MANIACAL RENDERINGS

Like every Savatage's side project... This album has good songs, good production, good playing... But it lacks the magic of the incredible Florida's band!

The second studio album from the Jon Oliva's own band after Savatage was ¿temporary? disbanded in 2002, follow the path opened with the previous 'Tage Mahal... Maybe more straight forward oriented, less symphonic and heavier, but not really different. Oliva's voice sounds more aggresive, and the production is powerful, giving the protagonism to the improved Matt LaPorte's guitars... His solos in this album are great. In the previous band's album they were not so fine...

The style of the album follow the path of the old Savatage, sounding similar than albums like Gutter Ballet or Streets... But with some actual arrangements and modern influences. But there are no surprises here... This is classic heavy metal with some prog and symphonic elements. If you like the 1988-1993 Savatage's albums, you will like Maniacal Renderings too... The Criss Oliva (Oliva's brother and a genious with the guitar, dead in a car accident back in 1993...) style is also here, while Jon used some old material composed by him. So there are no surprises... Quality, good songs and some brilliant parts, but nothing really impressive and far from the outstanding Savatage's last albums.

Best songs: Maniacal Renderings (the instrumental middle part is awesome...), The Answer (emotive and symphonic ballad...), Who's Playing God (typical Savatage's riff... I love it!) and Timeless Fight (the best of the album for me, with an impressive guitar solo and great ending...)

Conclusion: good Jon Oliva's album made with his band besides Savatage... And not reaching the levels of his masterband, but giving us some nostalgic moments. But hearing this album, I can only wish the Savatage's comeback... Then the best symphonic metal band will be back, and we will not need to hear good imitations like Jon Oliva's Pain. But Maniacal Renderings is a recommendable album anyway, for all the Savatage's fans and people interested in hearing good symhponic-progressive metal, but without too many surprises.

My rating: ***1/2