Savatage - Of Rage and War

Artist: Savatage
Song: Of Rage and War
Album: Gutter Ballet (1989)
Label: Atlantic Records
Country of origin: United States
Location:Tampa, Florida
Formed in:1983
Genre: Heavy/Power Metal, Progressive Metal/Rock
Lyrical themes: Dark fantasy, Horror, Metal (early); Real life stories, Introspection (later)

Savatage – Of Rage and War

Gutter Ballet is generally heralded as an absolute masterpiece of progressive metal, and the band’s high point by some. This, the energetic, thundering and haunting single taken from the album, deserves in its part of said project, but I don’t feel it’s their best effort.

‘Of Rage and War’ is a strong number with subject matter focusing on the chaos in the modern world; conflict, racism, nuclear war, chemical weapons and the like. While the title is excellent for this particular type of subject matter, I think the chorus carries it through with enough momentum; it’s kind of anti-climactic. The riff under the chorus is driving, haunting and thumping, but the vocal doesn’t quite execute – don’t get me wrong I f**king Love Jon Oliva – this is just not one of his finest chorus efforts.

His vocals in the haunting intro passage coming in with the ominous sound of helicopters are excellent. His shouting, moaning sounds are almost ‘Led Zeppelin-ish’, before kicking into what could be defined as ‘thrash’ vocal territory, particularly given the songs subject matter – I guess this sound is probably rougher than much of the rest of this progressive concept-ish album. The verses are well-written and negative.

The guitars are not overly amazing, but there are some good crunchy riffs. I particularly like the sound of the closing riff which has that classic 80’s Savatage feel. Drums come through very crisp, but again there’s nothing too great being done here. The bass has this very crisp almost ‘light’ sound to it that works well, and the bass riffs themselves are often simplistic and repetitive – not necessarily a bad thing. Overall a decent track, but I’m not entirely sure about its choice as a single. Then again, much of the material on the album is a bit less-straight forward, if you know what I mean – so this could’ve been a good choice in that respect. No B-side to this one either, which is another down-point.

Lyrics:
You got Libya you got the Russians
You got civilian planes crashing to the oceans
Airports full of terrorists
Nagi skins anarchists
When are they gonna learn

Better listen to me you son of a bitch
Better disarm those missiles sleeping in the ditch
You have no goddamn right to do the things you do
The world would be a better place if we were rid of you
Of rage and war
Of rage and war
Of rage and war
Of rage and war

Every country's got the bomb
The scientists are working on
Chemical weapons to melt the flesh
With no source of defense
Shoot me I'll shoot you
Like there's nothing better to do
Who's the loser in the end

Better listen to me you son of a bitch
Better disarm those missiles sleeping in the ditch
You have no goddamn right to do the things you do
The world would be a better place if we were rid of you
Of rage and war
Of rage and war
Of rage and war
Of rage and war

War broods in foreign lands
Missiles launch upon command
Islam Lebanon what the hell is going on
Ambassadors who say they try
Negotiating suicide
Are they prepared to face the end
Of rage and war
Of rage and war
Of rage and war
Of rage and war

Songwriters: Christopher M Oliva / Jon Oliva / Paul O' Neill

Savatage - Rage and War © Warner Chappell Music, Inc