Savatage

Savatage is an American heavy metal band formed in Tarpon Springs, Florida, in 1979 by brothers Jon and Criss Oliva and drummer Steve Wacholz. The group is known for blending traditional metal with progressive song structures and orchestral textures, and for creating concept albums that tell extended musical stories.

During the 1980s, Savatage released a string of influential records that helped define their sound, including Sirens (1983), Hall of the Mountain King (1987), and Gutter Ballet (1989). Their 1991 album Streets: A Rock Opera expanded their approach to rock opera and ambitious storytelling, cementing their status in the progressive metal niche. The tragedy of Criss Oliva’s death in 1993 led the band to continue with Jon Oliva and a rotating lineup, producing Edge of Thorns (1993), Handful of Rain (1994), Dead Winter Dead (1995), and The Wake of Magellan (1997).

Savatage’s work also played a pivotal role in the formation of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, a collaborative project led by producer Paul O’Neill that adapted Savatage material for symphonic rock concerts and albums. This connection broadened the band’s influence beyond traditional metal circles and helped popularize the fusion of metal with orchestral arrangements.

Selected studio albums include Sirens (1983); Hall of the Mountain King (1987); Gutter Ballet (1989); Streets: A Rock Opera (1991); Edge of Thorns (1993); Handful of Rain (1994); Dead Winter Dead (1995); and The Wake of Magellan (1997). Savatage is regarded as a pioneering act in American progressive metal and concept albums, with a lasting impact on the genre.