John Oliva needs no introduction, the man behind Savatage and the Trans-Siberian Orchestra released his second album with John Oliva’s Pain (JOP) called Manical Renderings. This album reminds me of the famous Savatage era with classic albums like Hall Of The Mountain King (1987), Gutter Ballet (1989) and Streets (1991). On these albums John did the lead vocals with his extremely powerful voice. His first CD with JOP Tage Mahal (2004) was a kind of rebirth of the famous Savatage-period already, Manical Renderings however is definitely the come back (?) of this great metal legend. Together with the former Circle II Circle musicians John Zahner (keyboard), Kevin Rothney (bass, backing vocals) and Matt Laporte (guitar) and with Christopher Kinder on drums and Shane French on guitar JOP is without any doubt a fabulous band.

The first song, Hall Of The Mountain King …… I’m sorry, the title of the song is Through the eyes of the King, is almost a copy of Hall Of The Mountain King. I’m not going to complain as this song has everything a John Oliva song must have. Superb!! The only difference with the former album is his weight of John.

Manical Renderings however isn’t a copy of one of the former Savatage albums, each song has definitely Savatage elements, but all songs (except Through the eyes of the King) are new symphonic, epical metal songs with a lot of energy, emotions, power and great structures. Most heavy song is Push It To The Limit, this song is blowing out of your speakers and is definitely one of the most heavy and fast songs John has ever written. On the second part of the cd the songs are more slowing down, John is singing more emotional and with more religious influences. But yet there are enough heavy parts and great solo’s. Last song is the semi acoustic ballad Pray For You Now, a memorial to the late Chris Oliva. A very emotional song but not a worthy ending of the album; now the cd is fading out…, I think that is a pity; the song doesn’t fit with the other outstanding material.

On Manical Renderings there are only strong songs, if you like the old Savatage songs, you can buy this record blindly. Both the limited editions are included a bonus song that counts over 10 minutes.