Music Reviews

Savatage

Poets & Madmen

Nuclear Blast America

The latest heavy metal opera from Savatage, Poets & Madmen tells of one Kevin Carter, a professional photographer who spent several years in Africa documenting “the” famine. He returns to the USA and goes insane. Years later, three youths come across Carter’s file, in the ruins of the abandoned loony bin where he was caged up•

And the rest is metal opera history. The album opens with “Stay With Me a While,” an eerie yet majestic tune that sounds like Savatage spent a lot of time listening to Alice Cooper’s more biohorrific tunes. There’s a lot of this on “There in the Silence,” and, and… And most of the songs, the whole thing sounds like a Broadway original cast recording of some well-crafted metal musical. It’s all strangely familiar, like an Andrew Lloyd Webber show done completely in heavy metal.

Nuclear Blast America, 1453-A 14th St. #324, Santa Monica, CA 90404; http://www.nuclearblastusa.com, http://www.savatage.com


Recently on Ink 19...

Swans

Swans

Event Reviews

40 years on, Michael Gira and Swans continue to bring a ritualistic experience that needs to be heard in order to be believed. Featured photo by Reese Cann.

Eclipse 2024

Eclipse 2024

Features

The biggest astronomical event of the decade coincides with a long overdue trip to Austin, Texas.

Sun Ra

Sun Ra

Music Reviews

At the Showcase: Live in Chicago 1976/1977 (Jazz Detective). Review by Bob Pomeroy.

Dark Water

Dark Water

Screen Reviews

J-Horror classic Dark Water (2002) makes the skin crawl with an unease that lasts long after the film is over. Phil Bailey reviews the new Arrow Video release.