SAVATAGE — Handful Of Rain (review)

SAVATAGE — Handful Of Rain album cover Album · 1994 · Heavy Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
2.5/5 ·
Stooge
Handful of Rain was the first Savatage album I ever purchased, and I did so for one reason: Alex Skolnick. I had learned it was the only Savatage studio album he played on, but I did not know of the circumstances that brought him into the group. The tragic loss of guitarist Criss Oliva was a crushing blow to the group, leaving the status of Savatage up in the air.

Jon Oliva couldn’t just let the band fade away so easily. As a result, he puts on several hats by playing everything on this album aside from the lead guitar and vocals (uncredited in the liner notes). For Handful of Rain, he basically plays the role of Savatage, a natural fit for their founder and main songwriter.

Another thing made more evident from the circumstances of the time is the heavy emotions that flow through this album. Sure, Savatage have been doing the piano ballad thing for a number of albums at this point, but this is definitely not as happy an album as Edge of Thorns. It can be a very uplifting album for me at times, but on other listens it can make me feel depressed. Go figure!

There are a couple of tracks that stand apart from the others on this album. “Chance”, which is one of my favorite Savatage songs of all time, is wonderfully arranged and truly puts the listener on a journey. Album closer “Alone You Breathe” is a well-done, heart-warming tribute to Criss Oliva.

I’d say this isn’t one of the bands most consistent albums, and I don’t find the more traditional rock/metal tracks within to be all that interesting, but Handful of Rain is still a good listen. If you like the Savatage style from Gutter Ballet and later, you should be reasonably pleased with this album.
Share this review
more

Review Comments

Post a public comment below | Send private message to the reviewer
Please login to post a shout
No shouts posted yet. Be the first member to do so above!

Review Index

Member Zone

Username:
Password:
Stay signed in

Metal Subgenres

Artists Alpha-index

MMA TOP 5 Metal ALBUMS

Rating by members, ranked by custom algorithm
Albums with 30 ratings and more
Master of Puppets Thrash Metal
METALLICA
Buy this album from our partners
Paranoid Heavy Metal
BLACK SABBATH
Buy this album from our partners
Moving Pictures Hard Rock
RUSH
Buy this album from our partners
Powerslave NWoBHM
IRON MAIDEN
Buy this album from our partners
Rising Heavy Metal
RAINBOW
Buy this album from our partners

New Metal Artists

New Metal Releases

A Sonication Technical Death Metal
OBSCURA
Buy this album from MMA partners
Hin helga kvöl Atmospheric Sludge Metal
SÓLSTAFIR
Buy this album from MMA partners
The Cycles of Suffering Black Metal
BURIAL OATH
Buy this album from MMA partners
The Suns of Perdition - Chapter IV: To Shadow Zion Black Metal
PANZERFAUST
Buy this album from MMA partners
Facilis Descensus Averno Death Metal
SAEVUS FINIS
Buy this album from MMA partners
More new releases

New Metal Online Videos

DAWN OF REVENGE - Sanctuary [official music video]
DAWN OF REVENGE
Bosh66· 6 days ago
DAWN OF REVENGE - Farewell [official music video]
DAWN OF REVENGE
Bosh66· 6 days ago
DAWN OF REVENGE - Curtain of Death - [official music video]
DAWN OF REVENGE
Bosh66· 6 days ago
DAWN OF REVENGE - Vengeance [official music video]
DAWN OF REVENGE
Bosh66· 6 days ago
DAWN OF REVENGE - I Need You [official music video]
DAWN OF REVENGE
Bosh66· 6 days ago
More videos

New MMA Metal Forum Topics

More in the forums

New Site interactions

More...

Latest Metal News

members-submitted

More in the forums

Social Media

Follow us
Follow us on Twitter Become a Facebook fan RSS Feed