Website: Jon Oliva’s Pain
Jon Oliva knows one thing and does it well: performing fantasy-oriented compositions with approximately one-fourth of the cheese level of comparable bands. Savatage was able to transcend a rock-opera image and won followers by straying from the power metal standard and throwing down roots into harder-edged metal. Even still, bands like former Savatage vocalist’s Jon Oliva’s Pain are prone to falling into the niche they originally dug for themselves. This remains true with Maniacal Renderings, and in fact, ventures backward into the realm of the concept album.
“Who’s Playing God” is an interesting theatrical beast, as is the title track. In fact, it’s fair to say that much of the album is very well constructed if melodramatic. “The Answer” might be the truest embodiment an Andrew Lloyd Weber who grew metal horns; an overblown power ballad pleading for prayer and accompanied by sad stretches of guitar rumination. For power metal fans and those who have been eating up the works of Savatage since the beginning, there’s nothing here to disappoint, but nothing here of surprise, either.
For those who aren’t endeared to Jon Oliva, it’s the over-the-top presentation of Maniacal Renderings that overshadows the composition beneath. Sure, there’s “Push It To the Limit” which is refreshingly without pomposity, but these moments without frills are hard to find. But perhaps that’s the way it should be, as that’s where the band excels. Unfortunately, this leaves them trapped into a tiny segment of their possible audience and severely limits their potential by failing to experiment. Either way, there’s still plenty of quality musicianship to be found, even if a broad audience may never appreciate it and even if it’s something Jon Oliva has long since repeated.
