Customer Reviews

Sirens

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Originally released in 1983, Sirens was the debut album from Florida-based heavy metal heroes Savatage. If you're only familiar with the band from their later, more progressive rock operas, an album as raw as this one may come as a bit of a shock. This is old school Savatage, when they were all about Criss Oliva's razor-sharp riffs, his brother Jon's piercing vocals, headbanging rhythms and occult/dark fantasy-based lyrics. Yes, it's cheesy and yes, it's dated. It's also completely awesome if you happen to love the early `80s heavy metal sound.

With classic songs like "Sirens," "Out on the Streets" and "Living for the Night," Sirens is a must-have for any serious Savatage fan, as well as anyone who loves old school heavy metal. As long as you're not expecting something that sounds like Trans-Siberian Orchestra, you should be OK.

Edition Notes: Sirens was reissued on CD in 1994. The reissue featured digitally remastered sound and a pair of bonus tracks - "Lady in Disguise" and "The Message."

Edition Notes 2: So what sets the 2002 Silver Anniversary Edition of Sirens apart from the earlier reissue? This version also features digitally remastered sound, and includes three bonus tracks: "Target," "Living on the Edge of Time" and an untitled track. The untitled track is a laid back acoustic guitar piece, but the others are vintage Savatage, and totally fit the mood of the rest of the album. As an added bonus, the Silver Anniversary Edition features extensive liner notes on the band's early years written by original drummer Steve "Dr. Killdrums" Wacholz. To get the full story you'll have to get the reissue of Dungeons Are Calling as well, but I figure die-hard Savatage fans would plan on buying that one anyway. Unfortunately the Silver Anniversary Edition does not contain the two bonus tracks from the earlier version.

Track Listing:
1. Sirens
2. Holocaust
3. I Believe
4. Rage
5. On the Run
6. Twisted Little Sister
7. Living for the Night
8. Scream Murder
9. Out on the Streets
10. Target
11. Living on the Edge of Time
12-98: blank tracks
99. Untitled Track

Way back in '83, Savatage independently launched the first of many potent weapons, perhaps in a rebellion against the big hair party rock of the day. With Jon Oliva's legendary pipes, his brother Criss' nimble fingers and an adequate rhythm section, they were able to take the early metallic crunch of the underground, and a darker, more political Dio-ish lyrical base and bring the underground that much closer to the surface. 'Sirens' is a seminal metal release in the sense that it kickstarted a generation that would splinter into two important sub-genres; the progressive metal movement (Queensryche, Fates Warning, Dream Theater...) and the Thrash movement (Death Angel, Nasty Savage...) Also, very important in that this album was the first in a very long line of important releases from the Tampa Bay metal scene. (Nasty Savage, Death, Obituary, Deicide, Atheist...) The songs themselves cover a broad swatch of territory. The title cut, "I Believe", "Holocaust", "On The Run" all displaying some very fertile metallic stylings, while "Rage" and "Twisted Little Sister" show a metal band with a slight ear for punk/hardcore, if in delivery as opposed to attitude. The production is quite strong and material is not quite as dated as most of the genre. Not bad for a bunch of guys working on a self-financed independent recording! Kult Klassik!

First off, this is not for Sava-fanz who are expecting a "rock opera" sort of Savatage. This one is for those of us who love the thunderous, lightning fast riffs that made them one of the most underrated "Heavy Metal" bands ever. I love Savatage, and my advice to anyone who thinks "Hall Of The Mountain King" rips, must not allow "Sirens" to go unlistened to for another minute!!!

Sirens is the rawest, most explosive effort I've ever heard from them. It's a shame this CD hasn't recieved more praise.....It's right up there with "Kill'em All" from Metallica in my book.

There is only "one" downfall if you can call it that....It's too short. Sirens grows on you, and Criss O. let loose on this CD. His pure rawness, and aggression on this recording have yet to be matched in my opinion...."HOTMK" was close, but Sirens stands alone.

If there was ever a listing in the Metal Dictionary that read "Diamond In The Ruff",.....Sirens would be the definition.

ON THE RUN....RUN!!!.....RUN!!!

I have loved this album since I was a kid. I had the album when it first came out and it had a different cover. I finally found it on CD many years later and was as happy as a kid on Christmas morning. Then, my car was stolen and the CD was in it, so I bought it again. The guitar work is outstandnig and very unique. The drums are cannons and the bass player holds it down. The vocals are awesome as well and fit the band perfectly. So many bands cop different things off other bands, but Savatage has their own style and it's a shame that the guitar player passed away at such an early age in such a tragic way. I strongly recommend this to anyone who digs metal.

With a front cover that proclaims `here be a gothic tinged band' the punter should know what to expect, and if that didn't tell you the Savatage logo and the title Sirens gives you further clues. Savatages' debut album is a fiercely traditional heavy metal experience on a number of levels. These would include the overall gothic overtones of many of the songs such as the title track, the riffage of the guitars and not least the heads down passion of this blast of jagged metal. And it's the passion and the execution that lift these admittedly fairly simple constructs, this just doesn't sound like a debut in that the band seem fully realised, their lyrical ideas already in place and the overall musical attack being quite confident. I think they call it purity of mission.

Originally produced by Dan Johnson the music is allowed to breath as per just about every Savatage release and the band are to be commended for managing to get such an honest and full range sound and it must be said that there are a few studio bells and whistles used here, such as air raid sirens on Holocaust. It's this use of the tools available but not a reliance on them that also marks this band as a mob who had their stuff together right from their first album.

The original release had nine tracks, ending with Out on the Streets (reprised on Fight for the Rock) though the remastered version is out and about, with two extra tracks in Lady in Disguise and The Message. These numbers do fit in with the feel of the album in general though aren't life altering. If you can pick up the remastered version for the same price my advice would be to go for it - I mean you might as well get more bang for your buck right?

This album would probably be good for any student of traditional heavy metal, fans of Judas Priest or Jag Panzer who missed this mob first time around and also power metal fans who prefer vocalists who don't aim for the stratosphere, as Jon Oliva has plenty of timbre to his voice and can do the high pitched thing, but in general prefers a lower register delivery. The riffs are simple but effective and the songs don't outstay their welcome, laying waste to the room and then leaving someone else to clean up the mess!

I would've predicted Savatage to stomp Metallica into the earth with this album. "Kill 'Em All", released the same year, has nothing on this album. It's one of a kind, heavy as hell with blistering lead runs. It doesn't even bear comparison. It is truly original. Skip "Fight For the Rock" and pick this basher up!

I've been a Savatage fan for around three years now, mostly listening to their rock operas. I've put off buying anything older than the Hall of the Mountain King up until now. I've purchased Sirens this past week, and much to my surprise, I've really enjoyed it! It's different than latter Savatage, but different in a good way! The music is more straight forward, and much heavier! This is the one album that I've been blown away by Criss Oliva's playing! He truly is a guitar legend, and Jon's vocals are as sharp and dramatic as ever! Sirens is highly recommended if you're into traditional metal. In addition, if you like what you hear here, then you might as well check out Jon Oliva's latest solo CD, Tage Mahal. Jon's solo stuff is right on cue with early Savatage, there's no doubt about it!

This is a masterpiece. A "kult klassik", as you'll read below. There isn't a bad song here. Sirens: early Savatage's hymn, they play it even nowadays; Holocaust: great lyrics about a great disaster, very angry vocals as in most of the songs; I Believe: don't be fooled by the slow beggining, the end is kinda hardcore thing, breathless; RAGE: raaaaaage!!!!!speed!!!!head-banging!!!!; On The Run: another rocker; Twisted Little Sister: oh this is funny, bizarre, makes me think of a sadomasoquism session; Living For The Night: hmmm... not bad but... redundant; Scream Murder: explosive bass!!one of the best in here; Out On The Streets: Savatage's heavy ballads rule!!!; Lady In Disguise: great ballad; The Message: a little redundant too...

As you see, in general it's a great album! Jon Oliva's vocals are... I can't find the word, my limited english knowledge doesn't allow me. They simply ROCK!!!!!!!

This is one of the greatest heavy metal albums of all time. My first copy of it was on vinyl before it ever hit a major record label. Buy this one with confidence!

Well worth the purchase. Heavy metal in the raw. Hair bands at it's best, even though this was done near the end of an era. Strong vocals. Steaming guitars. Heavy drums. Awesome album for anyone who appreciates that era. Must have for any Savatage/TSO fan!!