Wednesday, September 2: Savatage, “By the Grace of the Witch”
The Dungeons are Calling was recorded the same day as Sirens, and its tracks were meant to ultimately fit onto Savatage’s debut album. However, vinyl limitations in the early ‘80s resulted in that session being split into one full-length and an EP. And that turned out to be a blessing, as tracks like “By the Grace of the Witch” felt darker and grimier than the more anthemic and diverse tunes on Sirens, lending credence to Jon Oliva’s claim that the songs on The Dungeons are Calling constituted a loose song cycle about addiction. From Criss Oliva’s ominous riff to Steve Wacholz’s persistent backbeat, “By the Grace of the Witch” transcended Savatage’s indie origins (and Dan Richardson’s low-budget production actually made the tune sound more dangerous) and made a more stirring case for the band as upstarts than most of Sirens. In the ensuing years, the Olivas would both enhance and undermine their cause, but this was an early victory.










