LIVE IN DEUTSCHLAND

Again, no reviews? Sheesh. Okay, as with Live in Deutschland 2002, I'll review both the CD and DVD here.

Unlike the 2002 one, the visuals here are less spectacular, and it feels more like a "regular" concert with a bit of theatre (like, say, IQ?), rather than a whole show which leans on the music. Eric Clayton actually thanks the audience here, which he hardly did on Live 2002.

The songs on this album are from "Saviour Machine" and "Saviour Machine II", including my all-time favorite "Carnival of Souls". Unfortunately it starts off with "Killer", which is one of my least favorite songs on the debut album. Carnival of Souls is a brilliant live performance. Enter The Idol" is an okay song, but "The Wicked Window" is totally awesome, I'd say.

The visuals on the DVD are alright, though keep in mind it used to be a videotape, so it misses the DVD quality the 2002 show has. Eric has a mic-headset in this show, freeing both his hands. Unfortunately he turns his back on the audience a tad too much, I think. It's like he forgets they're there at times. A nice touch is when the drummer stands and stretches his arms at the start of "Jesus Christ".

The songs are performed well, and Eric's voice is awesome as usual. And unlike the 2002 show, I find this one more fun to listen to without watching the DVD. Don't ask me why. I don't know.

Conclusion? This is a good introduction to the band's earlier works, and definately worth buying the DVD for, if you've grown to like this little gem. I would sooner buy this than "Synopsis", I can tell you that. A little too much religion for me in general, but the music is growing on me regardless. Four stars from me, both for the CD and the DVD.

Yours, Tailscent

Live in Deutchland is the first live album dark progressive christian rock/ metal band Saviour Machine released. It consists of songs from their first two studio albums. The music on those two albums is masterpiece material IMO and hearing them in live versions is nothing but astonishing. This is in fact one of the best live albums I have ever heard. I know that there is a video of the show, but I haven´t seen that one yet but I bet that it´s excellent. Saviour Machine are known for making some pretty theatrical stage shows and lead singer Eric Clayton is always a site to behold. Dressed in black, shaved bald, whitechalked in the face and with a giant piercing through his forehead.

I said that Saviour Machine is a christian band and they are. If you´re anything like me ( non-believer, Atheist) you´ll probably run away screaming but I promise you there is no need. The lyrics deal with christian ideas and thoughts but in a very dark ( Sometimes apocalyptical) and melancholic way. There is no praise Jesus or I love God here or it´s at least not said in such a direct fashion. These lyrics are meant to make you think. Nothing is delivered to you in an easy way. A single God bless you between Killer and Carnival of Souls isn´t something that bothers me too much. Eric Clayton doesn´t speak much between the songs other than announsing the name of the song they are going to play which is probably due to the theatrical live production in Saviour Machine´s shows.

Saviour Machine´s music can be described as goth rock mixed with progressive and classic metal. The metal parts are not that heavy and only occurs occasionally. The music generally evolves around Eric Clayton´s vocal lines and it is Eric who is in focus most of the time. His voice is an operatic baritone David Bowie type voice and he sings with lots of theatrical pathos. There are many middle eastern sounding guitar riffs in the music. Saviour Machine is generally vey majestic and symphonic.

The concert starts with Introduction which is a part from Ludwig Van Beethoven´s Symphony nr. 9 and the Moonlight Serenade. A fitting dramatic beginning of the show.

Killer from the debut album is delivered in a menacing and powerful way. This is such a majestic song. This live version is much better than the already excellent version on the debut. Killer is one of the many highlights of the album.

Carnival of Souls which is also from the debut is the next song with it´s almost Sisters of Mercy like riffing and vocal style. The song ends with a repetitive symphonic riff that builds to a climax. It´s such a beauty and one of the most classic Saviour Machine tracks. Even people who don´t like Saviour Machine much enjoy this song when I play it to them.

Enter The Idol is the first song from Saviour Machine II and it´s probably the Saviour Machine song that resembles progressive metal most with it´s complicated ( well not really) rythm pattern and the symphonic keyboard. Note that the vocal melody is changed a bit during the chorus compared to the studio version.

The Wicked Window is such a dark beauty of a song. It is a sinister song which builds toward a climax in the first part of the song. After the climax the song has an acoustic middle section which seques into the fastest and most heavy part Saviour Machine has ever made. What a powerful track. Again this is much more powerful than the original version on the debut.

Legion which again is from the debut is a generally uptempo goth rock song with some really dark lyrics. Lines like: The Dragon slides between her thighs, The Dragon Breathes the Fire, As Blood drips form her Eyes, Until Delivered of the Child. This is some occult and disturbing lyrics. It´s great to see that Christians can also write about the darker sides of life.

Paradox is a short intro to the epic 16:07 minutes long The Stand which is the center piece of Saviour Machine II and also functions as that on Live in Deutchland. From the beginning of the song with the middle eastern sounding guitar riffs to the grand finale this is a masterpiece of dark progressive rock.

A World Alone is a beautiful song and as on the debut it seques into Jesus Christ which is a dynamic song. It shifts between subtle silent sections and heavy loud parts. Both songs are performed with fierce passion.

Overture is an intro to Love Never Dies which are from Saviour Machine II. A majestic power ballad that almost gets a bit too overblown but as it sounds so great Saviour Machine is forgiven. At least in my book.

The concert ends with the title track from Saviour Machine II. There are two versions of that song on Saviour Machine II but this one is the most rock orientated version. Excellent choice.

The only songs I miss is Force Of The Entity from the debut and American Babylon and Ceremony from the second album. This is a near perfect song selection though and you have to face the fact that you just can´t include everything from two albums and fit it into a single album format.

The musicianship is excellent. No errors in the instrumental apartment that I recognise and everything is played with passion. Eric Clayton needs a special mention as his performance here really shows how great a singer he is. Powerful and passionate delivery all the way through the show. The man never misses a note.

The production is wonderful. Better than on the studio albums.

This is simply a wonderful and unique album. It even overshadows the two studio albums the songs originally came from. That´s how a live album should sound. If you´re curious about Saviour Machine I would tell you to start here as this is the best introduction to the band that you´ll get. This is a masterpiece album and fully deserves 5 stars. Higly HIGHLY recommendable to fans of dark theatrical progressive rock/ metal.

This live CD showcases the early sound of Saviour Machine, before the beginning of their much more colossal Legend series. The setlist is pretty much a perfect representation of their first two albums, including many classics such as Carnival of Souls and Legion but also some more rarely heard and brilliant pieces like The Wicked Window and the epic The Stand. The orchestral elements are there, but more in the background, and the pieces are driven with mix of progressive gothic rock, some eastern guitar melodies played with tastefulness and some delay, and of course the splendid vocals of one and only mr Eric Clayton. It is so hard to find anything to complain here, that I can't stop myself from giving this one a 5 star rating even though I do think they pushed the level still a tiny bit further with their 2002 live dvd. Blazing with passion, aggressive riffs, slowly building instrumental sections and the simple beauty and reflection of the calmer parts, this is musically a very professionally sounding live record and gives yet another reason for me to believe that there is not a band quite like Saviour Machine. The sentimental encore Overture/Love Never Dies/Saviour Machine II sums it up well: "It is finished/ do you see/ the light of the saviour inside this machine". I do.