SAVATAGE - The Dungeons Are Calling (1984)

Unlock the Dungeons

These six songs coming from „The Dungeons Are Calling” Ep are the remainder of the first memorable session (1983) and the last thing recorded under the banner of Par Records. Before releasing this stuff, Savatage signed a deal with Atlantic Recs. The line-up and production is still the same, so if you loved “Sirens”, you will love “The Dungeons” beyond the shadow of a doubt. 

Although this is a continuation of “Sirens”, there are several differences I’d like to write about. Firstly, this is definitely better half, as no weak song can be found here contrary to the “Sirens” album, and two tracks (the title song and “City Beneath the Surface”) became a timeless classics for the band and heavy metal generally. All compositions seem to be dark and murky, ominous and mysterious, it fits perfectly to the name of this material. I can compare this feeling to the first albums of Mercyful Fate (“Melissa”, ”Don’t Break the Oath”) – passion, spontaneousness, strokes of genius, metal spirit. These elements are short characteristics of both bands, but personally I prefer Savatage efforts. 

I divided “The Dungeons” into three groups of songs. The first group contains of two immortal classics I wrote above. Both songs have perfect living guitar masterwork of Criss, superb leads, wonderful and blood-curdling vocals, and mysterious prologues. The second group is like a bullet reaching your head. “Visions” and “The Whip” are the fastest songs here, I can compare them with “Rage” because of unmerciful energy, speed and power of metal. Both songs have excellent ending, I think they are very good tracks to play it live and to devastate metal fans! The last group has also two tracks, in fact mid-tempo compositions with complex structures.  “By the Grace of the Witch” has a splendid chorus and really long guitar solo. In turn “Midas Knight”: again demonic Jon vocals and chorus full of melody, paralyzing melodious tunes about 2:00 (which I think is the basis for many Running Wild songs), and two excellent guitar leads… No words can describe this great power coming from “Midas Knight”, definitely one of the best Savatage songs. My reissue cd also contains of two bonus tracks: “Fighting for Your Love” and “Sirens” live. The first song is a really killer song, the production is ‘underground’ here, but music is first-class: balladic prologue turning into heavy riffs, great chorus and, as always, perfect Criss! This song I can compare to “The Message” from “Sirens”. It fits to entirety splendidly. 

Two first Savatage steps into metal existence are the basis of heavy metal music for me. These titles are the best thing in the first half of the eighties.  All songs are composed with touch of genius and I can name it as top-notch metal hymns. For sure music world would be poorer without this band. Savatage didn’t maintain this masterly metal level later, they released next two weaker albums and their career seemed to fail. Fortunately they had met Paul O’ Neill and everything changed, but this is completely different story…

100/100

-Tlacaxipehualiztli

(previously written for Encyclopaedia Metallum, on December, 2010, now modified a bit)