Jon Oliva, best known of being the frontman of the Heavy Metal band SAVATAGE through their classic zenith years but also taking part as the band slowly depreciated into the darkest woods of nothingness, I have never quite considered him as the master of disguise, needless to say the officiator of his own little horrific show. Well, his debut solo act under his name, OLIVA, isn't that horrendous as ALICE COOPER or LIZZY BORDEN, but the veteran vocalist has it in his Jekyll and Hyde type voice to fool everyone. In comparison to Oliva's adjoined with his Heavy Metal act, JON OLIVA'S PAIN, his personal solo, involving mostly him at the front centre of everything, is largely different than anything if his past heavier  endeavours. "Raise The Curtain", via AFM Records, is like stepping into someone's dream state. Like in the movies, walking in a long hall of doors, each one is a sideshow, an event, influence, something to hold on to, memories and even anger and loathing. It might not be Alice Cooper's chamber of horrors, but this is a different kind of soul searching while not being gross about it.

Being a SAVATAGE fan didn't much help me with this number. Oliva's days were the best of times for SAVATAGE, but as the years went by things changed, Oliva found himself out of SAVATAGE, forming JON OLIVA'S PAIN, learning new tricks and mastering the keyboards, and as it turns out from this debut solo album, other instruments as well. And that is where Oliva's musical diversity comes along. I felt such a wild surge of energy, looking back to my childhood days, after the intro, "Raise The Curtain", as if I was about to listen once to THE WHO's "Tommy" musical or one of Alice Cooper's notorious trickeries of the late 70s but much more harmonies, a glittering welcoming soiree to someone's piece of mind. Believe that I didn't stop there, and there is so much to go one within the tracklist. Oliva travels throughout the world of Rock N' Roll, edgy, surprising, mysterious and mesmerising Hard Rock ("Ten Years" and "Armageddon"), right up the scratched wooden door step of Metal ("Soul Chaser", "Big Brother" and "Stalker"). But other than crunchy Rockish flavors led by his grimy evil grimacing voice, the silent anger and regret of "I Know", as if a reminiscent of an old SAVATAGE number from the dark alleys of "Fight For The Rock" or the wondering sights of "Streets" along with "Soldier", for the commemoration of lost soldiers, a token of tribute and respect highly emotional. Furthermore, it would be hard to miss the 80s atmosphere with the overcast of the keyboards, but above all, Oliva kept his guitaring playing melodic and ambient, even produced a few solos here and there, while not entrusting himself to mere rhythm engagements. This is an easy to listen, filled with suspense and expressive messages. I much appreciated the fine oriental harmonies of "Father Time", such a wonderful rocking sensation, ounces of keyboards but enjoyable, a trip through the 70s inside looking in the early 80s, smoothly made, so enchanting to get trapped by the web of lies.

"Raise The Curtain" made me finding out more about Jon Oliva and his musical taste. Not if it was intended, but I felt that I was rushing through his head, learning his wishes and his wills to be creative, conjure his entire philology under a single twelve tracks album. From Rock to Blues, from Hard Rock to Metal, Oliva is everywhere to be heard and seen. I was so fortunate to listen to this piece of music; I suggest that you would find your time to do the same.