The Dungeons Are Calling | ||||
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EP by | ||||
Released | 1984 | |||
Recorded | January 1983 | |||
Studio | Morrisound (Tampa, Florida) | |||
Genre | Heavy metal | |||
Length | 24:54 | |||
Label | Par Records | |||
Producer | Dan Johnson | |||
Savatage chronology | ||||
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1994 CD edition cover | ||||
The Dungeons Are Calling is an EP by the American heavy metal band Savatage, released in 1984 by Par Records. Though the EP was not released until 1984, most of the songs featured on it and the debut album, Sirens , had been in the band set list since 1979, and are part of the Live in Clearwater and City Beneath the Surface EPs. The Dungeons Are Calling is a loosely based concept album and the title track, contrary to popular belief, is not about Hell or torture, but about the horrors of drug use. The song used many metaphors, which have been sometimes misunderstood. [1]
The tracks on this EP were recorded the same day as the tracks for the Sirens album. The two were meant to be a full-length debut but were divided due to limited space for songs on vinyl. The two were released together in 2011 for the first time "as they were meant to be" (Jon Oliva).
The cover is a picture of a human skull with a homemade syringe, a reference to the title track of the album.
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [2] |
Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal | 10/10 [3] |
Rock Hard | 9.5/10 [4] |
In 2005, The Dungeons Are Calling was ranked number 349 in Rock Hard magazine's book The 500 Greatest Rock & Metal Albums of All Time. [5]
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "The Dungeons Are Calling" | Jon Oliva, Criss Oliva, Keith Collins | 4:55 |
2. | "By the Grace of the Witch" | J. Oliva, C. Oliva | 3:16 |
3. | "Visions" | J. Oliva, C. Oliva | 3:05 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
4. | "Midas Knight" | J. Oliva, C. Oliva, Collins | 4:24 |
5. | "City Beneath the Surface" | J. Oliva, C. Oliva | 5:49 |
6. | "The Whip" | J. Oliva | 3:31 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
7. | "Fighting for Your Love" (demo) | J. Oliva, C. Oliva | 3:20 |
8. | "Sirens" (live) | J. Oliva, C. Oliva | 3:21 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
7. | "Metalhead" (demo) | J. Oliva, C. Oliva | 4:46 |
8. | "Before I Hang" (demo) | J. Oliva, C. Oliva | 4:12 |
9. | "Stranger in the Dark" (demo) | J. Oliva, C. Oliva | 5:01 |
99. | "Piper Rap" (hidden track) | 1:41 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
16. | "In the Dream" (acoustic version) | J. Oliva, C. Oliva | 3:34 |
Region | Date | Label | Format | Catalog |
---|---|---|---|---|
United States | 1984 | Par Records | Cassette | PAR1051M |
United States | April 15, 1985 [6] | Combat | EP | MX 6016 |
Europe | 1985 | Music for Nations | EP | RR 9793 |
Chart (2021) | Peak position |
---|---|
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) [7] | 15 |
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John Nicholas "Jon" Oliva is an American singer and musician. He is best known as the co-founder, keyboardist and lead vocalist of the heavy metal band Savatage, which he co-founded with his younger brother Criss Oliva. Since 1996 he has also been a songwriter, musician and vocalist in Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Producer Paul O'Neill referred to Oliva in numerous interviews as the single greatest vocalist/musician he has ever worked with.
Christopher Michael Oliva was an American musician who was the lead guitarist and co-founder of the heavy metal band Savatage. During his lifetime, he released seven studio albums and one EP with the band.
Zachary Trussell, known professionally as Zachary "Zak" Stevens, is an American singer, best known as the second lead vocalist of the heavy metal band Savatage. He currently performs with the heavy metal band Circle II Circle. Stevens also has a degree in psychology but is not, as is often reported, a licensed, practicing psychologist.
Christopher Caffery is an American heavy metal guitarist, best known for his work as a member of Savatage and the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Caffery has been releasing solo records singing and playing guitar for almost 20 years, releasing nine albums and many singles since 2004.
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