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Festival: WITH FULL FORCE - Germany, June 22, 2001
Magazine: Rock Hard/Germany
Issue: 8/2001
Written by: Gotz Kuhnemund
Translated by: Yvonne Kluitman
Edited by: Kathy Tijou

Festival: WITH FULL FORCE - Germany, June 22, 2001		Magazine: Rock Hard/Germany Issue: 8/2001 Written by: Gotz Kuhnemund Translated by: Yvonne Kluitman Edited by: Kathy Tijou

Unfortunately, because of poor sound from the mainstage that has lasted all day, I was not able to come to a clear conclusion about SAVATAGE. Although the song choice was of real class, I can't allow myself a real opinion about the new singer Damond, because merely parts of songs got through. I have the feeling that (in contrary to the new guitar player Jack Frost) the visually still too introverted frontman has the capacity to interpret the classics like "Hall Of The Mountain King", "24 Hours Ago", "Edge Of Thorns" and "Gutter Ballet", very well, even though he fails the unbelievable scream of Jon Oliva in his best days.

By the way Jon: he also sang several songs, proved with it once again his vocal exhaution. I don't want to give a final conclusion here and refer hereby to the Ballinger review.

		Unfortunately, because of poor sound from the mainstage that has lasted all day, I was not able to come to a clear conclusion about SAVATAGE. Although the song choice was of real class, I can't allow myself a real opinion about the new singer Damond, because merely parts of songs got through. I have the feeling that (in contrary to the new guitar player Jack Frost) the visually still too introverted frontman has the capacity to interpret the classics like "Hall Of The Mountain King", "24 Hours Ago", "Edge Of Thorns" and "Gutter Ballet", very well, even though he fails the unbelievable scream of Jon Oliva in his best days. By the way Jon: he also sang several songs, proved with it once again his vocal exhaution. I don't want to give a final conclusion here and refer hereby to the Ballinger review.

Festival: GRASPOP - Belgium, June 23, 2001
Magazine: Aardschok/Netherlands
Issue: 8/9 2001
Written by: Martien Koolen
Translated by: Yvonne Kluitman
Edited by: Kathy Tijou

Festival: GRASPOP - Belgium, June 23, 2001		Magazine: Aardschok/Netherlands Issue: 8/9 2001 Written by: Martien Koolen Translated by: Yvonne Kluitman Edited by: Kathy Tijou

Considering the fact that it's a metal fest, SAVATAGE decided to play only heavy songs like: "Power Of The Night", "Sirens", "Of Rage And War", "Edge Of Thorns" and "Hall Of The Mountain King". Songs in which the new axeman stays upright easily.
During "Chance" and "Gutter Ballet" we get a chance to judge the new Savathroath. Of course it's not Zak, because he sings clearly lower, but his enthusiasm is overwhelming. Also, in support of Jon's vocals, he's sounding (also in the difficult parts) very convincing.
It's just a matter of getting used to. Important is that SAVATAGE, with music considered, gave away an awesome show. I'm already looking forward to the "Poets & Madmen" tour.

		Considering the fact that it's a metal fest, SAVATAGE decided to play only heavy songs like: "Power Of The Night", "Sirens", "Of Rage And War", "Edge Of Thorns" and "Hall Of The Mountain King". Songs in which the new axeman stays upright easily. During "Chance" and "Gutter Ballet" we get a chance to judge the new Savathroath. Of course it's not Zak, because he sings clearly lower, but his enthusiasm is overwhelming. Also, in support of Jon's vocals, he's sounding (also in the difficult parts) very convincing. It's just a matter of getting used to. Important is that SAVATAGE, with music considered, gave away an awesome show. I'm already looking forward to the "Poets & Madmen" tour.

Festival: BANG YOUR HEAD - Germany, June 30, 2001
Magazine: Rock Hard/Germany
Issue: 8/2001
Written by: Wolfgang Schafer/Matthias Breusch
Translated by: Yvonne Kluitman
Edited by: Kathy Tijou

Festival: BANG YOUR HEAD - Germany, June 30, 2001		Magazine: Rock Hard/Germany Issue: 8/2001 Written by: Wolfgang Schafer/Matthias Breusch Translated by: Yvonne Kluitman Edited by: Kathy Tijou

First of all has to be said: the SAVATAGE setlist was suburb, with numerous classics that were played very competently, quite heavily and with a lot of enthusiasm. With attractive riff power they inflamed a compact riff firework and didn't miss a thing. Kindled supremely, they proved (aside from some grumbler) that the band still hasn't lost its live grip at all. Even the dazzling outfit of Chris Caffery couldn't change that. Disturbing though were the vocal shortcomings, heard from the visually strange and vague looking new frontman, Damond Jiniya, as with the Mountain King himself. The last has to give in more and more on his old contributions and could often only get a hoarse and growling sound out of his throath. Whether Damond will be able to solve this dilemma all by himself is doubtful. Because many shows with this line-up haven't been played yet. The Ballinger-show is not much of a standard. The audience looked at it quite differently though, and honored their heroes with a tempestuous applause.

SAVATAGE was in best of moods around their BYH gig!!! They had no fear of meeting with their numerous fans, walked all day on the festival grounds, shopped at the many stands. Chief buyer: gimmick- and decorator freak, Chris Caffery, completed the decor of the Sava-Nightliner with a kitsch-beautiful skull-hourglass. Mountain King, Jon Oliva, was already grinning from ear to ear early Friday morning when he ran into his old friend Geoff Thorpe (Vicious Rumors). So far the tour with "Judas Priest" has been great, although I had to get pretty angry halfway with certain people because they kept screwing with our sound. This kind of childish behavior I just don't have time for. Other than that everything was really cool. Ripper will be on stage with us the coming days. He used to sing in a cover band which played songs like "24 Hours Ago" and "Hall Of The Mountain King". After the show Jon was looking forward to the next gig in Athens: "Over there we're like a sandwich filling in between Rotting Christ and Cradle Of Filth. So we will, especially for the black metal lovers, enter the stage with "Jesus Saves", hahahaha!"

A very special experience had the new singer Damond Jiniya out at night on Friday till Saturday. "The Party tent is great! I was watching a great cover band and stood in the front row when all of a sudden they pulled off "Chance". Hey, you've gotta see that!" His request to get the rest of the guys out there failed. Crew and busdriver were trying to get everyone to leave.

		First of all has to be said: the SAVATAGE setlist was suburb, with numerous classics that were played very competently, quite heavily and with a lot of enthusiasm. With attractive riff power they inflamed a compact riff firework and didn't miss a thing. Kindled supremely, they proved (aside from some grumbler) that the band still hasn't lost its live grip at all. Even the dazzling outfit of Chris Caffery couldn't change that. Disturbing though were the vocal shortcomings, heard from the visually strange and vague looking new frontman, Damond Jiniya, as with the Mountain King himself. The last has to give in more and more on his old contributions and could often only get a hoarse and growling sound out of his throath. Whether Damond will be able to solve this dilemma all by himself is doubtful. Because many shows with this line-up haven't been played yet. The Ballinger-show is not much of a standard. The audience looked at it quite differently though, and honored their heroes with a tempestuous applause. SAVATAGE was in best of moods around their BYH gig!!! They had no fear of meeting with their numerous fans, walked all day on the festival grounds, shopped at the many stands. Chief buyer: gimmick- and decorator freak, Chris Caffery, completed the decor of the Sava-Nightliner with a kitsch-beautiful skull-hourglass. Mountain King, Jon Oliva, was already grinning from ear to ear early Friday morning when he ran into his old friend Geoff Thorpe (Vicious Rumors). So far the tour with "Judas Priest" has been great, although I had to get pretty angry halfway with certain people because they kept screwing with our sound. This kind of childish behavior I just don't have time for. Other than that everything was really cool. Ripper will be on stage with us the coming days. He used to sing in a cover band which played songs like "24 Hours Ago" and "Hall Of The Mountain King". After the show Jon was looking forward to the next gig in Athens: "Over there we're like a sandwich filling in between Rotting Christ and Cradle Of Filth. So we will, especially for the black metal lovers, enter the stage with "Jesus Saves", hahahaha!" A very special experience had the new singer Damond Jiniya out at night on Friday till Saturday. "The Party tent is great! I was watching a great cover band and stood in the front row when all of a sudden they pulled off "Chance". Hey, you've gotta see that!" His request to get the rest of the guys out there failed. Crew and busdriver were trying to get everyone to leave.

Festival: BOSPOP - Netherlands, July 14, 2001
Magazine: Aardschok/Netherlands
Issue: 8/9 2001
Written by: Mike van Rijswijk
Translated by: Yvonne Kluitman
Edited by: Kathy Tijou

Festival: BOSPOP - Netherlands, July 14, 2001		Magazine: Aardschok/Netherlands Issue: 8/9 2001 Written by: Mike van Rijswijk Translated by: Yvonne Kluitman Edited by: Kathy Tijou

Proven today was the fact that headliners don't always take the stage last. It was really busy in front of the stage as SAVATAGE quietly plays the Graspop-set once more. Chris Caffery was fighting a food poisoning he got in Spain, handles his task very well. "Sirens", "City Beneath The Surface" and Gutter Ballet" make you forget the cold. Almost every title song from every album passes by quickly, one after each other, that the whole concert is raging past like a medley. It even stops raining. What else is there to wish for after Graspop but yet another wonderful SAVATAGE show. Now they're off for a few weeks, then it's off to a tour through South America and then back in October to Europe again with Amored Saint as the supporting act. If we're lucky they might bring a singer instead of the Dani klone.

		Proven today was the fact that headliners don't always take the stage last. It was really busy in front of the stage as SAVATAGE quietly plays the Graspop-set once more. Chris Caffery was fighting a food poisoning he got in Spain, handles his task very well. "Sirens", "City Beneath The Surface" and Gutter Ballet" make you forget the cold. Almost every title song from every album passes by quickly, one after each other, that the whole concert is raging past like a medley. It even stops raining. What else is there to wish for after Graspop but yet another wonderful SAVATAGE show. Now they're off for a few weeks, then it's off to a tour through South America and then back in October to Europe again with Amored Saint as the supporting act. If we're lucky they might bring a singer instead of the Dani klone.

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