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Savatage - Hall Of The Mountain King



8.8 | 564 votes |
Release date: 28 September 1987
Style: Progressive heavy metal

Owners:

675 have it
65 want it


01. 24 Hours Ago
02. Beyond The Doors Of The Dark
03. Legions
04. Strange Wings [feat. Ray Gillen]
05. Prelude To Madness
06. Hall Of The Mountain King
07. The Price You Pay
08. White Witch
09. Last Dawn
10. Devastation
11. Stay [1997 Edel Music CD reissue bonus]
12. Hall Of The Mountain King [live] [2002 SPV CD reissue bonus]
13. Devastation [live] [2002 SPV CD reissue bonus]
14. Castles Burning [acoustic version] [2011 EarMusic CD reissue bonus]
15. Somewhere In Time/Alone You Breathe [acoustic version] [2011 EarMusic CD reissue bonus]

Top 20 albums of 1987: 4
Top 200 albums of all time: 131

Guest review by
Opan
Rating:
9.8
This is one hell of a dark album. On any given Savatage album, there is a lot of gloom, but Hall Of The Mountain King is the most murky of all. Not in an evil way, but more in a cold, desolate way. They type of feeling you'd get on the bottom of the ocean, watching a sunset in Antarctica, or on some distant mountain top, shrouded in clouds. This is helped by the massive amount of chorus on Criss' guitars. Even the catchy, radio ready songs like "Strange Wings" and "The Price You Pay" have a healthy dose of melancholy to them.

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published 05.03.2012 | Comments (5)

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Comments

Comments: 27   Visited by: 855 users
01.03.2012 - 19:33
Rating: 10
Korah

That album is almost perfect. The best by Savatage by far.
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31.10.2012 - 12:08
Rating: 9
bblitz

Excellent album,Savatage is awesome underrated band.
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31.10.2012 - 19:45
Lit.
Account deleted
Prelude to Madness is undoubtly my favorite instrumental.
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23.01.2013 - 01:27
Rating: 9
Kocha

The first six songs are perfect in every way, there isn't one thing I'd change there. The price you pay is a quality ballad, but it's a real shame they couldn't close it out in the same manner. Don't get me wrong, the last three songs are not bad at all, it's just that I feel they kind of don't belong here, especially White witch. It almost ruins the atmosphere created by the previous tracks. Still, I'd give it something like 9.5.
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05.02.2013 - 03:52
Lit.
Account deleted
Written by Kocha on 23.01.2013 at 01:27

The first six songs are perfect in every way, there isn't one thing I'd change there. The price you pay is a quality ballad, but it's a real shame they couldn't close it out in the same manner. Don't get me wrong, the last three songs are not bad at all, it's just that I feel they kind of don't belong here, especially White witch. It almost ruins the atmosphere created by the previous tracks. Still, I'd give it something like 9.5.

But White Witch is one of the best songs on the album.
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15.12.2013 - 02:30
Rating: 8
LeKiwi
High Fist Prog
Just listened to the title track. Why have I not heard of this before?! That grooving guitar...those beast vocals...omg...omg...
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14.02.2014 - 20:29
pkillerjp

Written by Guest on 05.02.2013 at 03:52

Written by Kocha on 23.01.2013 at 01:27

The first six songs are perfect in every way, there isn't one thing I'd change there. The price you pay is a quality ballad, but it's a real shame they couldn't close it out in the same manner. Don't get me wrong, the last three songs are not bad at all, it's just that I feel they kind of don't belong here, especially White witch. It almost ruins the atmosphere created by the previous tracks. Still, I'd give it something like 9.5.

But White Witch is one of the best songs on the album.



White Witch smokes, I agree. Classic album, no real low points.
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26.07.2015 - 16:38
Rating: 9
Bad English
Tage Westerlund
Written by Kocha on 23.01.2013 at 01:27

The first six songs are perfect in every way, there isn't one thing I'd change there. The price you pay is a quality ballad, but it's a real shame they couldn't close it out in the same manner. Don't get me wrong, the last three songs are not bad at all, it's just that I feel they kind of don't belong here, especially White witch. It almost ruins the atmosphere created by the previous tracks. Still, I'd give it something like 9.5.


in some way I agree their ballads are weak , I dunno, they never worked on me as other ballads do
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26.07.2015 - 17:07
Marcel Hubregtse
Grumpy Old Fuck
Written by Bad English on 26.07.2015 at 16:38

Written by Kocha on 23.01.2013 at 01:27

The first six songs are perfect in every way, there isn't one thing I'd change there. The price you pay is a quality ballad, but it's a real shame they couldn't close it out in the same manner. Don't get me wrong, the last three songs are not bad at all, it's just that I feel they kind of don't belong here, especially White witch. It almost ruins the atmosphere created by the previous tracks. Still, I'd give it something like 9.5.


in some way I agree their ballads are weak , I dunno, they never worked on me as other ballads do


Where does he say their ballads are weak?
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05.04.1963 - 15.12.1996

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26.07.2015 - 17:11
Rating: 9
Bad English
Tage Westerlund
Written by Marcel Hubregtse on 26.07.2015 at 17:07

Written by Bad English on 26.07.2015 at 16:38

Written by Kocha on 23.01.2013 at 01:27

The first six songs are perfect in every way, there isn't one thing I'd change there. The price you pay is a quality ballad, but it's a real shame they couldn't close it out in the same manner. Don't get me wrong, the last three songs are not bad at all, it's just that I feel they kind of don't belong here, especially White witch. It almost ruins the atmosphere created by the previous tracks. Still, I'd give it something like 9.5.


in some way I agree their ballads are weak , I dunno, they never worked on me as other ballads do


Where does he say their ballads are weak?


I am Erik .... cant read , my mistake
The price you pay is a quality ballad... this part I saw of between last 2 words
Now make fun about me, all are welcome
----
Life is to short for LOVE, there is many great things to do online !!!

Stormtroopers of Death - ''Speak English or Die''
apos;'
[image]
I better die, because I never will learn speek english, so I choose dieing
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10.09.2015 - 15:34
Rating: 9
Sang Dalang Abu

Wow. I don't know why I never even touch this album when i was a kid.

Now I remember. I must looking for an original cassete in my brother storeroom
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25.12.2019 - 04:22
Rating: 9
DeathMetal

What a god damn great album, god damn.
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23.03.2020 - 09:04
Rating: 9
majormalfunction

Oh man what a album! This is just a excellent album that still sound as good as ever, that guitar tone is just mind-blowing!
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23.03.2020 - 22:21
Rating: 9
Redel

Written by majormalfunction on 23.03.2020 at 09:04

This is just a excellent album that still sound as good as ever, that guitar tone is just mind-blowing!


Aged really well, I agree, better than Streets e.g.
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24.03.2020 - 09:42
Rating: 9
majormalfunction

Written by Redel on 23.03.2020 at 22:21

Aged really well, I agree, better than Streets e.g.


Yeah I would say that too, still I really love Streets. I don't like the sound mix that much and at times the variation in songs puts off the flow, but the songs themself are for most part really good
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24.03.2020 - 21:36
Rating: 9
Redel

Written by majormalfunction on 24.03.2020 at 09:42

Yeah I would say that too, still I really love Streets. I don't like the sound mix that much and at times the variation in songs puts off the flow, but the songs themself are for most part really good

+1
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15.07.2020 - 18:49
Rating: 10
Joppe
Steelemeister
Magnificent heavy metal and say others what they may, this -- and also Gutter's -- is the style that Savatage really excelled in, not the later "opera" heavy stuff. This similar style was heard already on the debut "Sirens" and here it is bettered and perfected, and most in songwriting. Both of Oliva's are going to town on this record; the guitar parts are super enjoyable to listen and riffs are highly memorable. Jon is doing probably his best vocals on this album and manages almost to challenge the great James Rivera -- not quite in shrieks though -- by his vocal performance. "24 Hours Ago", "Strange Wings" and "Hall Of The Mountain King" would probably be my favourites, but there's no weak songs so the preference could change.

The album is a masterpiece, as I don't think that there's a single dull moment on this album. While I see this album and Gutter as Savatage's magnum opuses, to me it's unfortunate that the band didn't even attempt to make another more traditional sounding heavy metal album after this
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07.10.2020 - 15:03
Rating: 7
Roman Doez
Hallucigenia
I listened to this album for the first time today and god I am blown away, I wasn't expecting it to be that good ! Such a great release
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08.10.2020 - 02:23
JoHn Doe

Written by Roman Doez on 07.10.2020 at 15:03

I listened to this album for the first time today and god I am blown away, I wasn't expecting it to be that good ! Such a great release


are you a newbie to Savatage? They have a solid discography if you ask me. I'm sure you've been told to explore their albums. If not, consider this post me telling you they are worth exploring.
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08.10.2020 - 09:30
Rating: 7
Roman Doez
Hallucigenia
Written by JoHn Doe on 08.10.2020 at 02:23

Written by Roman Doez on 07.10.2020 at 15:03

I listened to this album for the first time today and god I am blown away, I wasn't expecting it to be that good ! Such a great release


are you a newbie to Savatage? They have a solid discography if you ask me. I'm sure you've been told to explore their albums. If not, consider this post me telling you they are worth exploring.


I've listened to this one and gutter ballet because I was told they were the best and so far I'm blown away! I'll for sure check out their other albums, especially considering how high they're all rated here
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04.05.2021 - 09:52
Rating: 9
AndyMetalFreak
A Nice Guy
This album is a genuine classic, and one of my favorite Heavy metal albums of all time, it's an album I keep coming back to when I need a bit of motivating, or cheering up.

The guitar riffs are highly addictive, and some of the best, and catchiest I've ever heard, the guitar work is outstanding and so are the vocals, and I love most tracks on the album, my favourites being the title track, "24 hours ago", "Legions", and "Beyond the Doors of the Dark", the weaker one's being "White Witch", "Last Dawn", and "Prelude To Madness".
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07.11.2021 - 16:19
Rating: 9
F3ynman2000
Nocturnal Bro
I keep forgetting how awesome this album is! And every time when I come back to it I'm astounded all over again! My only complaint is the song "White Witch" The rest though is incredible
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25.03.2022 - 14:52
Rating: 8
nonZero

Written by AndyMetalFreak on 04.05.2021 at 09:52

it's a perfect 10 from me.

So why the 9 rating?
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25.03.2022 - 15:49
Rating: 9
AndyMetalFreak
A Nice Guy
Written by nonZero on 25.03.2022 at 14:52

Written by AndyMetalFreak on 04.05.2021 at 09:52

it's a perfect 10 from me.

So why the 9 rating?

I have since had a big overhaul on my rating system, alot of albums I initially thought of as perfect, have been not as perfect as I originally thought, like this one for instance, it's very close to a 10, but for me "Prelude To Madness", "White Witch" and "Last Dawn" let It down slightly.

I have a tendency now to rate out of 100 and anything I personally find as 95 or above I give a 10, this I have as 94, so it's mightily close. I used to rate albums a 10 that I simply obsessed over, but I've often found now that the novelty wares off quickly, so I try and make a more accurate judgement before rating now.

Thanks for bringing this to my attention I've updated that post.
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25.03.2022 - 16:01
Rating: 8
nonZero

Written by AndyMetalFreak on 25.03.2022 at 15:49

Written by nonZero on 25.03.2022 at 14:52

Written by AndyMetalFreak on 04.05.2021 at 09:52

it's a perfect 10 from me.

So why the 9 rating?

I have since had a big overhaul on my rating system, alot of albums I initially thought of as perfect, have been not as perfect as I originally thought, like this one for instance, it's very close to a 10, but for me "Prelude To Madness", "White Witch" and "Last Dawn" let It down slightly.

I have a tendency now to rate out of 100 and anything I personally find as 95 or above I give a 10, this I have as 94, so it's mightily close. I used to rate albums a 10 that I simply obsessed over, but I've often found now that the novelty wares off quickly, so I try and make a more accurate judgement before rating now.

Thanks for bringing this to my attention I've updated that post.

Makes sense!
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25.03.2022 - 16:21
Rating: 9
Redel

Written by AndyMetalFreak on 25.03.2022 at 15:49

"Prelude To Madness", "White Witch" and "Last Dawn" let It down slightly.

I agree, these are the weaker songs here. I would add Beyond the Doors of the Dark. These aside a very close 10.
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11.12.2023 - 17:16
Rating: 9
T. T. B. Dragon

This really was a spectacular release, there isn't a really bad song on it, but I confess I don't like Beyond The Doors Of The Dark very much, although there are some good moments too. The tracks I liked the most: Strange Wings, Legions, Hall of The Mountain King, The Price You Pay, White Witch and Devastation.
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