Album review: SAVATAGE – Sirens and Dungeons Are Calling (remasters)

ear-MUSIC [release date 3.09.21]

We’re cranking the machine way back to 1982, and Savatage’s twin debuts, Sirens and Dungeons Are Calling, both independently released.

The band, Jon and Criss Oliva, Keith Collins and Steve Wacholz recorded and mixed all the tracks in a day. Quite an achievement, but such was the limited storage capacity of vinyl, the recordings were split. Thus an LP and an EP were released.

Both have now been reissued in remastered form by Ear/Edel, who have embarked on a new series of back catalogue remasters. (Next up, Saga).

Defined by the the ominous chime of church bells and the clang of heavy metal guitars on Siren‘s opening track, the band’s doomy and direct metal had them wading into dark waters indeed.

The album wasn’t universally acclaimed, but even now, looking back, the tracks are performed with such vigorous animal intensity you can’t help but be impressed. ‘Holocaust’, ‘Rage’ and ‘Twisted Little Sister’ are just as visceral as the titles suggest. ***

Though Dungeons Are Calling was written and recorded at the same time, you have to say that it has the vision and the ambition that Sirens doesn’t.

Once we get past the theatricality of the intro, the title track has the band
really going for it. They’d clearly gained in confidence as the session progressed.

We’re in a heavy metal world of Dungeons And Dragons. ‘Midas Knight’ and ‘By The Grace Of The Witch’ simply quake with armour plated riffs and pneumatic rhythms. ‘City Beneath The Surface’ isn’t far behind. And yet… with the benefit of hindsight, a close examination of the lyrics reveal veiled references to the murky world of drug addiction, and an underlying empathy for lost souls… ‘I steal from my friends’, ‘a prisoner in hell’, ‘live like the dead’, and so forth. ***1/2

On both, the label’s rich remastering job has improved the listening experience. The “recorded in a cave” ambience has been replaced by a much more contemporary sound, adding depth and weight to the band’s recordings.

By accident or design, Savatage had created a substantial chunk of metalised music that would act as a loud and proud calling card. No surprise that Atlantic Records signed them within months of Sirens and Dungeons…’ release.

Review by Brian McGowan


Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.

In 2023 he signed a recording deal with Sony in Canada and released a new single on 15 September.

Josh Taerk Sunday Sessions 2024

Latest session: Sunday 25 February
Next session: Sunday 14 April

Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio



David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 25 February 2024.


UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 27 February 2024.

How to Listen Live?

Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)

Listen via Windows Media Player. Click or tap here and “open file”
Listen via other media player (eg. VLC) Click or tap here and “open file”

Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.

More information and links at our radio website where you can listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com


Power Plays w/c 4 March 2024

COLLATERAL Glass Sky (Big Shot Records)
THE ZUTONS Pauline (ICEPOP)
THE GEORGIA THUNDERBOLTS Rise Above It All (Mascot)
MATT PEARCE & THE MUTINY From Here To The Moon (indie)
THE BLACK VULTURES Never Say (indie)

Featured Albums w/c 4 March 2024

09:00-12:00 LEE AARON Tattoo Me (Metalville)
12:00-13:00 THE END MACHINE The Quantum Phase (Frontiers)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003-2023


To see our Tweets you need to be logged in to a Twitter account



Popular (last 10 days)


This entry was posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews and tagged , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Leave a Reply