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The early years of Savatage are classic and epic featuring the Oliva brothers but since the passing of Cris there's been a few replacements,on this disc featured guitarist Al Petrelli does an awesome job,vocals are excellent and musicianship is awesome,highly recommend!
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
This is an excellent album. From start to finish, every song has an amazing sound to it. There are no filler tracks, as many albums have. Savatage has experimented with the idea of a story album before with "Streets, A Rock Opera". The songs all come together to tell a story. In the case with "Dead Winter Dead", it's telling the story of the war in Bosnia in the early '90's. In particular it focuses on 3 characters that are wrapped inside this twisted war. One "young and impressionable" young man named Serdjan and a young Muslim girl named Katrina who end up fighting on opposite sides of the war. They are never to meet each-other till the end of the story. The third character is an "old man who left Yugoslavia many decades before." He returns to Bosnia to find his home torn by war. Instead of finding shelter from the shells and bombs like the rest of the people, he goes to the town square every day and plays his cello for both opposing armies to here. Nice story, and it develops nicely and makes you see things in some different ways. Now, onto the ticket--the music. It ROCKS! It opens up with an instrumental and well orchestrated Overture(that does get a little repetitive in one spot)that transitions perfectly into the melancholy track #2, "Sarajevo". "Sarajevo" sets the mood for where the entire album takes place, the town of Sarajevo. Things get a little heavier with "This is the Time". When "I Am" starts, it's heavy hitting rock as 'little men with little minds' contemplate how to 'sow seeds of hate between neighbors'. And so the war starts. "Starlight" starts off with a haunting and eerie melody and vocals, and then transitions into stronger power chords and faster lyrics. "Doesn't Matter Anyway" is a powerful fast-paced head-banger. "This isn't What We Meant" is a strong power-ballad which is a prayer from the old man who returned home telling God that this is not what he meant when he prayed for a change. "Mozart and Madness" is an awesome instrumental piece that starts with a peaceful cello being drowned out by an orchestra(representing the Muslims) and the band(representing the Serbs) fighting each other. This is one of favorite tracks. "Dead Winter Dead" is the title track and is another awesome head-banger. "One Child" is a sad song of a child dying and thus causing the young Serdjan to question himself fighting this pointless war. "Christmas Eve (Sarajevo 12/24)" is a truly amazing piece of art. A hard rock rendition of two traditional Christmas Carols ("God Rest ye Merry Gentlemen" and "Carol of the Bells"). It's amazingly well Orchestrated and played. It's the song that caused Trans-Siberian Orchestra to be started. 'Nuff said. Final track is "Not What You See" and is my favorite on the album. Awesome power ballad. Won't tell you what it's about cause then I would spoil the story. ;p Overall, it's a very awesome album that I would recommend that anyone who likes hard rock or metal to pick up. Heck, even if you don't like rock buy it. This album might make you change your mind. Just about every song is well orchestrated without taking away from the metal aspect of the music. I listen to this CD about 2-3 times a week. It's that good. Buy it. Trust me. You won't regret it.Read full review
this cd is great quality, Excellent sounding. Really good read about band and how they came about this record. Plus has full lyrics. If you are a true Savatage fan you would do well with this copy. Keeping it Heavy on the North Shore.........Always. Running Wild.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
Savatage and Paul O'neil finally seem to have realized that rock doesn't have to be all about sex and drugs to be entertaining. The rich sound of the cello mixed with the raw electric guitars is a welcome departure from the standards. This CD tells a story we all need to hear and learn from, yet it isn't preachy. It draws the listener in as though each part of the story is being told personally by people in the midst of a terrible, traumatic event. It reveals both the dark, manipulating puppet masters behind the war and the fears of the common people caught in a trap they can't escape. For an even better experience of this epic story, read the jacket cover. The additional storyline provided before almost every song, drives home the tragedy of war and the hope of the human spirit.
Amazing CD! One of my favorite Savatage albums, and the CD was in GREAT condition! Thanks so much!!
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
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