I’m going to make a safe bet that most of this site’s readers are Savatage fans. While I’ll never get tired of spinning classics such as Hall of the Mountain King and Gutter Ballet, or revisiting my junior high favorite, Edge of Thorns, sometimes I get greedy and wish for more. If you’re like me and 11 albums (and a legendary EP) aren’t enough, there’s always the Savatage offshoots. Jon Oliva’s Pain put out a string of albums in the 2000s, only to fold about a decade ago. The Zak Stevens fronted Circle II Circle is still active, but haven’t released a new album since 2015. Finally, there’s the most commercially successful post-Savatage venture, Trans-Siberian Orchestra. TSO is essentially Savatage for people who have no idea who Savatage is. They’ve remained consistent, touring every Christmastime, and raking in tens (if not hundreds) of millions of dollars annually. But even TSO haven’t released an album since 2015.
Taking all of this into account, I was ecstatic upon hearing about Frontiers’ latest supergroup creation, Archon Angel. The voice of 90s Savatage, Stevens, is joined by veteran players Aldo Lonobile (guitars), Yves Campion (bass), and Marco Lazzarini (drums). Keyboards are provided by the guesting Antonio Agate. Will Archon Angel supply my much needed Savatage fix? From the sounds of the opening track, “Fallen”, you’re damn right they will. Holy hell this song is excellent. Stevens’ voice is untouched by time nearly 30 years later. As much as I want to listen to this track on repeat, it’s on to “The Serpent”. This track contains all the key ingredients that made 90s Savatage perfect: introspective lyrics, progressive twists and turns, dramatic keyboards/strings, and flashy guitar work.
Guitarist Aldo Lonobile cannot be applauded enough for his hard hitting riffs and well crafted guitar solos. His work shines on tracks such as the anthemic “Rise” and brooding “Under the Spell”. One can’t help but make comparisons to the late Criss Oliva. With that said, these parts seem less a cheap imitation and more a respectful homage to a legend gone too soon. Job well done Aldo.
Halfway through, we’re presented the heaviest track on the album thus far, “Twilight”. Loaded with razor, sharp riffage from Lonobile and suspenseful strings, it’s my favorite song on the album next to the title track. The chorus sings, “…All your past mistakes are lying in its wake…All your dreams remain in the shadows of twilight…” with an atmosphere that can only be described as bleak. “Twilight” is a hauntingly beautiful display of progressive metal mastery.
Historically speaking, no matter how good the first half is, these Frontiers supergroup/project albums tend to lose steam come the second half. “Faces of Innocence” is a departure from the pure 90s Savatage worship that makes up the first half of Fallen, but I’m still onboard. It reminds me of one of the more polished Jon Oliva era tracks. Think “Strange Wings” or “She’s in Love”. Sadly, the streak of perfection ends with a couple generic metal tracks (“Hit the Wall”, “Who’s in the Mirror”) and an underwhelming ballad (“Brought to the Edge”). None of these songs are bad per se. They just don’t pack the punch that the first six do.
Fallen closes the way it started and that’s in epic Savatage fashion. “Return of the Storm” is an ode to being figuratively trapped on a ship in the middle of the sea. As we’re suddenly upheaved by a violent storm, Stevens soothes us with poignant lyrics: “If you cry out wanting, waiting for me, then I will return. If my spirit brings you comfort, if it’s that for which you yearn. I will promise you that I’ll stand by you and watch you everyday. Return from where you came, I’ll give you refuge through the pain.” I know it’s not “metal”, but I’ll admit it: “Return of the Storm” almost made me cry. Besides being such a beautiful, inspiring song, it’s a reminder of just how much Savatage means to me. They’re a band that’s been with me through the best and worst times of my life. To have something new even close to resembling that means a lot.
Despite a few missteps, Fallen is a great album that is bound to satisfy the Savatage legions worldwide. I’m not sure what the ratio of Frontiers projects being one and done to longstanding is, but I really hope Archon Angel sticks around for the long run. Savatage isn’t getting back together anytime soon. If this is as close as it’ll get, I’ll gladly take it.
8 out of 10
Label: Frontiers Records
Genre: Progressive Metal
For fans of: 90s Savatage, Circle II Circle, Trans-Siberian Orchestra