LIVE IN DEUTSCHLAND 2002

No reviews on Saviour Machine's latest live doublealbum? I think I should. Unfortunately there's no DVD entry here on ProgArchives...so I'll do both the CD and DVD review of this concert.

What to say about it? It's a very theatrical show about the end of the world. Eric Clayton really steals the show, what with bloody flags, burning signs, bible-swinging and all that, while the rest of the band just stays back and plays the music. They're even accompanied by a choir later on.

I love Eric Clayton's voice and theatrics, so I could sit this out and watch virtually all of it. All the songs are from "Legend", parts I, II, and III: I. That means no songs from the first two albums. They started to sound very much alike after a while (how many times have I heard "Apocalypse" or "The Ancient Serpent" in the last hour?). This makes it a bit hard to sit out at times, but it's worth it.

There's not much I can say about this gig...you simply have to see it. The visual aspects are stunning, and really add a lot to the show. Without it, the music can sometimes be a bit naked, unfortunately.

The DVD comes with this concert, plus Live in Deutschland 1995, which is the concert of the "Live in Deutschland" live CD. In terms of quality, this one is better, as it was recorded for DVD use. The other concert used to be a videotape, and it's just visible. Not that it's ugly or less enjoyable...you just notice, is all.

Conclusion? Any prog fan who even likes a bit of Saviour Machine will probably have no regrets buying this DVD and/or CD. To me, it's a bit repetitive, but the visuals and stunning vocals make up for it quite a lot, even though I'm not a Christian and I don't like too much religious messages in my music. My advice? Buy Saviour Machine's debut album first, and maybe the Live in Deutschland CD. If you like that, you're ready for this.

Yours, Tailscent

"Live in Deutschland 2002" by Saviour Machine contains excellent Gothic Apocolyptic Melodramatic Progressive Dark Symphonic Metallic Rock. This live CD presents the best of the first three "Legend" CDs, and in my opinion, improves the sound and the delivery over and above the original versions. Plus, the track order they've chosen makes for a more coherent and logically organized story (as this is almost like a rock opera) than the way the material was originally presented.

Better yet, get the DVD of this incredible concert, so you can listen to the music in Dolby 5.1 digital surround sound, and see the band with their dynamic stage show which has to be seen as well as heard to be believed. ("Live in Deutschland 2002" is available on both CD and DVD, and as a bonus the DVD also includes the original Saviour Machine DVD "Live in Deutschland 1995.") They pull out all the stops and use choir and chamber orchestra in addition to the rock band. Additionally, they use strong visual imagery (such as dipping the Palestinian and Israel flags together in a bowl of blood, burning a UN flag which represents "the New World Order", plus Eric Clayton performs two songs using giant and eerie wings, as he represents Satan as a fallen angel.)

Truly the concert DVD is an amazing experience, but is not for everyone, as it is dark, dense and enigmatic at times. My wife leaves the room when I put this DVD on, as she freely admits it scares her with it's gothic creepiness. Plus Clayton wears extremely odd makeup giving him a weird appearance. Sort of like less a negative version of Marilyn Manson, but with a morally redeeming message.

Anyway, the music itself is excellent. This is a long CD. If some of the songs on Disk 1 start to become too repetitive and almost "ritualistic" around tracks 5, 6 and 7 (Gog [Deathmarch], Invasion of Israel, and World War III), don't despair, there's tons more material ahead, including songs of amazing subtlety and beauty (not only harshness and industrial sounds.) Just stay with it. By the way, on the DVD, during the harsh repetition of the tracks I mentioned, Eric Clayton is engaging in some of the "performance art" activities on the stage that hold your attention and creep you out. But it's all designed to make you think. About man's inhumanity to man; about this world's propensity for war, death and destruction; about the end of the world; about the spiritual warfare that is the underlying basis for so much of this world's physical warfare; and yes, about the eternal redemption offered through Christ the son of God. A Christian message indeed, but this is NOT like ANYTHING that would be considered "Contemporary Christian Music". Watching the DVD as a church "youth group" activity should probably be avoided, unless you're willing to do a lot of explaining and reassuring to nervous parents. Forget it: it's not worth it. Just give it to anyone who already enjoys Therion, Tristania, My Dying Bride, Sisters of Mercy, Bauhaus, and groups of that sort. Highly recommended. I give four stars to the CD version, and five stars to the DVD version of this album.