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"More aggressive than its predecessors, "Poets & Madmen" is a brilliant comeback of Savatage with its best album since 'Edge of thorns'."
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4/5
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Four years passed before the release of this new album of Savatage. The reason for this silence comes from the new priorities of the members of the formation, who have devoted themselves to the Trans-Siberian Orchestra (TSO) with whom they released an album in 1998, Christmas Attic and another, Beethoven's last night in 2000. They toured intensively all over the United States to promote this project, which was much more successful there than Savatage.
When it came time to get back to work, a major change occurred. Zak Stevens left the band both to take care of his family and also because of the growing importance of TSO. Stevens has nevertheless kept strong ties with Savatage and was helped by Jon Oliva to compose the tracks for his own band's first album: Circle II Circle.
While waiting to find a replacement, Jon Oliva himself took over the microphone, something that hadn't happened since Streets (1991). He had certainly sung songs on Dead winter dead and The wake of Magellan but this return is an event. The harder aspect of his voice brings a very heavy side to the album. Let's add that the guitarist Al Pitrelli also left after the recording of this album to join Megadeth, which explains his place as a guest in the credits of the album.
The band proposes a new concept album written by O'Neill and Oliva but this time with the participation of Chris Caffery for the music. The subject is the story of photographer Kevin Carter, famous for his photo of a little girl swallowed up in South America. The song 'The morphine child' deals directly with this little girl.
Poets and madmen is therefore much more aggressive than its predecessors. Savatage forgets the almost progressive experiments and returns to a powerful but still symphonic power metal. And this aggressiveness can be felt in the first half of the album. 'There in the silence' and 'Drive' are two pure power metal tracks that are very effective. 'Commissar' and 'Stay with me awhile' are reinforced by splendid keyboards and choirs which marry very well with the power of the titles. We almost find the Savatage of 'Power of the night' and 'Hall of the moutain king' with a great guitar work of Chris Caffery who signs breathtaking solos.
The second half of the album is more symphonic while remaining very heavy. 'Morphine child' is a very beautiful 10 minutes piece, the highlight of the album, mixing choirs and orchestrations. One can also quote 'Back to a reason', a splendid ballad well in the tradition of the group which closes the album in a very beautiful way.
Poets & Madmen is thus a brilliant comeback of Savatage with its best album since 'Edge of thorns'. It seems that the break has done the musicians a lot of good. Anyway, it's a pleasure to see Savatage at the top of his creativity. - Official website
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TRACK LISTING:
01. Stay With Me A While - 05:06
02. There In The Silence - 04:57
03. Commissar - 05:36
04. I Seek Power - 06:03
05. Drive - 03:16
06. Morphine Child - 10:12
07. The Rumor - 05:16
08. Man In The Mirror - 05:55
09. Surrender - 06:40
10. Awaken - 03:23
11. Back To A Reason - 06:10
LINEUP:
Al Pitrelli: Guitares
Chris Caffery: Guitares
Jeff Plate: Batterie
Johnny Lee Middleton: Basse
Jon Oliva: Chant / Claviers
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READERS
3.2/5 (5 view(s))
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STAFF:
4.2/5 (4 view(s))
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