1010 Savatage - The Dungeons Are Calling

I'm in a mood for some of Savatage's early work this morning. The sound of most of their earlier work, (prior to the Gutter Ballet album), differs quite a bit from their later Trans-Siberian Orchestraesque Symphonic Metal sound most would associate them with; some even refer to The Dungeons Are Calling as one of the first Death Metal albums. This song is, of course, the title track and takes its subject matter from drug addiction and the horrors associated.
The song actually starts out rather calm with Jon Oliva's singing with a guitar playing, but it builds rather fast. I love their use and placement of minor and major chords in this one keep an awesome atmosphere throughout. As always, Jon Oliva's "Shrieks of Terror" are mindblowing as well as Criss Oliva's "Metalaxe" work. For me this is one of their best songs to hear Steve "Doc Killdrum" Wacholz's drumming on the "Barbaric Cannons".

Here is the studio version on YouTube.
Here is a live performance of the song along with City Beneath the Surface circa '90 on YouTube.

My song pick a year ago today: Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) - I'm Alive
My song pick two years ago today: The Grateful Dead - Uncle John's Band

+

William's Song a Day Blog - est. September 2007