DEAD WINTER DEAD

I have been A huge Rock/metal fan for roughly 4-5 years now and I am fascinated with all the sub genres that exist in the genre that I never knew existed before. One thing that was lacking in my collection was magnificently emotional and soulful metal music that tells truly life changing stories. Indeed through the concept album, real feelings, views and profound documentations really come to fruition, and no more in the history of music than on Dead Winter Dead. Savatage have had one of the most extraordinary careers in modern day entertainment. In the 80's they started off as A very energetic and passionate Heavy metal band inspired by Iron Maiden, Judas priest and most of all Queen. In 1988 it all changed musically for savatage and they started off on the first part in their play with the Wonderful "Gutter Ballet". This album was only A springboard though to launch them on A journey towards their next album "Streets:A rock Opera". It was like of the confirmation of the art, visions and emotions first witnessed in Gutter Ballet but took to entirely higher level of musical integrity. There was definite parallels with 2 other albums that Savatage carefully constructed later on in their career. "Handfull Of Rain" was another superbly crafted album that once again lead the way for the next one...THE ONE. On H.O.R Savatage masterminds Jon Oliva and Paul O'neil. 2 of my all time favourite composers of poetry and musical enlightenment decided to write A song based on the atrocities in the Bosnian/Serbian conflict at the time called "Watching you fall". Then in 1995, they took what in my opinion was the greatest risk in their career, they decided to write an entire rock opera based on certain events and stories from the war. Just thinking about it brings tears to my eyes and sends shivers down my spine. For instance the intrumental "Mozart and Madness" was based upon this guy who had lived in Sarejevo whilst the bombs and devastating chaos surrounded him and he just decided to get out his chello and start playing as bombs were falling all around him. This is what Dead winter Dead is all about, the triumph of the human spirit under the worst circumstances. Magnificent musicians, very very emotional songs, perfect production and most of all very intimite lyrics and very important songwriting and storytelling. Anyone who gets this album will connect with it very deeply and may shed A tear and think about the oppressed in the world. Ballads are what Savatage do best in my opinion, they are able to write songs that you just cant get out of your head and connect with your heart and soul. "This is the Time", "This isn't what we meant", "One Child" and most of all "Not What you see" contain some of the best lyrics and singing I have ever heard in my life. Backed up of course by some fantastic musianship that is intelligent and heartfelt. Everyone out there who needs to add Drama to your life as well as A sense of reason and recognition of humane wonderment pick up this album. It seriously enhanced my life and It will do the same with you too. Also Check out "Streets:A rock opera" and "The Wake of Magellan" for other timeless pieces of rock/metal art. Savatage do not play classic progressive music but they play music that will make you think and act in A more dramatic, progressive fasion. ENJOY