Savatage write history

Each of us surely still has some musical dreams. At the top of my list for many years was Savatage – to be honest, I never believed I would ever get to see this band live. This shows how special 14 June 2025 in Oberhausen was for me. I was as excited as a little kid on Christmas Eve.

Unfortunately, the conditions were not ideal, as the Turbinenhalle resembled a sauna, just like the night before with King Diamond (more on that later). Only this Saturday it was significantly hotter, as the venue was completely sold out, contrary to Friday, and a bit too crowded for my taste. At this point, I would like to praise the attentive security staff, who kept us supplied with water, at least in the front rows. Unfortunately, this is not always a given.

But now to Savatage! I have been to countless concerts. But I have never been to a gig where all 4,000 people in the audience sang along with total dedication from the first to the last second, feeling every note and crying again and again. After the first sounds of “Welcome“, it was clear that this evening would go down in history.

I'm sure the band themselves were surprised at how much their performance meant to the audience. Since I was standing right at the front, I could see looks of disbelief repeatedly – alongside blissful grins, especially on the faces of Chris, Lee and Zak. I would like to emphasise this in general: not only were there world-class musicians on stage, but also extremely likeable people who you wanted to give a hug.

When it was announced last year that Savatage would return to the world's stages without mastermind Jon, there were certainly sceptical voices. I also had to form an opinion about it first. However, after yesterday at the latest, it is clear that Zak, Chris, Lee, Al and Jeff are 100% Savatage in 2025 – reinforced by the two wonderful keyboardists Paulo Cuevas and Shawn McNair.

When Zak announced in the final part of the set that he wanted to introduce the band, a magical moment unfolded: Jon appeared on the video screen, sitting at the piano and playing “Believe“ – along with “Gutter Ballet“, the best song ever recorded by a metal band. Many tears were already flowing, but this was intensified by the images of Criss that accompanied this godly anthem. Jon and Criss were also an essential part of this evening, in the hearts of the fans anyway. Anyone who handles the legacy of the two band founders with such dignity deserves a standing ovation. Everything, absolutely everything, was perfect here.

It is also worth mentioning that the band has put together a set list that does justice to the current lineup. Since every Savatage album is outstanding, it is quite challenging to get it wrong. The fact that The Wake of Magellan was represented with six songs is completely justified, given the quality of this often underrated opus.

Savatage never made it big commercially. In a fair world, they would be playing as acclaimed headliners in the biggest stadiums. But would that still be Savatage? Jon always struggled with his demons, which resulted in music that could and can give broken souls immeasurable strength. Jon understands you when you're down and out – and he reaches out a hand to you. And all he asks of you is... believe. Savatage are therefore a band that knows the dark side of human existence and thus creates art that is genuine, unique and important in every respect.

I would argue that Oberhausen is a turning point in the band's history. After this hot, magical evening, it is clear that the legend is back. It is more vital than ever – and in the Turbinenhalle, it experienced that there are many people who are hopelessly addicted to it. What I personally felt during “Gutter Ballet“, “Edge of Thorns“ and “Believe" is something no drug in the world can provide. Against this backdrop, future tours are likely to sell out quickly. The story that Jon and Criss Oliva once began is far from over.