STRATOVARIUS: II PROMO CD. Original, 1st press ultra rare 1991 not 1992 “Twilight Time” promo w. band photo on the front cover (different artwork). Check audio (whole album)

Description

artist: Stratovarius
Title: II
Release Date: 1991
Original Release Date: 1991
Album Form: Full-Length
Format: PROMO CD
[promo Tag on the back cover mentions:
PROMOTIONAL COPY
Not for sale
Not for commercial use]
Label: Bluelight Records / MMT/EMI-Music Publishing
Catalogue Number: BLR-335-CD
SID-Code Presswork: None
SID-Code CD-Master: None
Bar-Code: None
Version: Original Release, Band Cover
Tracks: 8
Manufactured in: Sweden [by DCM (Digital Communication Media AB)]
Components: Standard Jewel case + CD + Original Booklet + Back Cover
Note: 1991 original release before its album title was renamed as “Twilight Time”.
This release with band-photo cover was for sale outside Finland.
On the back cover track 6 and 7 are misprinted the opposite order.

https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_nhq2jN5UwdEuiin5TZOjoEudxS2J50-Uk

1. Break the Ice 04:41
2. The Hands of Time 05:36
3. Madness Strikes at Midnight 07:20
4. Metal Frenzy 02:20 instrumental
5. Twilight Time 05:51
6. The Hills Have Eyes 06:19
7. Out of the Shadows 04:10
8. Lead Us Into the Light 05:46
42:03

Strangely dark tales for a power metal twilight.
The significance of Stratovarius formative years in the late 80s and early 90s was one of demonstrable impact, in the nuances of how the Power Metal style initially developed. While obviously free of the quirky rock and jazz experiments that plagued Helloween at around this time period, this is a very different version of the band that still had one foot firmly placed at the height of 80s speed/power metal, which was equally as informed by American and British sounds as it was by the neo-classical techniques that was just beginning to cross pollinate via the influence of Malmsteen. Right in the midst of a changing in the guard of mainstream and extreme metal where speed/thrash and archaic heavy metal fell from favor stands Twilight Time, an album that is often ignored or passed off as an SRB booster rocket that marked a move towards the current cliché Finnish power metal sound, but doesnt really embody most of its well known elements.

This is an album that, like its predecessor Fright Night, is a bit darker and heavier than the high flying, melodic intrigue that embodies their most renowned album Visions. There is a strong helping of Black Sabbath and early 80s Ozzy Osbourne influences that coat the majority of the songs heard on here, particularly in Timo Tolkkis heavier and slower riff set approach. A slow paced, almost doom metal sounding haunting fest like The Hills Have Eyes could be closer likened to a creepy take on early Candlemass, though Tolkkis vocals are strongly tilted towards a prototypical 80s vocalist in the mold of a Steve Grimmett and John Deverill, though with less banshee screams. Even the occasional acoustic work that chimes in on epic creeper Madness Strikes At Midnight and mid-paced rocker Twilight Time are more akin to the mania inducing horror fests of early Ozzy and a number of post-NWOBHM American heavy metal bands who were equally as interested in the mystical and the obscure as the more occult oriented thrash metal bands.

While the album is largely a holdover from a time period that most of the artists who influenced it had moved away from, there is a small helping of forward looking speed metal that provides the missing link between the late 90s explosion of bands in the now stereotypical mold, and the late 80s experiments brought forth by Helloween. Out Of The Shadows is something of an outlier in that it sounds remarkably upbeat, almost like a less fancy version of Eagle Fly Free with a typical Tolkki riff set that would later become standardized on such songs as Father Time and Forever Free. In similar fashion, Hands Of Time, which was the song that introduced me to the band, embodies a number of somewhat darker but still very triumphant sounding anthems, spearheaded by a principle melody that is about as irresistibly catchy as the one regularly heard at sporting events in The Final Countdown, but without the incessant level of repetition. This is the song that keeps coming back to mind whenever I hear a number of keyboard happy numbers out of Edguy, Avantasia and Dionysus in the later 90s and 2000s.

How this album should be approached relies very strongly on how attached one is to what is currently understood to be power metal, because it isn’t of that mold. As best as can be ascertained, this is like a sped up, late 80s answer to Diary Of A Madman with just a slight glimpse of coming trends in European melodic metal. If sounding comparable to Visions is a must for the prospective buyer, this is probably bargain bin fodder, but for someone who has a preference towards USPM and early heavy metal, this is one of a small handful of albums put out by this band that may be worth your time. Those who listen to both, who are probably more prevalent than some would admit, will recognize this as being a solid album that is not quite the best representation of the bands sound, but is qualitatively better than a number of their later releases with their best known lineup.
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An underrated early dark power metal masterpiece
This album is one of the most underrated albums in the discography of Stratovarius as it came only out about three years after the debut album, had no significant album title at the time and is until now almost completely ignored during the live shows of the band. But if one takes the time to discover this second album, one will appreciate its darker and heavier tone in comparison to the bands later trademarks.

A lot of the songs have very dark introductions that almost fit to horror movies and their symphonic scores and this develops a quite eerie atmosphere that isn’t typical at all for the genre. The catchy “The hands of time” shows us where Edguy took its inspiration for “Vain glory opera” and the original is even more melodic and catchy. “Madness strikes at midnight” is a dark and progressive epic tale that has no single second of boredom and is surely my favourite track of the album. The introduction begins with tribal drums, acoustic guitars and weird keyboard sounds of a misty wind and scratching doors that make you feel as if there was a dark spirit floating through some kind of an ancient castle. This brilliant introduction leads to a faster and very powerful part with an amazing solo before the real song actually kicks of and unites the dark and morbid atmosphere of the introduction with perfect melodic metal standards such as a powerful chorus and many catchy melody lines. “The hills have eyes” also convinces with a very atmospheric introduction including the mysterious sounds of bells as well as a dark toned keyboard bridge that somewhat honour the style of the infamous horror movies of the same name. Timo Tolkki doesn’t only do some short but intense guitar solos, he also sings in a very dreamy and melancholic way and gives this album a very eerie mood that a very melodic and happy Timo Kotipelto would not have been able to recreate in such a way.

This album is in fact mostly about horror and fear which is rather unusual for a power metal band. This album works almost like a movie score and tries to reach out for the emotions of those who listen to this mysterious and surprising record. That’s maybe why many fans of the bands usual works had some problems to get an approach to this album. But there are still some glimpses of light in all those shades.

The shorter tracks like the surprisingly heavy opener “Break the ice” or the catchy ballad “Out of the shadows” that even literally fits to the album with its title because it is probably the most positive track on the record as well as the simple but still progressive and somewhat unique instrumental break “Metal Frenzy” fit perfectly into this albums and succeed to maintain the eerie atmosphere of the darker vibes of the album by being more commercial and slightly lighter. If those songs would be rerecorded and published as singles, they would surely gain a certain attention and success as they have the typical power metal trademarks without being too polished and cheesy.

That’s what I really like about this record because it reunites the typical genre trademarks but still sounds different, atmospheric and original so that it could even please to those who often criticize that the band sounds too mediocre and commercial. This album has its own unique vibe and shows a different side of the band as we know them nowadays. This is an album that should have gained more attention and maybe this review may help you to discover or even re-discover this underrated early gem.
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Probably their best album
With the introduction of keyboards to the album, another key part of Stratovarius is added to the group, thus further developing their sound. The vocals are much improved over the first album, with Timo hitting some notes that definitely weren’t there in the middle section of Fright Night. I can also hear the bass this time around, which is good.
Highlights are The Hands of Time, which has a fast headbanging pace, great guitar work and very nice vocals, and Out of the Shadows, which is very anthemic and sounds like a precursor to later Stratovarius works of a similar vein, such as Hunting High & Low and Eagleheart.
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Stratovarius for the ages!
starts out pretty fast with Break the Ice, which also has cool symphonics in the beginning. The beginning songs are great, filled with decent power metal vocals and riffs. The first couple songs kick ass. Break the Ice has a nice drum beat with the main riff, and the shattering of the ice at the end of the song – Come on, that is awesome! The solos are just amazing, Tolki is up there with some of my favorite guitarists. The solos definitely have some neo classical, progressive style going on! Lyrics are your basic power metal. The vocals are some what different from other future Stratovarius releases. The vocals are kind of scratchy and not as smooth as they turn out to be in the future. Another thing that I noticed with this album is that it has a lot of Gamma Ray influence, especially on the song The Hands of Time!!! The Hills Have Eyes starts off slow, but then goes into this awesome drum beat and cool Strato style riff! Overall, the greatest Stratovarius, a classic!