When it comes to metal, not just power metal, “Hall of the
Mountain King” has to be one of the shining moments in metal history. There’s
no doubt in my mind that this particular album is one of those landmark albums
that helped shape my mind to the world of metal as I know it and if I had to
guess, you might feel that way as well. Aside from being Savatage’s magnum
opus, this album epitomizes what it means putting your heart and soul into an
album. They say, you only get out what you put in. Well, it won’t take long to
realize that the guys from Savatage put every ounce of their metal souls into
this album, as the output is simply a masterpiece.
First and foremost, this is far and away, the best vocal performance
of Jon Oliva’s career. I’ve enjoyed every piece of work of his, be it Savatage,
his solo work or even TSO, but nothing will ever live up to “Hall of the
Mountain King.” His trademark wails and shrieks once again, share center stage
as the driving force of this album. Now, if you’ve listened to Savatage, this is
nothing new, but the amount of emotion and passion Oliva poured into his vocals
on this album can truly be heard as he belts out his haunting shrieks on “Hall
of the Mountain King”. Of course, Jon’s vocal range is very diverse and there
is seemingly no limit to his ability. Whether it’s clean singing, deeper raspy
vocals or his harsh shouts, his voice sounds perfectly in tune with the atmosphere
of the album; dark, dynamic and powerful.
I mentioned that Jon’s vocals shared the spotlight as the
driving force. That is because the second of this two headed giant of power
metal brilliance belongs to his brother, Criss’ guitar work. Now, I have
mentioned Criss Oliva’s magnificent guitar work before, so I won’t heap too
much praise that I have for this man’s ability. Criss plays a wide variety of
riffs that are simply exuberant, creating a powerful and robust sound, but also
maintains a melodic touch that gives each song its own unique characteristic.
The guitar tone set on this album is what I would say, the purest definition of
heavy metal. It’s a sound that energizes its listener and captivates your attention
while sticking with you long after you listen. The solos on “Hall of the Mountain
King” erupt with such fluidity and power, yet are not simply bouts of shredding
madness. Yes, there are some speedy solos, but others rely on tempo shifts and
melodic sounding chords that help showcase both Criss’ songwriting and ability
to wield his axe.
I’ll admit, that due to the Oliva’s musical magical they
share, that Doc Wacholz’s drums can almost seem lost within such majesty. That
may hold true on many Savatage albums, but on “Hall of the Mountain King” they
are just as magical and every part as important to the overall sound. The
pounding on the titular track sets the tone of the song, establishing a
forceful rhythm and energetic pulse that accentuates the Oliva magic. The same
can be said for the bass, which is given more than enough spotlight to showcase
it’s heavy, yet playful grooves (see the opening of “Legions”), while the
keyboards and pianos help create an enchanting sound that only adds to the
already mythological atmosphere of the album.
From start to finish, “Hall of the Mountain King is a Tour
de Force. Each song carries it own story, one that adds an additional layer to
the album as a whole. From the Iron Maiden sounding “Devastation” to the speed
metal laced “White Witch” and the cover of Edvard Grieg's "Prelude to
Madness". Everything, from the songwriting, musicianship, producing, mastering,
hell even the cover art is top notch. When you excel at every facet of creativity,
you produced an album such as “Hall of the Mountain King” and you produce one
of the pinnacles of heavy metal history.
Highlights: “Hall of the Mountain King” “White Witch” “Beyond
the Doors of the Dark” “The Price You Pay”
Rating: 5
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