SAVATAGE — Handful Of Rain (review)

SAVATAGE — Handful Of Rain album cover Album · 1994 · Heavy Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
2.5/5 ·
Stooge
Handful of Rain was the first Savatage album I ever purchased, and I did so for one reason: Alex Skolnick. I had learned it was the only Savatage studio album he played on, but I did not know of the circumstances that brought him into the group. The tragic loss of guitarist Criss Oliva was a crushing blow to the group, leaving the status of Savatage up in the air.

Jon Oliva couldn’t just let the band fade away so easily. As a result, he puts on several hats by playing everything on this album aside from the lead guitar and vocals (uncredited in the liner notes). For Handful of Rain, he basically plays the role of Savatage, a natural fit for their founder and main songwriter.

Another thing made more evident from the circumstances of the time is the heavy emotions that flow through this album. Sure, Savatage have been doing the piano ballad thing for a number of albums at this point, but this is definitely not as happy an album as Edge of Thorns. It can be a very uplifting album for me at times, but on other listens it can make me feel depressed. Go figure!

There are a couple of tracks that stand apart from the others on this album. “Chance”, which is one of my favorite Savatage songs of all time, is wonderfully arranged and truly puts the listener on a journey. Album closer “Alone You Breathe” is a well-done, heart-warming tribute to Criss Oliva.

I’d say this isn’t one of the bands most consistent albums, and I don’t find the more traditional rock/metal tracks within to be all that interesting, but Handful of Rain is still a good listen. If you like the Savatage style from Gutter Ballet and later, you should be reasonably pleased with this album.
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