Edge of Thorns

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Edge of Thorns
EdgeofThorns.jpg
Studio album by Savatage
Released April 2, 1993
Genre Progressive metal, power metal
Length 59:54
Label Atlantic
Producer Paul O'Neill
Jon Oliva
Criss Oliva
Savatage chronology
Streets: A Rock Opera'
(1991)Streets: A Rock Opera'1991		 Edge of Thorns
(1993)		 Handful of Rain
(1994)Handful of Rain1994
Singles from Edge of Thorns
  1. "Edge of Thorns"
    Released: 1993
  2. "Sleep"
    Released: 1993
Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic 4/5 stars [1]
Toph Morris Excellent [2]

Edge of Thorns is the seventh album by American heavy metal band Savatage, released on April 2nd, 1993 on Atlantic Records.

It was the last album to contain the talents of the late guitarist Criss Oliva and it is the first Savatage album to feature Zachary Stevens on lead vocals, following the departure of Jon Oliva from the fore of the band.

Also the drums on this album sound different, from other Savatage records, as Steve "Doc" Wacholz decided to use electronic drums. Although most of the drum kits sound authentic, a difference in the sonority of the toms can be heard.[3]

All That I Bleed and Miles Away were the last songs Jon Oliva, Criss Oliva and the producer Paul O'Neill wrote together. For that, these are still Jon Oliva's two favorites on the album.[4]

The woman in the picture of the album art is Dawn Oliva, Criss Oliva's wife. Gary Smith, who also did the front and back covers for Hall of the Mountain King, the front cover for Gutter Ballet, the back cover for Streets, and all of Criss Oliva's airbrushed guitars, painted the cover. The face in the trees is supposed to be Jon Oliva, though producer Paul O'Neill disputes that despite its publication in a Criss Oliva interview from 1993. The cover is supposed to represent good (the woman) vs. evil (the face in the trees). According to Criss Oliva in a 1993 interview, "The girl is surrounded by fear and innocence. But the face in the trees is evil. Everything around her is evil. It's about good and evil. The songs on the CD reflect this, too."[3]

The opening piano riff to the title track was used extensively in the MTV reality series The Real World: San Francisco during scenes involving the hospitalization of Pedro Zamora.

Reception

Sea of Tranquility reviewer Murat Batmaz defined the album as "completely different" from its predecessor, Streets: A Rock Opera. He mentioned that Edge of Thorns was more "guitar-driven" and praised guitarist Criss Oliva's performance in particular. Batmaz also gave a special mention to new vocalist Zak Stevens, noting that his vocals are "smooth, melodic and more accessible."[5]

Track listing

All music composed by Criss Oliva, Jon Oliva and Paul O'Neill. All lyrics written by Paul O'Neill and Jon Oliva.

Original CD release
No. Title Length
1. "Edge of Thorns"   5:54
2. "He Carves His Stone"   4:14
3. "Lights Out"   3:10
4. "Skraggy's Tomb"   4:22
5. "Labyrinths"   1:29
6. "Follow Me"   5:08
7. "Exit Music"   3:05
8. "Degrees of Sanity"   4:36
9. "Conversation Piece"   4:10
10. "All That I Bleed"   4:41
11. "Damien"   3:53
12. "Miles Away"   5:06
13. "Sleep"   3:52

Personnel

Band members

Additional musicians

  • Jon Oliva – Piano, Keyboards (studio only), drums on tracks "He Carves His Stone" and "Degrees Of Sanity" [3]
  • Andy James - drums (touring member only)
  • Wes Garren - rhythm guitar and keys - (touring member only)

References

  1. ↑ Edge of Thorns at AllMusic
  2. ↑ Official Band review
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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