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Savatage - Handful Of Rain Audio CD

A fair review of the Savatage "Handful Of Rain" 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: Handful Of Rain
Rating:
Release Date: 2002-11-26
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Taunting Cobras 2: Handful Of Rain 3: Chance 4: Stare Into The Sun 5: Castles Burning 6: Visions (Instrumental) 7: Watching You Fall 8: Nothings Going On 9: Symmetry 10: Alone You Breathe 11: Chance (Radio Edit) (Bonus Track) 12: Alone You Breathe (Acoustic) (Bonus Track)

Excellent Music
Zak on vocals and Alex on guitar. I almost hate to say it because Savatage is one of my favorite bands and I loved Cris's guitar work but I think this is Sava's best CD. There is not one bad track on this CD, the players keep moving on but I think the music by Oliva and Oneil keep Savatage as one of the best bands. .


Overcoming Tragedy
Fortunately for all of us, Savatage would continue as a band, though founder and chief songwriter Jon Oliva would have less involvement in the band's 1994 album Handful of Rain. How does a band overcome the tragic death of a founding member, major songwriter, and utterly brilliant guitarist? That was the question facing Savatage after the untimely death of Criss Oliva.

Following up 1993's stunning Edge of Thorns was no easy feat, the band, this time with Testament guitarist Alex Skolnick on board, was up to the task. Like Edge of Thorns, Handful of Rain is a glorious power metal album with plenty of progressive and theatrical elements. Jon Oliva and Paul O'Neill continued their brilliant songwriting collaboration, coming up with 10 new songs that demonstrate the band's talent and versatility. Vocalist Zak Stevens seems far more comfortable in his new role, giving a flawless performance. Skolnick gives a standout performance as well, especially considering the shoes he had to fill. Handful of Rain also marks the first time the band used the intricate vocal layering (on the song Chance) that would become an important element of their later albums.

While the album was extremely strong from start to finish, there are some standout songs that rank among Savatage's best, including the title track, Chance, Visions, Watching You Fall, and Alone You Breathe. Truthfully there isn't a weak moment on the whole album.

Handful of Rain has not been remastered, but the 2002 SPV reissue does have a few extras that might make you consider replacing your older version. It features 2 additional tracks - the radio edit of Chance, and a nice acoustic version of Alone You Breathe, but the real bonus is that the liner notes have been expanded to include several pages of very detailed information about the band during this particular stage of their career. When added to the chapters from the other SPV Savatage reissues, you'll get the real story behind one of the best (and most underrated) metal bands of all time.
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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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