DOCTOR BUTCHER - USA

Doctor Butcher - 1995 - GUN

Doctor Butcher image
  
 
Members
Vocals
Metropolis, Savatage, Trans-Siberian Orchestra>>JON OLIVA>>Savatage, Jon Oliva’s Pain, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Oliva

Guitar
Blitzkrieg, Anti, Savatage, Dity Looks, Big Mouth, Trans-Siberian Orchestra>>CHRISTOPHER CAFFERY>>Savatage, Metalium, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Solo, Spirits Of Fire, Artension, Doro


Bass
Blitzkrieg, Anti, Savatage, Dity Looks, Big Mouth, Trans-Siberian Orchestra>>Christopher Caffery>>Savatage, Metalium, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Solo

Drum
Darklin Reach>>JOHN OSBORN>>Seven Witches, Metalium, Circle II Circle, Xthirt13n





History & Biography
Doctor Butcher was a project of two Savatage members (although Jon had left Savatage at that point) and was more aggressive in nature. A second album was often discussed. The Demos sampler was out in 1999 independently. Black Lotus Records reissued the debut album in 2005. This version included an unreleased song and four demo tracks. Jolly Rogers Records was issuing a number of vinyl re-releases through its BlackBeard imprint in 2020. Doctor Butcher’s self-titled album was one.


Reviews

DOCTOR BUTCHER - Same - BLACK LOTUS  
Doctor Butcher was probably conceived by Savatage singer Jon Oliva (and guitarist Chris Caffery) to play metal again following the drift of their main band into rock territory. Indeed, Doctor Butcher hacks like a real metal blade reminiscent of the earlier Savatage sound with Oliva screaming with abandon. Now and more than ten years after its original release by Gun Records Greece’s Black Lotus has picked up the album for re-release, albeit with a complete booklet and a few demo songs tagged onto disc number two.
As said, the creation of Doctor Butcher was a reaction to the decline of Savatage and given its style a cut above the mother ship, but fact is that the album sounds half-baked. While the screaming vocals and the copious amount of solos and guitar rhythms is literary music to the ears several songs sound half finished. In particular, Don’t Talk To Me, Season Of The Witch, I Hate, You Hate, We All Hate!!! And All For One... None For All are especially weak and lacking force. Counteracting these are the opener The Altar, The Chair with its excellent guitar work, The Picture’s Wild with its crunchy sound and the slow and creepy Lost In The Dark which manage to impress. Were there a choice between Savatage as it had become and Doctor Butcher the metal fan’s vote would be with the latter act. Having said that, this good doctor does not quite garner much confidence either given the lack of outright winners. - Ali “The Metallian”


Interviews







Doctor Butcher