After almost four years of absence the American Gods, Savatage, return with Poets And Madmen. Commissar is the first (and might as well be the last) single of the forthcoming album. The single has three tracks. Two from Poets and Madmen (Commissar and Drive) and one unreleased song from Wake Of Magellan.
Commissar is a typical Savatage song (if we can ever use the word typical for Savatage) which combines the Dead Winter Dead era with Dr Butcher and Trans-Siberian Orchestra. I bet most of you have already heard this song 'cause it's also available online. It's without any doubt heavier than Wake Of Magellan and that might make some old Savafans happy. It's a great song in my opinion and one of the best off the new album. I can't stop listening to it 'cause it screams out that Savatage are fuckin' back! Chris Caffery did a great job on the guitars (the tapping solo on Commissar rules) and Jon sounds great. On the other hand Drive is maybe the most mediocre song off the new album. I can't compare it to any other songs they have made. Some may love it but it's not as good as the other tracks on the disc. What I like on this song is the Queenish feeling. Some guitar parts remind me a lot of Bicycle Race by Queen. Voyage now is just an acoustic guitar song by Al Pitrelli (he did it in the studio during the recordings of Wake Of Magellan album). It's a nice tune but it only lasts two and a half minutes.
I don't like and I don't buy singles. This time it's different. I know that many of you are dying to hear the new album so this single will help you survive till the release of the whole album. I can't say it's Godlike but Commissar kicks some major ass. Sooner or later there will be a preview of the whole album and after some time a full review. So stay tuned.