This is one of my all time favorite songs from one of the most underrated bands ever! Two distinct eras (the first with chris oliva on guitar and jon oliva singing, and the second with Zak Stevens on lead vocals and jon oliva still involved with writing) that are both amazing in their own ways. no matter what time period you listen to though, they love to bring the dramatic and theatrical. Their album "The Wake of Magellan" is a concept album and is in my top 3 albums of all time! You both have to check out #SeventhWonder "The Great Escape" . It's an amazing long form prog-metal song that I know you will love!

This song is a real showcase for Zak Stevens' incredible voice. Another song in this vein is The Wake of Magellan which I highly recommend.

A beautiful song from Savatage is "Edge of Thorns" #painintheask Cheers!

SAVATAGE a Always been a so great Band,with so many amazing songs . Good choice.

This is my single favorite song of all-time, period. So glad you did this, amazing reaction! I haven't seen anyone else react to it, for shame. This song was a present to the world. I don't think I'm exaggerating.

Savatage is my favorite band of all-time. Period.

This song is SOOO underated. But you two talked over my favorite part :S:S

The lead guitarist in this song is the same guy from the band Testament- Alex Skolnick. My favorite Savatage song is “When the Crowds are Gone”.

SAVATAGE - Morphine Child #painintheask loved this, cheers!

What an amazing song, one of my all time favorites... thanks for reacting!

Man, I haven't listened to "Handful of Rain" in a while, and yes, Chance is my favorite on that album. Great song and amazing band!

Unreal song, great album, incredible vocal’s & lyric’s, I just can’t say enough, all of savatage album’s especially the one’s with Paul O Neil are Masterpiece’s !

All of the guitarists Savatage has ever had are brilliant! My personal favorite is the Legend Criss Oliva, but Alex Skolnick certainly slayed it on this album!

I am a big savatage fan I hope you react to more of them they are pretty damn awesome

‘Metal Broadway’ is exactly it-these guys found their niche in writing rock opera albums and they RAN with it. This song is a favorite, and I also highly HIGHLY recommend the entire Dead Winter Dead album it is. Amazing.

#painintheask next Savatage 's Gutter Ballet and When the Crowds are Gone as a back-to-back double reaction. Two of the greatest power ballads ever.

The remain ing members formed the Trans-Siberian Orchestra.

Alex Skolnick on fireeeeeee! Again!!. Greetings From Argentina.

As a person who has listened to this song over 100 times, I loved y’alls facial reactions because I knew when y’all were gonna hear them🤘savatage forever

What a reaction....love savatage..🤘🤘🤘

I love, love, LOVE seeing people discover Savatage. My favorite is Hall of the Mountain King (the entire album), but my favorite song will probably always be "Sirens" - because that was my first introduction to Savatage. I am a huge, huge, HUGE Savatage fan (no band has come close to a favorite for myself) - but as others stated, Criss was tragically killed by a drunk driver and taken from us way too early, the greatness that he was achieving each album - cut short. Criss did Edge of Thorns album with Zak Stevens (who you hear in this song) - but would naturally be replaced by an amazing guitarist (Alex Skolnik, from Testament) - who also blew my mind when I saw him play Savatage (flew down to Florida to see the shows). And the way Alex spoke of Criss' parts was heart warming. Savatage continued to be incredible after Criss' passing - and this song is a great example of that. Thank you for giving Savatage a listen.

The MOST Underrated band of all Time, along with #Trouble

1 of the most underrated bands ever :D

SAVATAGE - GUTTER BALLET Their lead guitarist and brother of singer, died in a car accident.

Listening to Savatage alone, having reactions as yours make my day!!!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Greetings from Greece

Savatage : GUTTER BALLET/WHEN THE CROWDS ARE GONE next !!!

It's sooo cool to see someone have an eargasm to Savatage.

You may have noted the change in singers. The original singer is founding member Jon Oliva. Zachary Stevens is singing on this, and most of Savatage's later albums.

Believe is the song I use to convert people to Savatage So much emotion in his voice rarely hear someone say they are not blown away by Believe

Savatage is one of the greatest bands ever!!! I love them way more than Trans Siberian Orchestra. Chance is my favorite song from the Zack Steven's era easily. I remember when I got their live album Live In Japan and I saw that the song Chance was on it I got really excited. I could not wait to listen to it and see how they did the counterpoint part live. I was so sad that when I did listen to it that they ended the song right before the counterpoint part starts. Their producer Paul O Neil was furious that they did not do it for the live album. They eventually did do the whole song live on a later tour and it was PHENOMENAL. Almost every band member had to sing a part to make it work and they all did an amazing job.

In you want more Savatage,try Alone you breathe or The Hourglass😉

Fantastic song along with the iconic "Hall of the Mountain King", and my personal favorite which I fully recommend to you: "He Carves His Stone"

I love the excitement, Kel. 👍🏼😀

A fantastic song that is even more amazing watching them perform it live. I wish I have another opportunity, and this time have enough sense to record it. Got to hang with em after the shows on a couple of occasions. They were all about chilling and yakking with their fans after shows in smoke circles. My next wish: Universe! I hereby beseech a global reunion tour honoring Oliva and O'Niel! Thx kindly.

Such an underrated under appreciated band. Same reaction i had 1st time i listened to them in 97. Wake of Magellan, Dead Winter Dead epic masterpieces of music

It was always just one band, originally named Avatar, but only at the proverbial 11th hour before their first album was to go off to press, they learned another band already had that name and a name change had to happen tout-suite. Adding a "lightning bolt" style S at the front and altering "tar" to "tage" completed the name. I personally like the name Savatage much better than Avatar anyway. Savatage sounds like what one might get when they merge "savage + sabotage". As for any "two bands out of one", it was 1996, when the band's producer did indeed create a "spinoff" band called Trans-Siberian Orchestra, out of necessity when radio stations refused to play a certain song simply cos it was under the name of Savatage, and the snobby station refused to play metal. But had they bothered to listen, they'd have found out it was not a typical metal song. It was a rock version of the holiday carol, "Carol of The Bells", called Christmas Eve (Sarajevo 12/24/1990) which was originally on the Savatage album Dead Winter Dead. No changes were made to the song at all, just released on whole other concept album under a different name. Same lineup, same producer, etc. That is why I hate radio, lol.

Wow thanks for sharing. This song really has the TSO vibe. Just lost a precious loved one & watching your videos have really lifted my spirits. Thank you & keep it going. Love Savatage & you guys👍

Hey guys i saw savatage long with king diamond and illusion at the ritz in corpus Christi,Texas in the mid 80's a fantastic concert.

Savatage and the spin off group, The Tran-Siberian Orchestra were famous for their counter melodies (when they have two or more parts going at the same time). Some other famous songs that feature counter melodies include The Guess Who's "No Sugar/New Mother Nature, and Paul McCartney & Wings' Silly Love Songs".

Four years late on the comment, but for the record Savatage wasn't two bands coming together. The founding members were Jon and Criss Oliva, a drummer from up the street (doc killdrums) and essentially a "session player" bassist. Their name was "Avatar" but when they got signed to make their first album the name was taken so they had days to come up with a new name. Savage and Sabotage were also taken so they said f'it, "savatage." lol. This song is about a real life Japanese soldier tasked with ordering the killing of imprisoned soldiers and he let them go knowing he would be killed himself for it (as I recall). A truly heroic act. Their use of counterpoint vocals to demonstrate the "voices in his head" during this decision was brilliant. Something they would use several times in the albums to come. Yes I am a Savatage nerd, yes they are the kings of operatic metal and yes, y'all are adorable : )

Haha. I've been watching you guys for some days now and been really enjoying the way you feel the songs. But your reaction and that laugher when the whole chorus sang "Chance" just made my day. You got yourselves a regular follower here and a happy one may I add. Cheers guys.

This song is about Chiune Sugihara, a Japanese diplomat during WW2 who saved thousands of lives by issuing travel visas (against Imperial orders) to Jews fleeing occupied Lithuania. He was quietly retired by the Japanese government after the war, and lived out his life in anonymity for decades before some of those he saved finally tracked him down and brought public attention to his deeds. To this day he remains the only Japanese citizen to be named "Righteous Among the Nations" by the Israeli organization Yad Vashem. I mean, it's an epic song by itself. But along with the story behind it, it's inspirational.

When the Crowds are Gone and Gutter Ballet would both be fantastic choices, 2 of the best power ballads ever recorded. Fun fact, the classic Trans Siberian Orchestra song Christmas Eve/Sarajevo that you hear a million times during the holiday season? It actually first appeared on the Savatage album Dead Winter Dead. Then they decided to release a Christmas album as a side project, started Trans-Siberian Orchestra, and actually had more success with the side project than they ever did with their main band sadly.

Kel I agree 100 percent. One of my favorite bands. Extremely under rated. Later.

Of all the reaction channels on KZfaq, you guys are the first to do this awesome song. Because of that, you have a new subscriber. Not even that famous reaction couple who I will not name, lol haven't even done Savatage yet. Saw them do this song live in 2012 spring Trans Siberian Orchestra tour. If you like guitars and that Orchestra feel then try Anathema- Flying live from Bulgaria The guitar solo is insane. Another criminally underrated band like Savatage.

Alex Skolick on guitar here. He came in and helped out the band after Criss Oliva was killed. You really need the hear When The Crowds Are Gone, preferably from the amazing live record called When The Crowds Are Gone !!!

Best reaction couple EVER !!!

Nice vid. Love this song and band.

This very well may be my favorite savatage song of all time.

The counterpoint vocals : The producer (Paul O'Neill) had wanted the band to do this song live for the longest time, but the band would only do the first half, cos they never learned to do the counterpoint live - someone would always flub the words. During a concert that was being recorded for a live album, after much nagging by O'Neill, he asked the band, "Okay, you guys practiced this, right? You're ready to do this? I'm recording this and I want it captured!" and the band was like, "Oh yeah yeah we got it, no worries".... but they lied, lol. Right when the counterpoint section was supposed to begin, O'Neill is all pumped ready & waiting to hear it... and then... the band copped out and went into another song, lol. O'Neill was NOT happy, haha.

Admit it Kel this is the best song you've ever heard

as a long long time fan of savatage since back on "Hall of the mountain king" this band has me going through so many emotions i didnt even know existed, but there was a reaction from Kel that i had not seen before, if her reaction near the end is not an actual all out full on orgasm, then emotions are a joke, if i am ever lucky enough in my lifetime to be sitting near a gal who has that kind of reaction to any savatage song i have blasting, then i will die an extremely happy man, till then, what a joy to see a lady have a blessed dose of one of the most iconic bands ever, well done

Lovely reactions!

This is got to be one of my all time favorite songs from Savatage

Well said!!!!

There are a few songs from Savatage that are connected. "When the Crowds Are Gone", "Believe", "Alone You Breath". Listen in that order and you'll get it. Also the song Gutter Ballet is awesome! If you like Savatage and symphonies and such you'll also like Trans Siberian Orchestra. They're basically Savatage renamed, they play old songs, they made a few Christmas albums and some regular ones. If you decide to take on this quest have fun! :)

Doesn't matter whether you're a Savatage fan or not, the fact remains that in my 30+ years carreer as a metalhead I've never heard a more underrated band than them. And since you love concept albums, they've made quite a few: Streets: A Rock Opera, Wake of Magellan and Dead Winter Dead. Streets is the more popular one, though Wake of Magellan is one of my top favourite albums of all time.

Savatage really turned into Transiberean Orchestra, after the death of Chris Olivia. You folks should do a Christmas show and review all the best songs by Transiberean Orchestra. Christmas at Sarajevo was first released on the "Dead Winter Dead album by Savatage.

kzfaq.info/get/bejne/r5OnnNdjzpPNg3k.html TSO from this last tour. "Chance" Zak Stevens, lead vocals, two other Savatage members Chris Caffèry, guitar and Jeff Plate, drums. The other guitarist is Whitesnake's Joel Hoekstra. Alex Skolnick was also a member of TSO for some years. Al Pitrelli, guitar, ex Megadeath, Alice Cooper and Johnny Lee Middleton are also members of TSO but are with the West group. I think Zak is awesome here. This was his third tour with TSO. I am so glad they finally included him.

When I saw you were doing this song, I had to see what you thought of the round at the end. This is the first time they did it, but this became a Savatage fingerprint. They did this three more times on the next two cds, Not What You See, The Wake of Magellan and The Hourglass. It becomes almost an orchestra of voices when they do it and I love it.

😂😂😂nice reaction👏👏👏😂😂😂

SAVATAGE - Strange Wings #painintheask

#savatage Damien

The TSO pulls this baby off in concert like you'd never think possible -- but it's always Zach on vocals unless it's the West tour.

This was the first Savatage album after Criss Oliva passed away. The most amazing thing about this album is that all instruments heard were recorded by Jon Oliva. Such a talent.

After reacting to Savatage and Queensryche it would be a crime not to react to Crimson Glory...any song from their first two albums with Midnight on vocals. I recommend song Azrael

You can tell where TSO comes from !!! And that would be Alex Skolnick on guitar.

Late to this reaction, but the live version by TSO (with the orginal singer) is every bit as good as you thought it could be.

Great video! Just figured I could fill you in on the story behind their name. The original name for the band when they were just a local act in Tarpon Springs, FL was Avatar. But when they got signed, they found out that there was already a band by that name in Europe producing albums. So John, Criss and their wives (might have been GFs at the time) were sitting around the table one night and one of them had the idea to put a Kiss "S" in front of it, which they loved, but thought that Savatar sounded like the name of a dinosaur, so eventually it morphed into Savatage. . . . just a little tid bit from the past!!!

Not many know of Savatage you have to do "gutter ballet" and "whe the crowds are gone" that's just a couple off top of my head love y'all guys

8:40 Kel straight up looks like she is having an eargasm

Hands down my favorite savatage album.

hoping you read old comments - this is about a man named Chiune Sugihara, known as the "Japanese Schindler." He was a government official that saved thousands of Jews by helping them escape from Germany. The overlaying vocals, a hallmark of Savatage songs, is about the conflicting voices in his head as he decides if he should risk everything to help these people.

Greetings from California. If you liked this try their "Streets" album , concept in that it tells the story of musician and his rise to fame and his struggles with addiction "When the crowds are gone" is a fave along with 'Jesus Saves " the name of the main character great job on the channel. Oh and get a room you two. Lol

You have been Savataged!

Savatage rocks!!!

Savatage has a habit of giving eargasms

In case you were not aware, members of Savatage became Trans Siberian Orchestra.

Savatage ALWAYS epic

Savatage best band ever

#wearewithyou yyeeeeeeeessssssss!!!

I hope you guys found a higher quality version. This song is amazing and it definitely lost something with the low quality. Glad you enjoyed though! Handful of Rain was the album that introduced me to prog metal, and Chance in particular. It blew my fucking mind when I was like 15. Savatage are so good at being dramatic and operatic.

Awesome reaction to a great song. My introduction to Savatage was Gutter Ballet and it's still one of my favorite tracks. So #painintheask Savatage - Gutter Ballet

It's fun watching people discover Tran Siberian Orchestra by accident after they basically had been around 10 years earlier. As a Christmas gift I give you a shovel so you can go digging for the the true "whole experience". Enjoy the gift of Savatage

You don't really get it from the lyrics, but this song is about Chiune Sugihara, look him up, really interesting history.

This isnt original singer/founder, Jon Oliva. His brother had died in a car accident on the way to a local(Tampa/Zephyrhills)music festival, LIVESTOCK 3. It was raining hard.

Savatage RULES! RIP Criss Oliva

Savatage FOREVER ..lol

these guys met at a music school,cant remember which one,i think stanford but not sure,but they are all classic trained,just like kel,u could do this too :)

Sucker for the guitars, sucker for the opera, sucker for the symphony and when you put all that together you get...THERION

Despite all the classics with Jon Oliva on vocals, this is the absolute masterpiece for me from Savatage! Nothing more to say!

Oh and you see the influence by Paul O'Neill the producer starting to push to Dead Winter Dead which of course launched TSO

como pode não tocar nas rádios? quase ninguém conhecê? som maravilhoso...

One of the most epic songs of their entire career....Love this song and its still amazing cannot wait to see Trans Siberian Orchestra do this one again this year...I hope they do.

SAVATAGE RULES

Try Savatage... Edge of Thorns

Savatage- check the albums Dead Winter Dead , and The Wake of Magellan. Both are concept albums. All songs stand for themselves.

Broadway Metal was their answer to how would you describe your music question from the Greek Metal Hammer in the 90's

Such an underrated band. Anyone have this vinyl for sale?