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Savatage - Dead Winter Dead Audio CD

A fair review of the Savatage "Dead Winter Dead" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all Savatage reviews here, or go back to the Savatage tabs.

Savatage Band: Savatage
Title: Dead Winter Dead
Rating:
Release Date: 1995-10-24
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Overture 2: Sarajevo 3: This Is the Time (1990) 4: I Am 5: Starlight 6: Doesn't Matter Anyway 7: This Isn't What We Meant 8: Mozart and Madness 9: Memory [Dead Winter Dead Intro] 10: Dead Winter Dead 11: One Child 12: Christmas Eve (Sarajevo 12/24) 13: Not What You See

Not What I Was Expecting
But I have to say sorry, this just isn't what I expected. Let's remember that these reviews are one's personal opinions. I purchased all 5 of TSO's CDs and found them to be brilliant. In one of the liner notes, Dead Winter Dead was referenced with a comment or two so I decided, based on TSO, to purchase this one. When the first track started playing, I thought "WOW! This is just like TSO". But that wasn't to be. I found this to be quite dull and full of noise instead of nice music. After the 3rd track, I said I just can't take anymore of this and took it off, never to listen to anymore of it. In fact, I gave the CD to a friend. This is more heavy metal than anything and the vocals have a lot to be desired. If you're into heavy metal, then this is for you. If you make the same mistake I did and based this on what TSO put out, then you're in for a big let down. If you're into heavy metal then I can reluctantly recommend this to you. If you're not, then don't waste your time or money on this. In my opinion, this is total crap.


Dead Winter Dead - From The Gutter to the Battlefield
Savatage's least-heaviest album, probably - this is a far cry from the band that recorded "Sirens" and "Hall of the Mountain King", although its got some serious rockers on it all the same - but emotionally their most gripping ("This Isn't What We Meant" and "Not What You See") and inspiring ("This Is The Time (1990)". Albums about war are a dime a dozen, but war as witnessed through the eyes of a gargoyle tells a different story. .


Feel The Chill
And as much as I like TSO, I still tend to go for this, a much bleaker view of the holiday season. It's that time of year again-Time to go and buy some eggnog(most of it you'll end up throwing out), buy a tree, go into debt buying gifts and pulling out those copies of Silent Night, Deadly Night and the Trans Siberian Orchestra.
The criminally underrated Savatage's second full concept album is really something special. It centers around war in Bosnia around Christmas. Not the most cheerful of holiday subjects, but it does have a positive ending and should maybe make you think about just how good you have it around Christmas regardless of how bad things may seem.
Guitarist Al Pitrelli is brought into the fold and can definitely hold his own. Musically it's the big, emotional, orchestral and Broadway-esque type of hard rock/metal we've all come to expect from these guys. Stevens is still one hell of a vocalist and pours it all out here while Savatage founder Oliva makes an appearance on two songs(two of the more uppity numbers).
I like listening to this album in the winter, it certainly has a wintery feel about it even without the Christmas Eve(Sarajevo 12/24) track. Speaking of which, as you may or may not already know, this track was of great importance, as it singlehandedly gave birth to the Trans Siberian Orchestra, which as we all know is now a household name, and a commercial giant. Funny how an experimental track off of a little known metal band's album could become something as big as it has. I didn't know about TSO right away and when this song started getting radio play and people started talking about TSO, at first I kept saying, "this is a Savatage song, what the hell are you talking about?"(the exact same track from Dead Winter Dead was used on TSO's debut album) So, many years later Savatage finally achieved commercial success, just maybe not the way they had always planned.
But Dead Winter Dead is not a holiday album exactly. Like most of producer/writer Paul O'Neill's stories and lyrics, it's a dramatic and emotional story of tragedy and redemption. Folks might consider this over the top approach as being a bit far out and corny even for a metal band, but hey, it's Broadway type stuff, and that goes with the territory. Some folks even call it pretentious and/or pompous, but personally I wouldn't say that. I always tend to think of a pretentious band as a band that puts good songs and songwriting as a secondary priority while making pseudo intellectual concepts and showing off their musical abilities their first. Savatage is hell bent on making catchy and memorable songs. Musically they don't go too overboard or flashy, but keep things fitting to the story being told. Most of the album is mid paced. Pretentious, no. But pompous, I'd agree with that more. Like a metal Meatloaf if you will.
But this is a great album, as are most of Savatage's. It's different, it's unique, and it makes you wonder how in the hell such a band has eluded commercial success for so many years. It's something you definitely have to be in the mood for, but what a good experience when the mood hits.


Excellent rock opera
Worth having and checking out. This is an excellent album! It grabs you and takes you on a journey. However, if you're not into concept albums or rock operas this might not be for you.


Rock opera at its best
Worth buying and listening to repeatedly. Excellent album. Intelligent and engrossing, for fans of classical and metal.


You can see a complete list of all Savatage discography, or go back to the Savatage tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.

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