Savatage--Handful of Rain

Savatage--Handful of Rain (1994/Atlantic) Rating--6.9

Second offering with Zach Stevens on vox, and this one has an added bonus---Alex Skolnick (formerly of Testament) is featured on guitar. His signatures are most evident during the solos. Otherwise, the music and songwriting is fairly similar to the band's overall direction over the past few albums: still rocking out in places, but drowning in piano in others.
The heavy riffing of "Taunting Cobras" is nasty and thick, and "Nothing Going On" is a wide-open ripper. Great soloing flows throughout "Chance," and "Castles Burning" has its moments as well.
The disc's top highlight is the title track, as it begins with an acoustic, winding-and-smoky intro, before giving way to a killer slow-groove.
Not bad, and I know a lot of people really dig Savatage's '90s work. A lot depends on taste, as in ways it could possibly be viewed as progressive, except the keyboards are replaced by traditional piano work. A nice twist, but not as all-out heavy as in the '80s.
HOT CHOPS: There's a great mid-song acoustic guitar picking section in "Handful of Rain"---nice, subtle work by Skolnick, with melodious vox layered on top.
TRACK LIST: Taunting Cobras/Handful of Rain/Chance/Stare into the Sun/Castles Burning/Visions (Instrumental)/Watching You Fall/Nothing Going On/Symmetry/Alone You Breathe

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