Search - Savatage :: Dead Winter Dead

There's only a few reviews, but we're all agreeing...

David M. Owens | Worcester, MA | 07/30/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Savatage is one of the best rock/metal bands out there, and this is one of their best albums. Unlike most sellout bands, Savatage isn't tremendously popular, and the main reason is because they don't do sellout work: Dead Winter Dead is an album about the Bosnia/Serbia situation from a few years back after the breakup of Yugoslavia, and it isn't terribly commercial because of that.What it is, though, is some of the best lyric-writing and songwriting available, all rolled up into one fantastic "rock opera", complete with an accompanying poem (libretto, if you will) in the CD lyric notes. Very slick, and also a lot more than you get with most other Cd's nowadays.The range on the album is pretty good: You get fast songs and "heavy metal" songs like "Starlight" and "Doesn't Matter Anyway", and then you drop right back into more emotional and heartfelt songs, like "This Isn't What We Meant", and "Not What You See". Combine that with an incredible instrumental of Carol of the Bells, a traditional Christmas carol, that they called "Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24", and you get a varied and very enjoyable album.To sum up Savatage, and this won't do them justice, imagine Metallica, but with piano and keyboard accompaniment, great melodies, awesome lyrics, and one of the most talented singers, with a tremendous range...do that and you might be able to imagine Dead Winter Dead.If you can't do that, just buy the CD. It's under 10 bucks, so you can't go wrong!If you like this, and "Christmas Eve/Sarajevo" especially, you might want to pick up Trans-Siberian Orchestra's albums; they're a pseudo-Savatage side-project, with similar style."

Second only to Wake of Magellan . . .

J. T. Nite | Mesa, AZ USA | 08/14/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"With this album, Savatage erases the memory of the good-but-unremarkable "Handful of Rain." Dead Winter Dead is an Excellent, thought-provoking, tear-jerking rock opera about the war in Sarajevo and the toll it takes on people's lives. Ultimately, DWD suggests, there is one force more powerful than fear and hate . . .Musically, DWD maintains a fine balance between hard-rock and more melodic, symphonic work, sometimes in the same song. Christmas Eve (Sarajevo 12/24) is a fine example -- crashing guitar and screeching violins combine for a memorable rendition of a familiar Christmas carol. The other instrumentals jump out as well -- the eerie Mozart and Madness, and the jubilant electric-guitar version of Beethoven's 9th (called "Memory" here).There's not a bad song on this album -- Jon Oliva's gruff voice is not as solid as Zak Stevens', but fits the two tracks he sings. Every song contributes to the story, but stands alone as well. If you don't get goosebumps at some point on the first listen (Mine was during the polyharmony on "One Child"), check your pulse. I only gave this four stars because, as good as it is, The Wake of Magellan is that much better."

Wish more albums this good

Alain Fournier | Hamilton, Pembroke Bermuda | 01/07/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Well I bought this album strictly on the recommendations of the prior reviewers on Amazon. Was it a good decision? A month after buying "Dead Winter Dead" I now own the following Savatage albums "Handful of Rain", "A Ghost in the Ruins", "Wake of Magellan" and "Edge of Thorns". "Dead Winter Dead" is definitely the best Savatage album of the bunch listed above. Although I like them all. Contrary to a prior reviewer I really think "Handfull of Rain" is an Excellent Album. A must buy.Well, on to the matter at hand. "Dead Winter Dead", although a concept album all the songs stand very well on their own. No need to follow the story to enjoy the album although the story is very poignant and adds an extra dimension.There is only one song I would consider weak in comparison to the rest of the album and that's "This Isn't What We Meant" but that's because all the other songs are first rate. This is an album that spans the spectrum of the Heavy Metal/Hard Rock genre from the heavy and intense "I Am", one of the better song on the album , to the very melodic "Not What You See" also one of the albums highlights.The songs all build to an emotional resonance that peaks in the beutiful track called "Christmas Eve".The whole album is very symphonic sort of Heavy Metal meets Broadway.The vocals of Zak Stevens, the lead singer, are sublime and contrast very well to Jon Oliva gruffer vocals. All the instrumental are first rate the synergy between the 2 guitarists is terrific. Too bad Pitrelli left for Megadeath.If you are only into head banging and nothing else stay away. If you like diversity in your music then buy "Dead Winter Dead" it will become a main stay in your collection."