Hall of the Mountain King

Savatage

1987

2.88

Rating

152

Votes

25%

43%

19%

Distribution

Genres: Metal Styles: Heavy Metal

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Album Summary

Hall of the Mountain King is the fourth studio album by the American heavy metal band Savatage, released in 1987 under the direction of producer Paul O'Neill. It is their first album produced by O'Neill, who was assigned to the band after the tour in support of Fight for the Rock. O'Neill's influence pushed Savatage to adopt a conceptual style beginning with this album. "Prelude to Madness" is an arrangement of Grieg's "In the Hall of the Mountain King" from the Peer Gynt suite. Oddly, Grieg is not credited for this song, but for the following title track - which is an original song. The intro of "Prelude to Madness" features keyboards and guitar playing "Mars, the Bringer of War" from Gustav Holst's suite, The Planets. The song would be re-recorded by Trans-Siberian Orchestra in 2009 under the title of "The Mountain", appearing on that group's fifth studio album, Night Castle. "This Is Where You Should Be", recorded during the studio sessions for this album, was not included; years later it was released on compilations and album reissues. This was the first album to feature the album cover drawn by artist Gary Smith, who was responsible for lead guitarist Criss Oliva's airbrushed guitars at the time. Hall of the Mountain King reached position No. 116 in the US Billboard 200 albums chart. In 2017 and 2019, respectively, Loudwire and Metal Hammer ranked it as the 22nd and 8th best power metal album of all time.

Reviews

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Length: All Short Long

Sep 21 2025 Author

I was not expecting to see this here. Savatage is one of my favourite bands. This album through to Edge of Thorns is basically untouchable. 5/5.

Sep 27 2025 Author

Super enjoyed that; why can't more metal be fun?

Oct 05 2025 Author

I'm telling you right now before listening to a note, I'm giving this an extra star no matter what for album art straight out of the 80s Advanced D&D book cover portfolio. Hell yeah buff mountain god, electrocute those giant smoking chalices. OK, I'm back and this did not dissapoint, the music is basically the cover art. Which is a solid 3 out of 3 classic 80s metal on the proggish side. It put a smile on my face: no notes.

Oct 04 2025 Author

Some classical heavy metal (pun intended). The vocalist is amazing, some good riffs now and tegen. Cool album

Sep 29 2025 Author

OK, first time through I wasn’t entirely sold on this… but I was driving around and album repeat was apparently on and the second time through I enjoyed it more… kind of what you might look for if you are looking for some good 80s heavy metal.

Oct 02 2025 Author

Rating: 7/10 Best songs: Beyond the doors of the dark, Strange wings, Hall of the mountain king, Castles burning

Oct 15 2025 Author

Would always go for Gutter Ballet, but title track is as great as ever. The other songs vary from ok-ish to (very) good: 7/10.

Nov 14 2025 Author

Not my type of music but really enjoyed this.

Nov 17 2025 Author

These guys are a sister group of Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Apparently they made a concept album in the early 90's called Dead Winter Dead. It did surprisingly well, and inspired the members to create TSO to explore the genre of rock theatre. They remind me a lot of Iced Earth, Manowar or Saxon. Pretty solid 80's metal. And that album cover is a perfect power metal cover! Favorite songs: White Witch, Hall of the Mountain King, Strange Wings, Legions, The Price You Pay, 24 Hrs. Ago, Prelude to Madness Least favorite songs: Castles Burning 5/5

Oct 04 2025 Author

Metaaaaaal!

Jan 07 2026 Author

I'm not immune to wacky bullshit power metal. Extreme amounts of cheese, but in this genre complaining about that would be like complaining a folk album has too much acoustic guitar. Yeah, it's a banger. 4/5.

Mar 03 2026 Author

I really want to like Savatage more than I do, but as someone who isn’t much of a power metal fan, their sound leans a bit too heavily in that direction. I can only take so much of the grand, theatrical intensity before it starts to wear on me. That said, there’s undeniably a lot of strong material here. This album like much of their catalog features some very well-crafted songs and ambitious songwriting. Even if the style isn’t entirely my thing, I can still appreciate the musicianship of these guys. 3.5

Mar 22 2026 Author

That was just a straight up sick metal album. Hilarious that this band turned into Trans Siberian Orchestra. Strange Wings was a great song.

Mar 22 2026 Author

I've never been a big fan of the blown out shrill hair metal vocals and 24 Hrs. Ago has me bracing for the next 48 minutes. This falls somewhere between Bon Scott and Bruce Dickenson. Gotta say though, that the first 4 songs do rip. Particularly 24 Hrs. Ago and Legions. Strange Wings reminds me quite a bit of Scorpions. Prelude to Madness is familiar -- pretty sure Trans Siberian Orchestra covers this. Hall of the Mountain King does indeed rip. Kind of lost some steam through the back half, but this was a lot more enjoyable than I expected out of the gate. Still not a huge fan of the operatic vocals, but this was a fun ride. Lowest of 4s.

Mar 29 2026 Author

Not familiar with this band. I haven't listened to much metal so far in 2026, so I'll try to keep an open mind here. (from Wikipedia) the "Grit", the "Crunch", the "Thunder", and "Doctor Killdrums". That's way more fun than saying the names of the band members The Crunch is really good on this album, I wonder what he's up t-Jesus Christ. Amazing how many stories of fatal drunk driving end with the drunk person alive Why do I like this so much? I was wondering for a minute if it needed a rating higher than 4 stars, but then everything after the title track kinda dragged it back down. ("Devastation" is a decent ending though) At different times, I thought of Dio and Scorpions, but the fact that Hall of the Mountain King isn't groundbreaking doesn't detract from how much fun I had. Their synthy rendition of the Grieg instrumental could be worth the price of admission alone. Something about that rhythm section, particularly in Side A- what's the word I'm looking for, limber? bouncy? Idk I found there was a lightness that you don't often find in other 80's metal bands. i liked it HL: "Beyond the Doors of the Dark", "Legions", "Prelude to Madness", "Hall of the Mountain King" March 28, 2026

Sep 28 2025 Author

Some fun 80s hair metal, great organizing structure to take the classic Grieg track and incorporate it in as the melodic backbone of the album. A bit too much instrumentally at times and not always memorable, but an enjoyable listen and a decent dose of metal.

Nov 12 2025 Author

Classic metal, can make more room for this on the list.

Nov 12 2025 Author

Now *THERE's* an album cover! Extremely stupid cheesy 80s metal, which is usually a coin toss whether that'll be very fun or very annoying. This one is fun!

Dec 31 2025 Author

Produced by the guy that would found Trans Siberian Orchestra. Shreddy metal with lots of high tenor wailing if that's what you are into. Title track is probably the best one on here. The anti drug anthem White Witch might actually do more damage by being a genuinely fun track that would make people want to do cocaine. You hear a lot of the inspiration for And Nothing Elese Matters by Metallica on Last Dawn. This grew on me as it went by.

Feb 07 2026 Author

The mountain king is jacked

Mar 22 2026 Author

Makes total sense that this is the founder of Trans Siberian Orchestra after hearing Prelude to Madness. Not bad but gets a little too power rocky for me. High 3.

Sep 21 2025 Author

Not my favorite style of metal music. The power metal era always felt like it tried to be a faster more extreme sound that Black Sabbath made in the late 70s but without the ability to capture the same darkness. The longer high pitched notes have always been something I haven’t enjoyed in metal. Overall though there are a few songs that are good. The metal riff of the classical Hall of the mountain king and then the follow up song are both pretty solid. Overall though this isn’t something I’d revisit to listen to again for fun. 5.5/10

Dec 02 2025 Author

Hall of the Mountain King is not my cup of tea. It is the kind of over the top heavy metal that sounds like a parody. Certainly "Prelude to Madness" is a joke I don't really get (or are we serious?). After listening to the full album it's like throwing things to a wall and nothing sticks.

Sep 23 2025 Author

Very ridiculous and over the top Heavy Metal. Did not know anything about this group. Funny they are connected with Trans-Siberian Orchestra. This was about what I expected, fun and inconsequential.

Sep 30 2025 Author

Monday morning blues and I get this nonsense. Was this someone's guilty 80's pleasure? Or a joke.....

Oct 22 2025 Author

I’m not sure how I hadn’t heard of this band. Unfortunately, listening to this album didn’t make me think I should have. It’s a fine metal album. I just don’t think it’s a classic.

Oct 28 2025 Author

Metaaaaaal! 🤘🤘🤘

Nov 06 2025 Author

I feel really dumb for having slept on this when it came out in '87, because it's fantastic. Richly played and highly entertaining. I also love the economy of the whole production. It's a scant 39 minutes long, but every second feels substantial. Fave Songs: 24 Hrs. Ago, Beyond the Doors of the Dark, Hall of the Mountain King, Legions

Dec 17 2025 Author

Classic 80’s/90’s power metal!! Love it

Jan 18 2026 Author

This was fun, although the mixing is pretty bad which sucks. A could remaster would help a ton since it just sounds so muddy. I was wondering if it was spotify, but checking out youtube I hear similar, so just bad mixing. Overally, silly fun and could be a good addition to the meager metal offerings in the OG list. My personal rating: 3/5 My rating relative to the list: 4/5 Should this have been included on the original list? Slight yes.

Sep 21 2025 Author

Mid metal abundant

Sep 27 2025 Author

Not bad

Sep 30 2025 Author

Although I really enjoy metal, especially its more melodic variations, this album didn't resonate with me much, and I found it quite repetitive. It deserves an extra star from me, as I always enjoy metal versions of so-called "classical music" and they did it well enough for me.

Sep 30 2025 Author

Surprisingly good, but not especially interesting 3

Oct 17 2025 Author

Heavy metal, power metal. Ni fu ni fa.

Oct 17 2025 Author

Personally, I feel there are a lot of genre legends I would’ve gone for before this one, but in terms of representing the style it’s accurate. An enjoyable listen

Oct 23 2025 Author

Solid.

Oct 29 2025 Author

Hard rock típico de los años 80. Canciones con pegada, mezcla de diferentes grupos. No termina de enganchar, aunque el estilo gusta. Podría haber sido más épico

Oct 30 2025 Author

Hall Of The Mountain King is mostly an average at best tribute act for Iron Maiden based on style and presentation. I didn't mind it but I just wanted to listen to Maiden instead? A high 2 or a low 3, there are lots better examples of the genre but this was okay.

Nov 16 2025 Author

Heavy metal, power metal. No es muy estilo y además es muy largo. Me gusta la última canción.

Nov 16 2025 Author

Heavy metal, power metal. Ni fu ni fa.

Nov 18 2025 Author

This sounds exactly like you think it’s going to

Nov 29 2025 Author

Daft metal.

Dec 20 2025 Author

Black Sabbath called. They asked if they could have their riffs back please?

Jan 19 2026 Author

When you think of theatrical over-the-top metal from the 80s, Savatage is what comes to mind.

Mar 04 2026 Author

This album was a fine listen, but I didn't really get its significance. This stripe of metal isn't particularly my genre, but it sounded like other things I've heard that came before it. Still, like I said, it was a fine listen. Also the cover art is dope 3/5

Mar 12 2026 Author

The guy has a fine voice but the music is so goofy

Mar 22 2026 Author

Pretty much as middle of the road metal as you could ask for. Higher side of 3.

Mar 28 2026 Author

6/10 - I’m not the target demographic for this, but it was still kinda fun sounds like Spinal Tap except unironic

Sep 23 2025 Author

We must be near the end of the list. 5 votes for this album

Oct 16 2025 Author

If I can step outside my own cringe, there is obviously some talent here. But wow. This definitely isn't for everyone.

Nov 11 2025 Author

I know they’re being serious, but it’s too close to Spinal Tap not to laugh.

Nov 18 2025 Author

This iron maiden cover band is really cute. Maybe they'll make their own music someday.

Dec 31 2025 Author

Tuffa grabbar. NOT! De försöker väl åstadkomma något men det går sådär.

Jan 26 2026 Author

Again, not my kind of music. And because of that I find it hard to understand how it could be anyone’s favourite album. I would be interested to know the reasons why it is held in such high esteem.

Mar 03 2026 Author

I didn't really enjoy this. Too much prog, too much of that almost parody of a vocal high pitch voice.

Mar 03 2026 Author

I liked the hard rock/metal cover of Prelude to Madness. The rest of the album was for more hardcore fans of the genre.