It’s hard not to respect the band Savatage and it’s easy to see why the group has an avid fan base.

On albums like “Poets & Madmen” — their 11th and last album to date — Savatage blends progressive metal with a hint of operatic styles to add story and meaning.

When I was given this CD, I was warned it probably wouldn’t be up my alley. But as I listened to the album a few times, I kept gradually getting more sucked in.

My first impression of Savatage was a hybrid of elements from Metallica, Queen, late Pink Floyd, and Emerson, Lake and Palmer.

In fact, the band toured with Metallica in 1986. And, the group’s producer Paul O’Neill also lists Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Queen and Pink Floyd as influences.

Dig it

“Poets & Madmen” is concept album loosely based on a fictitious version of the life of journalist Kevin Carter, who won the 1994 Pulitzer Prize for feature photography for a picture of a malnourished Sudanese child with a vulture in the background.

Carter would come under scrutiny in 1993 after many accused him of not helping the starving toddler reach a nearby feeding center.

Carter committed suicide the next year, leaving behind a rather dire note that references “starving or wounded children” and “trigger-happy madmen.”

The photo, like Carter’s story, is captivating.

I made the mistake of listening to “Poets & Madmen” twice before I read Carter’s story. Once I knew of the album’s connections to Carter’s life, it cast the album in a whole new light.

The fate of the girl in Carter’s photo is unknown, which gives a haunting meaning to the lyrics “Jesus / what’s the reason / for this child that / will not survive / with all her dreams inside / could she mean nothing to thee” in the song “The Rumor.”

Didn’t dig it

While the themes and the story behind the album are fascinating, it can be hard to follow them if you don’t know the background or aren’t specifically looking for it.

Jon Oliva sings poetic lyrics, but the meaning can occasionally be hidden in metaphor, which can be hard to pick up through the guitar-driven metal.

 Key track

“Morphine Child” best shows how opera ties into the Savatage’s sound. Reports say that Jon Oliva saw a performance of “Phantom of the Opera” in Toronto, and was inspired to move the band in a more progressive, complex direction. It’s easy to see and appreciate the opera-influences on “Morphine Child,” as the song cycles through multiple different parts and precise harmonies. This is rarely just straight ahead metal, as the group definitely stays on task and produces more complex parts than you’d expect on most metal albums.

 Verdict

Respect: I’ll openly admit metal is not typically my genre. I usually have to be in the right mood to fully appreciate metal. However, I have a lot of respect and appreciation for what the group accomplishes.

Sidenote: People might be more familiar with Trans-Siberian Orchestra, which is well know for its metal take on classic Christmas songs. Oliva and guitarist Al Pitrelli were originally brought together with lyricist Paul O’Neill to kick-start the still touring musical showcase. Many probably remember their rocking take on “Carol of the Bells” a few years ago synched up with Christmas lights on a house.