron Maiden and Ozzy. 

He happened to mentioned that way back in the 80's, he had a buddy give him a copy of Sirens by Savatage...he liked it, but never heard anything else from the band.  When I told him that they eventually became TSO, you could have knocked him over with a feather.   

So I decided to make him a mix CD to get him caught up.   I was surprised that this mix turned out so well.   Usually, when you try to do a "strictly chronological" mix in the order of release, the results can be very disjointed and uneven...even if the songs are good.   When I picked out my "one song from every album", I thought I was going to have to rearrange them to make the feel of the CD more even, but it turned out sounding pretty amazing as it was, so I just left it.   

It's so good, I want to burn another copy just for myself.   Check it out...

1. Sirens
2. City Beneath the Surface
3. Power of the Night
4. Edge of Midnight
5. Prelude to Madness
6. Hall of the Mountain King
7. When the Crowds are Gone
8. Strange Reality
9. Degrees of Sanity
10. Chance
11. One Child
12. Christmas Eve (Sarajevo 12/24)
13. The Hourglass
14. Morphine Child

[jjrock88]

That would be a great disc!!

[erwinrafael]

For sentimental reasons, I can not imagine a Savatage mix without All That I Bleed. I just love that song, and it was usually dedicated by Savatage to the memory of Criss Oliva.

[Calvin6s]

For sentimental reasons, I can not imagine a Savatage mix without All That I Bleed. I just love that song, and it was usually dedicated by Savatage to the memory of Criss Oliva.

Even though All That I Bleed is the "Criss Oliva" tribute song, only Criss can pay tribute himself
Temptation Revelation

The guy really got the shaft when it comes to 80s guitar slinger fame.  Amazing soloist.

[wolfking]

I think any Savatage collection really is a music win.

That cd above is a solid release and the choices of songs are really quite consistent in style considering is spanning their whole career.  Interesting pick with Strange Reality, and I love seeing Degrees of Sanity, such an underrated tune.

[wolfking]

https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/savatage-return-to-wacken-collection-due-in-june/

What a terrible, blatant cash grab.

[bl5150]

Yeah - although I can't see it selling much     The only people really interested in Savatage at this point are died in the wool fans who have all or most of their stuff.  Which of them is going to buy this?   Even re-records or a Live At Wacken album would sell more.

I really don't see the point on any level.

Perhaps they feel that they're going to get a big crossover from TSO fans ?

[wolfking]

No one is going to buy this.  Surely fans wouldn't spend money on this, and new fans would probaly go with the last 2CD best of.  At least put something new on there or a bootleg DVD or live cd or something.

[Prog Snob]

They had three best of releases in the past that I know of: The Best & The Rest, From The Gutter To The Stage, From The Dungeons to the Streets.  Do they really need another CD with old "hits"?

[wolfking]

They had three best of releases in the past that I know of: The Best & The Rest, From The Gutter To The Stage, From The Dungeons to the Streets.  Do they really need another CD with old "hits"?

What about the last one, Still the Orchestra Plays.  Not really familiar with their best of albums to be honest.  I simply discovered them through their albums.

EDIT:  Wiki has 5 including this new one;

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Savatage

It doesn't even have the Dungeon to the Streets one, maybe it's the same as one of the other ones with a different name.  They also have one called Believe.  Crazy amount.  A live album would have been much more acceptable.

EDIT #2: Metal archives have 6 listed including the new one.  They have mistakingly have the new one as a live album though;

https://www.metal-archives.com/bands/Savatage/193#band_tab_discography

From the Dungeon to the Streets
From the Gutter to the Stage
The Best and the Rest
Believe
Still the Orchestra Plays
Return to Wacken

[Prog Snob]

Back then I would buy everything with their name on it only because they would lure you in with one or two bonus tracks that you couldn't get anywhere else.  I wound up selling them eventually.  I don't even know which Savatage CDs I still have left.

[wolfking]

Back then I would buy everything with their name on it only because they would lure you in with one or two bonus tracks that you couldn't get anywhere else.  I wound up selling them eventually.  I don't even know which Savatage CDs I still have left.

Looking above the only one I have was the last double cd one.  Only because of the Live in Japan DVD bonus.

[Prog Snob]

What I wish they would put out on CD is one of those Jon Oliva storytellers shows. I have the bootlegs of them and they really are a must have for all Savatage fans.

[jjrock88]

I will buy the live reunion Wacken show if released in a second

This release, however, is pointless

[Prog Snob]

I will buy the live reunion Wacken show if released in a second

This release, however, is pointless

It's like they need to pay their bills or something so they figured they would throw something random together.  Stop toying with us and write something new. 

[jjrock88]

I still have a good feeling that more is going to come out of this reunion show. I don't think this will be the last we hear of them

[wolfking]

I still have a good feeling that more is going to come out of this reunion show. I don't think this will be the last we hear of them

I hope you're right.

What I wish they would put out on CD is one of those Jon Oliva storytellers shows. I have the bootlegs of them and they really are a must have for all Savatage fans.

Never checked one out, must look into that.

[Prog Snob]

What I wish they would put out on CD is one of those Jon Oliva storytellers shows. I have the bootlegs of them and they really are a must have for all Savatage fans.

Never checked one out, must look into that.

If you can't find one, let me know. I'll upload it for you. 

[wolfking]

What I wish they would put out on CD is one of those Jon Oliva storytellers shows. I have the bootlegs of them and they really are a must have for all Savatage fans.

Never checked one out, must look into that.

If you can't find one, let me know. I'll upload it for you.

Cool man.