Savatage
Streets - A Rock Opera

THE REVIEW

For those unfamiliar with SAVATAGE, this is a good opportunity to start.

A metal band from Florida founded in the early 80s by the Oliva brothers, Jon and the late Criss, but the story can be found anywhere.
The album is, according to many, the best they ever released, or at least the one that best identifies them. Powerful drums, incisive bass, simple yet harmonious guitars, and then the astounding piano/vocal pairing of the immense Jon Oliva.

Streets is a concept album that tells the story of an imaginary guitarist who went from the street, where he was dealing drugs, to success thanks to his talent with the six-string, only to collapse back into nothingness. Precisely for his activity as a dealer, he was called "Il Messia della Avenue D" and named DownTownJesus (literally Jesus of the slums).

Let's listen to the album: the title track opens the show, taking us to the streets of New York, where DTJesus lives, and tells us about his state of mind full of regrets and remorse. Jesus Saves explains the character, telling his story, it has now become a band classic, another milestone by Jon Oliva. Tonight He Grins Again finally lets us taste Jon's spectacular piano, and Strange Reality presents the protagonist's doubts as he finds himself in a world, that of alcohol and drugs, that he doesn't belong to.
A Little Too Far is the essence of Jon Oliva's creativity: a track with just piano and voice that gives you chills, with his voice, both harsh and sweet. Spectacular.
You're Alive is a brief track that tells about DTJesus's return to the scene, and opens up to Sammy and Tex, a powerful and incredibly fast piece where you understand why these two, the Olivas, were brothers not only by blood but also in creativity... Jon's vocal power is almost equal to Criss's guitar. St.Partrik's is nothing but a series of questions the protagonist asks God, where the piano always takes center stage. Can You Hear Me Now is Criss's piece, where the late guitarist expresses himself fully and leaves no doubt about his talent.
New York City Don't Mean Nothing is yet another track branded Jon Oliva, the absolute protagonist, explaining how the big City and its luxury aren't worth as he thought. Ghost In The Ruins is an intermediary track, however enriched with a nice guitar solo accompanied by a substantial bass. If I Go Away, with Jon's indispensable piano, is a tear-jerker, where DTJesus remembers his last love, wondering what would remain for her if he left, without having an answer.
Agony and Ecstasy is the last powerful track on the album, and talks about how DT is now tempted to return to the dirty world. Heal My Soul is another of Jon's poems, showing the protagonist's compassion. Somewhere in Time is the penultimate track, the band's calling card that shows all its melodic qualities in terms of power and orchestration, but it is only a prelude to Savatage's signature song... Believe arrives... a track that is as simple (technically speaking) as it is poignant for its anger, sweetness, meaning, and melody, a song destined to enter the hearts of many, with a perfect text that, if translated into our language, you could almost sing perfectly... Believe is unique, it cannot leave you indifferent, and, a small anecdote I take the liberty to make, it's the song of my life...

I'll be right there
I'll never leave
All I ask of you Is Believe