Handful of Rain

Infobox Album |
Name = Handful of Rain
Type = Album
Artist = Savatage


Released = August 16, 1994
Recorded =
Genre = Heavy metal Symphonic metal Power metal
Length = 49:03
Label = Atlantic/Wea
Producer = Jon Oliva Paul O'Neill
Reviews = * Allmusic Rating|3|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:18qpg4hntv5z~T00 link]
Last album = "Edge of Thorns" (1993)
This album = Handful of Rain (1994)
Next album = "Chance EP" (1995)
Misc = singles
Name = Handful of Rain
Type = studio
single 1 = Handful of Rain
single 1 date = 1994
single 2 = Chance
single 2 date = 1995

"Handful of Rain" is a heavy metal album by Savatage that was released in 1994. The first album since the tragic death of their lead guitarist, Criss Oliva, the music is often dark in reflection of brother Jon Oliva's loss. "Alone You Breathe" is a tribute to Criss which reuses the chord progression (albeit in a different key) and lyrics from the song "Believe" in its long coda, although the lyrics do not mirror his death and the song is not literally about him. The tour in support of this album was documented in the live release, "Japan Live '94", which was released in 1995.

The album also marks the first time Savatage would write a trademark vocal canon in a song. The third section of "Chance" has at one point, five overdubbed vocals from singer Zak Stevens.cite web
url = http://www.savatage.com/bandinfo/faq3.html
title = Savatage FAQ, Section 2 - The Albums, Part 2
publisher = Savatage.com
accessdate = 2008-05-16]

Track listing

#"Taunting Cobras" (J. Oliva) – 3:21 ( [http://www.savatage.com/audio/handfulofrain/tauntingcobras.mp3 Complete song clip] )
#"Handful of Rain" (J. Oliva) – 5:25 ( [http://www.savatage.com/audio/handfulofrain/handfulofrain.mp3 20 Second Clip] )
#"Chance" (J. Oliva/O'Neill) – 7:50
#"Stare into the Sun" (J. Oliva/O'Neill) – 4:43
#"Castles Burning" (J. Oliva) – 4:39
#"Visions" (Instrumental) (C. Oliva/J. Oliva) – 1:25
#"Watching You Fall" (J. Oliva) – 5:20
#"Nothing's Going On" – 4:09
#"Symmetry" (J. Oliva/O'Neill) – 5:04
#"Alone You Breathe" (J. Oliva/O'Neill) – 7:30 ( [http://www.savatage.com/audio/handfulofrain/aloneyoubreathe.mp3 20 Second Clip] )

1997 Edel re-release tracks

11. "Somewhere in Time/Alone You Breathe" (Acoustic Version) - 4:38

2002 SPV Re-Release Tracks

11. "Chance" (Radio Edit) - 4:50
12. "Alone You Breathe" (Acoustic) - 4:38

Personnel

Due to the shake-up in the band following Criss's death, the line-ups were somewhat unclear at the time. Drummer Steve Wacholz left the band and did not play on the album, but he is pictured in the album to maintain a more "classic" Savatage line-up. Bassist Middleton was apparently still too much in shock about Criss to go into the studio, but he did do the tour for the album. Jeff Plate did not play the drums on the album, but was pictured as part of the band line-up in one edition of the album. Plate would become a fully-fledged member of the band by the time of their next release, "Dead Winter Dead" in 1995.

Credited Line-Up

*Zak Stevens - vocals
*Alex Skolnick - guitar
*Johnny Lee Middleton - bass
*Steve Wacholz - drums

Actual Line-Up

*Zachary Stevens - vocals
*Alex Skolnick - lead guitar
*Jon Oliva - majority of rhythm guitar, bass guitar, keyboards, drums

Touring Line-Up

*Zachary Stevens - lead vocals
*Alex Skolnick - lead guitar
*Jon Oliva - rhythm guitar, keyboards and vocals
*Johnny Lee Middleton - bass
*Jeff Plate - drums

References