Top 10 Songs on Savatage's Dead Winter Dead
Dead Winter Dead is the 9th studio album by Savatage, released in 1995. It is a progressive, concept album, based on Bosnian War, ongoing at the time. The album tells a story about a Serb boy and a Muslim girl who fall in love.One song from this album became a radio hit - "Christmas Eve (Sarajevo 12/24)". It was later re-released by Trans-Siberian Orchestra and became even more popular. Trans-Siberian Orchestra started as a side project of Savatage members.
Savatage are an American metal band founded in 1979 by brothers Jon and Criss Oliva.
Subgenres - heavy metal, prog metal (late), speed metal (early), power metal.
Savatage is one of the most underrated metal bands ever.
Jon Oliva has a 4 octave vocals range and besides, he can play all typical metal instruments, and piano.
Criss died at 30 in 1993 in a car accident caused by a drunk driver. R.I.P. Criss.
Personnel:
Zachary 'Zack' Stevens – lead vocals
Jon Oliva – keyboards, lead vocals on "I Am" and "Doesn't Matter Anyway", backing vocals on "Starlight"
Chris Caffery – guitars, backing vocals
Al Pitrelli – guitars, backing vocals
Johnny Lee Middleton – bass guitar, backing vocals
Jeff Plate – drums
Surprisingly, this song became a radio hit in 1995 - it was unexpected because the song is a classically-influenced instrumental.
It was later covered by Trans-Siberian Orchestra which made this song even more popular.
By the way, Trans-Siberian Orchestra started in the 90s as a side project of Savatage members.
Every time Christmas comes around this song will be played along with many other Trans-Siberian Orchestra songs
Jon Oliva on lead vox (one of the 2 exceptions on this album). You can hear Jon's signature laughs, screams and overall - theatrical vocals.
One of my favorite metal instrumentals.
A very good anti-war song (Jon Oliva on vox, one of the 2 exceptions)
A short instrumental (1:19) containing some samples from Beethoven's "Ode to Joy".
A short but impressive instrumental (1:50 - intro song to the album).