I have been given the honor of starting the discography thread for everyone's favorite Floridians, Savatage. I can't guarantee that I'll be able to update it every day like clockwork as Manny has done with all of his discog-threads thus far, but I'll do my best. We'll begin with their debut album, SIRENS, from 1983.



After releasing a 7-inch single (CITY BENEATH THE SURFACE) under their original name, Avatar, Savatage's debut album was unleashed by the tiny Florida-based indie label PAR Records (which later became home to the first Crimson Glory album) before being picked up for wider distribution by Combat Records. On SIRENS, Savatage are basically treading in the footsteps of their heroes, i.e. Judas Priest and Black Sabbath. The doomy, end-of-the-world lyrics of "Holocaust" and the mythology-inspired title track show that even as youngsters, the Oliva brothers and their bandmates had vivid imaginations. Jon Oliva has said that he doesn't really care for this record or its follow up (DUNGEONS ARE CALLING) because they sound "immature" compared to the band's later, more epic styled works. (That said, the title track to this album was still a concert staple right up until the band stopped touring in the early '00s.) The tracks "Twisted Little Sister" and "Rage" are my personal favorites from this one, as well as the title song.
By 1983 standards SIRENS was pretty heavy duty stuff, more meaty than the "metal" that was beginning to take over the pop charts (i.e. Quiet Riot, Motley Crue, etc.) though nowhere near as extreme as the thrash metallers which would begin to make waves in the scene very soon after SIRENS was released. SIRENS was a strong beginning but the best was yet to come from the young band.

When I first heard Savatage I hated them. I couldnt stand the song Edge Of Thorns I saw just about every week on Headbangers Ball. Then as the years went on I heard the songs Hall Of The Mountain King on a college radio station and thus began my love for Savatage. As always I quickly picked up their whole discography and when I got to Sirens I wasnt too impressed. I think part of that is due to getting used to the later stuff that was more rock opera stuff.

I only like a few songs off this Sirens, Scream Murder, and Out On The Streets. I never really cared for the earlier faster songs, but I think i'll have to give this album another listen tomorrow. There has to be something else I can like from this.

I thought this was funny.... I just looked up on itunes and in the description it says "In their early years Savatage was one of the premier death metal acts in America." lol silly itunes.

I didn't hear stuff from this untill after I had purchased "Dungeons" :metal: :metal: Criss is always amazing

My first real exposure was Hall of the Mountain King and thought that was a great cd (one of my all-time favorites). After hearing that (and buying Edge of Thorns as a new release) I decided to get the rest of their catalogue.I then heard Sirens and loved it. I bought it on cassette and had it for the longest time but then lost it.I was able to find it on cd used jut recently. I especially love the title track and Holocaust. I still need to get Dungeons.

Humble beginnings from my favorite band. And I agree with FF, this isn't exactly the bands shining moment. There are, of course, some stand-out tracks here, the title track being the absolute highlight. I will say this thouh, both Oliva brothers show from get-go that they were a force to be reckoned with, delivering a sond that is their own. Jon's voice is amazing, sounding like no one else. And Criss, well he is Criss! 'nuff said.

I've never been a big Savatage fan, but this album is great! The whole epic thing they started doing after Hall Of The Mountain King never was my cup of tea. Sirens is a great disc of pure American raw heavy metal. No weak moments on this disc. Jon's vocals are great, the rhythm section is pounding and Criss soars like no other guitarist. This is and Dungeons Are Calling are my favorite Savatage recordings.

The title track smokes! :metal:

This was the second Savatage album I got (Dungeons Are Calling was the first) and at the time I wasn't quite as thrilled with this record (not as heavy)...but over time it's become one of my favorites.

You can definitely hear their influences on this album (mostly British acts), but it's important to note that they came out of the gate with their own unique sound already intact. Jon & Criss are both flat out fantastic on this album...but it's also important to note how flexible this rhythm section is. They can pound it out, but they have an awesome sense of groove (I Believe and On The Run are good examples).

The first 4 songs are just perfect, my favorite has always been "I Believe". The only track I've never liked is "Twisted Little Sister" which was just a tad too goofy. Scream Murder contains a mind boggling solo by Criss.

All in all a very impressive debut that holds up quite well to this day.

There are 2 bonus tracks on the Silver edition for "Sirens", named "Target" & "Living On The Edge Of Time". I think they were recorded much later, and 'Target' is one amazing tune!

When I was 12 or 13 I saw Avatar play a show at the local high school and rare all ages show, and I liked them.

A few months later at a 95 YNF radio station event, this band called Savatage played and they looked familiar but sounded nothing like Avatar. Very cool and very heavy, at the end of the show their bass player at the time Keith Kollins gave me a cassette copy of their first album, he got a kick out of the fact that such young kid was into them.

I like the album but it was nowhere near as good as catching those early gigs. I unfortunatly no longer own the cassette, but have a great memory of that time period.

The first sava album I ever got was Wake of magellan, I was browsing a record stores used bin and saw the too damn cool to pass up cover art and had to have it, I got streets after that. Later my grandpa got me Sirens, hall of the mt king, and gutter ballet for christmas and loved em all.

Sirens is such a beacon of US power metal, this album rules and has so many great tracks like the title track,Holocaust, I believe, on the run, out on the streets...basically 3 quarters of the songs are standouts...wow. Criss absolutely toasts as usual, but I really like his stuff on this one in particular, its really adolescent sounding but still talent filled and completely badass. Fav tracks are I believe and on the run.

Sirens isn't their best album but it is a great debut and had some killer tunes. I only first heard Savatage around 2000 even though i had seen their albums at stores for years.

Manny - that's an awesome story. You can color me jealous.

Moving right along then...



Savatage quickly followed up SIRENS with 1984's THE DUNGEONS ARE CALLING six-track EP, the title track of which became their "calling card" to metalheads worldwide (I remember it getting quite a bit of play on various metal radio shows). Though the album is stylistically similar to SIRENS (i.e. more songs about death, horror, and violent fantasy) the songs do seem to have a bit more "crunch" to them (witness the awesome riffage to "City Beneath The Surface!") than their predecessors, due to the fact that the band now had some studio experience under their belt.

The album cover is one of those iconic "So bad it's good" classics. What the hell IS that thing sticking into the skull's eye socket anyway? A syringe? A turkey baster? A Fleet Enema nozzle?

I'd say DUNGEONS was the record that truly cemented Savatage's place in the underground, it was after its release that the major labels began sniffing around the band (for better or for worse). It's been re-released and re-issued numerous times over the years with a multitude of bonus tracks all padding it out to album length.

My favorite Savatage release!

This is one of those records I bought because of the cover (despite the turkey baster) and I thought the band name was cool (Savage/Sabotage). I was not disappointed and played this album TO DEATH for weeks after getting it.

It's a much darker record than Sirens and is chock full of classic tracks. It contains my favorite Savatage song (Midas Knight), but really the whole album is killer. I even like "The Whip", which of course is stupid as hell but FUN! One of my favorite records from the early 80's.

It also contains one of the most disgustingly funny lines ever written by anyone:

"...my eyes poisoning you, I watch as you grovel in my stool."

When I saw the Gutter Ballet tour they opened with City Beneath The Surface...it was like a religious experience it was so bad ass.

Great album and when I was a kid I thought the cover was bad ass, what other metal band would dare to combine a skull and turkey baster.

I have not owned this album in years but I remember it being darker somewhat heavier and that Criss Oliva was a hell of a guitartist. The title track alone is worth the price of admission.


I need to go out and rebuy this album.

Also wanted to point out what a great job FF is doing with this thread.

This one even though its a little short, if you minus the bonus tracks is a little better than Sirens to me. I like just about all the songs except Visions and The Whip.

The first two albums are ok but not something I still have as I never upgraded them. I do remember thinking the guitarist was really solid and thought the band might have a future. Ha!

I haven't had Sirens in many years and apart from the title track, I don't remember much from it. Along with Power Of The Night (also Ghost In The Ruins-a live album I understand I MUST get) it is the last Savatage album I must re-capture to complete the discography.

Dungeons Are Calling a great EP and a shining example of real power metal. While the older Jon stuff didn't interest me as much as the Zak album it has grown on me over the years (Criss' guitar work however, has never fell flat on my ears-IMO the greastes metal guitarist ever). Favorite tracks are the title track, By the Grace of the Witch, Midas Knight, and City Beneath The Surface.