GUTTER BALLET

I think this album can be divided on two parts. One of this parts is made of songs in the same style of their previous record "Hall of the Mountain King", but in a more evolucionated way and with a better instrumental development. And the other half of the album consists in the purest symphonic/progressive metal songs, very advanced and anticipated in sound and composition, because we are talking of a record released in 1989, but that's still sounding modern today. This is the diferenciation in my opinion:

-Heavy Metal songs:

Of Rage And War She's in Love Hounds The Unholy Mentally Yours Thorazine Shuffle

-Symphonic Metal songs:

Gutter Ballet Temptation Revelation When The Crowds are Gone Silk and Steel Summer's Rain

For that, this is clearly a transition album between the strong heavy metal of their past and their future masterpieces made of the best symphonic and progressive metal I've heard in my life. Nevertheless, I don't consider Gutter Ballet a masterpiece, because I think that She's In Love is a weak track, and I don't like The Unholy too much.

But another great songs like the immortally wonderful Gutter Ballet, the beautiful mid- tempo When The Crowds are Gone (whith the best Criss Oliva's guitar solo in my opinion, and with a great connection with their incoming marvellous ballad Believe...) and great heavy songs like Of Rage and War, the scary Hounds and the trashy Thorazine Shuffle, make this album an excellent addition to any collection.

With this record, started the true Savatage's legend!!!!