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Poets & Madmen

Savatage - Poets & Madmen Audio CD

A fair review of the Savatage "Poets & Madmen" 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.

Band: Savatage
Title: Poets & Madmen
Rating:

Release Date: 2009-01-06
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Stay with Me a While 2: There in the Silence 3: Commissar 4: I Seek Power 5: Drive 6: Morphine Child 7: Rumor 8: Man in the Mirror 9: Surrender 10: Awaken 11: Back to Reason 12: Shotgun Innocence [*]

I am the Morphine Child

Even though the dynamic duo of Jon Oliva and producer Paul O'Neill were still in place, the loss of such a dynamic vocalist (who left to form the very Savatage-sounding band Circle II Circle) had a big impact on the band's sound. I suppose that after releasing two all-time classic albums like Dead Winter Dead and The Wake of Magellan, and then losing vocalist Zak Stevens, Savatage's 2001 release Poets & Madmen was bound to disappoint. Oliva found himself in the spotlight as lead vocalist once again, which meant the album had to be more aggressive to suit his singing style. Songs like "I Seek Power", "Drive" and "Awaken" are prime examples.

Despite being more aggressive and for the first time in quite a while not featuring any instrumental tracks, Poets & Madmen is still a very progressive album. Songs like "There in the Silence", "Commissar", and especially the 10+ minute "Morphine Child" are complex, well-orchestrated tracks that compare favorably with anything on Wake of Magellan or Dead Winter Dead. In fact, I'd go so far as to say that "Morphine Child" is one of the better Savatage songs ever released. It's also worth pointing out that "Back to Reason" was later used on a Trans-Siberian Orchestra album.

Poets & Madmen is a bit uneven, and doesn't work as well as a concept album as the band's prior releases. Overall though, this is a very solid album with more strong moments than weak ones. It may have disappointed Savatage fans initially, but it holds up surprisingly well after a few years, and should be considered one of the band's better albums. Though to be fair, I consider everything besides Fight for the Rock among the band's better albums!

NOTE: There are three different versions of Poets & Madmen, each with different bonus material.

The standard version, released by Nuclear Blast, features the bonus track "Shotgun Innocence" which is, to date, the last Savatage studio track to feature Zak Stevens on vocals.

The limited edition, released by SPV, comes in a neat box and features a live version of "Jesus Saves" as a bonus track, as well as a video clip for "Handful of Rain. " "Shotgun Innocence" is not included.

The Japanese import has the same track listing as the SPV version, but without the fancy packaging. It's priced a LOT higher though.

I think the smart money is on the standard version. Live material and fancy packaging is nice, but I'll take a new Zak Stevens Savatage track any day.

A Musical Experience
All others may find useful to know that Savatage although under the wider umbrella of heavy metal, their music is much wider. Those familiar with Savatage may proceed to the next paragraph. To be more precise Savatage may be characterised as a Symphonic metal band, which means that they are influenced by classical music. Their music is variant, their themes ever changing and their moods haunting. Their music was a revelation to me. I finally found heavy music that can send you to the stars with poetic, passionate and sometimes philosophical lyrics. Perhaps the strongest and most prevalent characteristic of their music are the brilliantly mastered rhythm changes, 'waves' that bind the subtlety of a flower with the power of the sun. . .

Ok folks we are simply talking of amazing work here.

The story is based on a TRUE event and on the impact that event had for the person who witnessed it. The CD begins with the whole story narrated (8 pages) and then the songs follow. Note that the songs are dispersed with poetry that is in addition to the music. Thus once you turn to the first song page, you start to read the poetic introduction of teh story (before the first song).
"Gather around children as the light starts to die
and a story I'll weave you for a story have I. . .
where the living are dead and the dead quite alive
as they sleep in the shadows of us that survive"

soon an incredible musical journey begins to a far away world that is so close to each of us.

"Stay with me a while" is the name of the first song, that calls us to stay and listen to the story no matter how afraid we might be to face our responsibilities when we witness certain facts. . . .
"Somewhere in this universe of lost forgotten dreams
the silence weaves a tapestry of once enchanted themes
the shadows listen carefully and question what it means. . .
---
Stay with me,
For the little night that's left to be
For a moment in a memory
That time cannot defile. . .

Stay with me

Where the night still offers amnesty
And the ending is still yet to be
tomorrow's unborn child. . .
Stay with me awhile"

Note that the above extracts are not selected for being exceptionally poetic or anything. . .
They just happen to be at the beginning of a conceptual album that is absolutely amazing till the very end. . . The lyrics are masterfully weaved with the music that gives them life. The music is unparalleled in passion and melodies, always following the rhythm and psychology of the story.

I undoubtedly recommend it to anybody who is even slightly fond of Classic rock music or heavy metal or even heavy classical pieces! As for people who happened to like a few other Savatage songs. . . . go for it! It will be an experience. . .

PS: We take what we give. . . The more time you give to this piece of art the more you will discover it.

More poetic than mad

The lyrics of the new songs are included in the booklet. Made in GER in 2001, Serial# SPV-088-72150, Playing Time 67:07

This limited edition features the album in a little box, and includes a sticker, a poster, a picture of a girl in a bikini (in the context of "Back To A Reason"), along with 2 bonus tracks: a live version of "Jesus Saves", with Zachary Stevens on vocals, which is unfortunate since he just can't deliver the passion of Jon Oliva on this one, plus the videoclip of "Handful Of Rain". The album features Jon Oliva on vocals, and we get the "typical" sounds that make this band so easily identifiable. There's also a story in the booklet that helps putting this concept album into its context. I would suggest you read it prior to playing the disc: it's fairly long, and you'd otherwise miss out on the words to the songs written by long-time lyricist Paul O'Neill.

As for the tracks themselves, they have the usual balance of calm/energetic arrangements. However, this time out, I found the arrangements to be a bit stale: there's nothing much that's new in here, and even though the album grows on you, it lacks some of the syncopated punches so traditional with SAVATAGE. Thankfully, the live version of "Jesus Saves" is at the end of the disc, because it would have made every track on the record pale in comparison if it would have been placed first.

Good, but not for the novice. Oh, and I would suggest you replace the black CD tray with a clear one: it will reveal the Pulitzer-winning picture mentioned in the story.

HAIL THE MIGHTY 'TAGE!!!!!
Featuring some of the heaviest guitar work Savatage has ever done {no offense to Criss Oliva R. The New Savatage release "Poets and Madmen" is an overall impressive and entertaining effort from Jon Oliva + co. I. P. }this band can never seem to dissapoint it's fans. The main guitar duties are handled by Chris Caffery with some leads done by ex axeman Al Pitrelli, who has since left for Megadeth. Outstanding work !! for favorites I would have to list "Morphine Child,"Surrender",and "Commissar".

Another Great One
This isn't quite there. I have followed Savatage since 1986 and have felt that each new CD is better than the previous release. I love the CD and I think Jon Oliva has more emotion in his voice than Zak Stevens (although I like Zak too). The CD isn't as orchestrated as the previous two and lacks some of the vocal blending but is an extremely worthwile buy. It has a harder edge to it, won't disappoint new fans.

Commissar, Man in the Mirror and Morphine Child were my instant favorites. Drive would be my least favorite.

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.