STREETS - A ROCK OPERA

An interesting album, it deserves much more attention. Savatage was a straight US power metal band in the eighties, but after the release of the "Hall of the Mountain King" album, they started to change their style and with the helping hand of Paul O'Neill, it turned to a more melodic and musical-influented heavy/power/progressive metal band. Broadway-metal, if you wish. "Streets" is a conceptual album, it's even more ballad and non-metal orientated then its predecessor "Gutter Ballet". The ballads are very emotional and sometime slightly cheesy, but it's not so disturbing. The heavier songs are all excellent, the title track, 'Can You Hear Me Now' and 'Ghost In The Ruins' are very powerful songs whilst 'A Little Too Far', 'If I Go Away' and 'Believe' ( the most recognised Savatage song ) shows the melodic and emotional side of the band.

Recommended for fans of concept rock albums. You won't be disapointed.

8.5/10