Savatage — The Wake of Magellan (1997)
Release Date: October 17, 1997
Label: Atlantic Records
Genre: Progressive metal / heavy metal / concept album
Producer: Paul O’Neill & Savatage
Studio Album: Tenth studio album
The Wake of Magellan is another ambitious concept album and is often considered the final chapter of Savatage’s classic progressive era. The record blends maritime imagery, existential themes, and orchestral arrangements, continuing the theatrical direction established on Dead Winter Dead.
🎵 Tracklist
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The Ocean
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Welcome
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Turns to Me
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Morning Sun
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Another Way
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Blackjack Guillotine
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Paragons of Innocence
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Complaint in the System (Veronica Guerin)
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Undaunted
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The Wake of Magellan
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Anymore
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The Storm
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The Hourglass
(Track order may vary slightly depending on edition.)
👥 Line-Up & Credits
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Zak Stevens – lead vocals
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Jon Oliva – vocals, keyboards, piano
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Al Pitrelli – guitars
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Johnny Lee Middleton – bass
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Jeff Plate – drums
Production:
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Produced by Paul O’Neill & Savatage
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Recorded at Morrisound Recording (Florida)
🧠 Concept & Themes
The album tells the story of an elderly man contemplating suicide aboard a cruise ship, paralleled with historical reflections on explorer Ferdinand Magellan and modern societal struggles.
Major themes include:
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Redemption and second chances
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Media corruption and social injustice
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Faith and perseverance
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The metaphor of the ocean as life’s journey
It’s both a personal and societal narrative, blending fictional storytelling with real-world inspiration.
🎨 Cover Art (Accurate Description)
The cover of The Wake of Magellan features:
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A dramatic oceanic scene at sunset or twilight.
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A large, old-fashioned sailing ship navigating turbulent waters.
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Strong golden-orange and deep blue tones dominating the sky and sea.
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The Savatage logo at the top, with the album title beneath in bold serif lettering.
The imagery reflects themes of exploration, danger, destiny and reflection — visually reinforcing the album’s maritime and existential narrative.
🌊 Musical Style
The album blends:
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Heavy, aggressive tracks (Blackjack Guillotine)
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Emotional ballads (Anymore)
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Orchestral and cinematic arrangements (The Storm)
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Progressive multi-part compositions (The Wake of Magellan)
The orchestration is more pronounced than earlier albums, clearly foreshadowing the full symphonic direction of Trans-Siberian Orchestra.
📊 Reception & Legacy
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Praised by fans for its ambitious scope and emotional weight
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Considered one of Savatage’s strongest late-era releases
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Helped solidify the band’s identity as theatrical progressive metal pioneers
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Often viewed as the last fully realized Savatage concept epic
Though it did not achieve major commercial success, it remains a cult classic among progressive metal enthusiasts.
🎉 Fun Facts & Trivia
🚢 The Magellan theme acts as a metaphor for personal discovery and endurance.
📰 “Complaint in the System (Veronica Guerin)” references the real-life Irish journalist murdered in 1996.
🌊 The ocean imagery ties directly into the album’s philosophical tone — life as a storm to be navigated.
🎻 Many musical ideas from this era influenced future Trans-Siberian Orchestra compositions.
💡 Did You Know?
👉 The album was released exactly four years after the death of Criss Oliva (October 17).
👉 Some fans interpret the character’s internal struggle as partially autobiographical for Jon Oliva.
Download Savatage's Albums from Amazon
More Albums:
Savatage - Power of the Night (1985)
Savatage - Fight for the Rock (1986)
Savatage - Gutter Ballet (1989)
Savatage - Streets: A Rock Opera (1991)
Savatage - Edge of Thorns (1993)
Savatage - Handful of Rain (1994)
Savatage - Dead Winter Dead (1995)
