Poets & Madmen

I received the vinyl glow in the dark double album last week. Fantastic album music wise of course but last song on side D (Back To A Reason) has a strange repeating static type sound throughout the song. Ordered a replacement but same exact issue. Was wondering if anybody else experienced this?

After reading a review from "uncle entropy" dated 4/17, I was very worried he might be correct. After buying and listening to the cd since 4/19, I would rank this effort up with Savatage's finest. Jon's voice holds up better than just fine. What's equally interesting is that Chris Caffrey's guitar playing is getting pretty darn good! After reading notes that Al Pitelli contributed on the album, I thought the band might lack his speed and cleanliness when the show hits the road...WRONG!!!I saw Savatage @ The Chance in Poughkeepsie on Sat. 4/21. I've seen them before throughout the last 15 years. They were incredibly on the money!! New singer is awesome. Very much like Zak. New guitarist fits fine. Whole band is super tight (Quennsryche and Dream Theater tight!!) and very crunchy. Jon might be a little large (he has expanded nicely) but boy could he sing and play. And you could really feel how much fun these guys are having. These guys are among the most talented in their field. I hope they get the critical acclaim they deserve.The album rocks! Give it a few spins and (try) to tell me I'm wrong!! "Still the orchestra plays..."

As a long time fan of Savatage I was excited to hear this album. Espcially since I had heard that Jon Oliva was doing all the vocal work and I've always been more into his voice than Zac Stevens (I do love his too). However that turns out to be where the true downside of this album is.You see it can easily be heard(I've checked into this too) that the song's were not wrote for Jon's voice. So it doesn't work as well as it could have if Zac had done it.The songs are solid and catchy. There's plenty of emotion.Plus this looks to be the last true savatage album.

The only thing you need to know is that you need Savatage in your album collection if you're a Metalhead. Savatage is very underrated. Do yourself a favor and buy all their albums. Well, except Fight For The Rock. You should probably pass on that one. That's just my opinion.

The great Savatage always delivers great music. Always great music.

Great Savatage find.

I have always been a fan of Savatage, felt ehy were underappreciated. I saw them live several times and they always put on a good show. I bought this to replace my original copy that was worn out.

Another masterpiece from Savatage

brilliant cd with what i can only describe as having something for everyone.Only my second cd of their,s but am enjoying what i have heard

Exc

Like everything else Savatage do, this is progressive rock at its best...morphine child is absolutely fantastic, as are quite a few other tracks on here.

very good

Da ist sie nun, die neue Savatage: von der Fachpresse mit zwiespältigen Reaktionen aufgenommen bleibt die Frage: warum? Sicher, an Meilensteile wie "Gutter Ballet", "Streets", "Hall of the Mountain King" oder "Edge of Thorns" reicht "Poets..." nicht heran, aber dennoch: die Jungs aus Tampa haben zusammen mit ihrem Hausproduzenten und (Mit-)songwriter Paul O'Neill erneut ein Stück Edelmetall geschmiedet, daß den Rest der - oft einfallslosen - Konkurrenz arg alt aussehen läßt. "Poets & Madmen" ist ohne Zweifel typisch Savatage, wieder etwas rauher als die Vorgängeralben, aber ein Referenzalbum für die mittlerweile arg überbevölkerte Szene. Die Stücke funktionieren in ihrer Gesamtheit und ergeben somit - wieder mal - ein kurzweiliges und dennoch virtuoses Konzeptalbum, ausgefeilt bis ins kleinste Detail. Der subjektiv größte Wehrmutstropfen ist dennoch der Verlust von Götterbarde Zachary Stevens, dessen Part nun wieder Urmitglied Jon Oliva übernimmt - wenn auch nicht mit der Power der alten Zeiten, so doch zumindest mit der gleichen Intensität. Fazit: ein Album, an dem sich die Geister womöglich auch weiterhin scheiden werden. Wer einfach nur gut in Szene gesetzten, bombastischen Heavy-Metal mag, der ist mit "P & M" auf jeden Fall bestens bedient.