Description
Stratovarius – s/t PROMO CD Finland 2005 Power Metal.
Stratovarius is the self-titled eleventh studio album by power metal band Stratovarius, released on September 5, 2005 through Sanctuary Records. It reached #4 on that years Finnish albums chart and remained charted for four weeks, as well as #52 on the Italian albums chart, where it remained charted for one week. The album is the last to feature the bands longest-standing line-up which had been consistent since Episode (1996), as bassist Jari Kainulainen would leave Stratovarius later in the year, followed by guitarist and bandleader Timo Tolkki in 2008.
The release of Stratovarius came after a highly troubled period for the band in 2004, during which they temporarily split up following a nervous breakdown suffered by Tolkki. After a year-long hiatus, they reunited in 2005 and embarked upon a worldwide tour for the album, playing for the first time in the United States and Canada.
Stylistically the album displays a dramatically noticeable shift from the symphonic power metal sound of previous albums: the songs are more hard-edged and slower, with Tolkkis signature neo-classical shred soloing almost completely absent. Keyboardist Jens Johansson’s role is particularly restricted, as well as Jörg Michaels drumming, which features hardly any of his signature double bass playing. Singer Timo Kotipelto also attempts a different vocal approach, mostly avoiding his usual high vocal range. Tolkki has since stated in interviews that he was unsatisfied with the end result of the album, due to it being too far removed from the bands true style.
Track listing:
No. Title Lyrics Music Length
1. “Maniac Dance” Timo Tolkki Tolkki 4:35
2. “Fight!!!” Tolkki Tolkki 4:03
3. “Just Carry On” Timo Kotipelto Tolkki 5:28
4. “Back to Madness” Tolkki Tolkki 7:42
5. “Gypsy in Me” Kotipelto Tolkki 4:27
6. “Götterdämmerung (Zenith of Power)” Tolkki Tolkki 7:12
7. “The Land of Ice and Snow” Tolkki Tolkki 3:04
8. “Leave the Tribe” Tolkki, Jens Johansson Tolkki 5:42
9. “United” Tolkki Tolkki 7:04
Total length:
49:17
.
Timo Kotipelto vocals
Timo Tolkki guitar, engineering, mixing, production
Jens Johansson keyboard, arrangement
Jörg Michael drums
Jari Kainulainen bass
Max Lilja cello
Petri Bäckström tenor
.
Chart performance Year Chart Position
2005 Finnish albums chart 4
2005 Italian albums chart 52
.
Timo Tolkki, who successfully overcame the problems he was facing, Timo Kotipelto, one of the best voices in Power Metal; Jorg Michael, the drumming machine, the magical Jens Johansson and the quiet Jari Kainulainen, master of the four strings (but who after this album left the band). the line-up which since 1995 enchanted us with brilliant albums and unforgettable live performances, deliver a straight melodic (Power) Metal as compared to the early works.
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5.0 out of 5 stars Tried to experiment a bit…..
I love Stratovarius and they are well known for their power music and great guitar solos and double drumming but this album doesn’t let you down i swear! The songs have great chorus and the riffs sound a bit like Megadeth which is good of course. I like this album it has very good changes throughout the whole album if you don’t think this album is worth your money then download it or something….
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5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent!!,
Their only good records are Intermission and this one e.g., when they sound like a band, not like Timo Tolkkis solo
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5.0 out of 5 stars Out of the dark and into the light,
I guess there could not have been a better album than this after the crisis Stratovarius has gone through.
In my opinion this album is very good. But unfortunately it will get bad critics and fans will not like it much. Why? It is different and still it is an evolution from past Strato.
Since this album every album beside Infinity seemed to be a pale copy of Visions.
This one has all the feeling of Strato but the composition are stronger and more true. Timo Tolkki seems to be going back to the things that made Dreamspace and Fourth Dimension. But the production and the style is very modern.
I recommend this album to any Stratovarius fan. If you don’t like it well I’m sorry.
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5.0 out of 5 stars Symphonic metal?, )
Stratovarius, the Finnish masters of Melodic Power Metal , are prepared to unleash their eponymous 11th album. The respected lineup of vocalist Timo Kotipelto, guitarist Timo Tolkki, drummer Jorg Michael and keyboardist Jens Johansson has carried on the Stratovarius legacy, along with new bassist Lauri Porra. Taking the listener on a nine song roller coaster ride from traditional headbangers like `Gypsy In Me’ to complex compositions such as `Back To Madness,’ monolithic anthems like `Maniac Dance’ through to a real Stratovarius epic, `Götterdämmerung,’ the album reconfirms Stratovarius’ place at the top of the international melodic metal tree.
, are prepared to unleash their eponymous 11th album. The respected lineup of vocalist Timo Kotipelto, guitarist Timo Tolkki, drummer Jorg Michael and keyboardist Jens Johansson has carried on the Stratovarius legacy, along with new bassist Lauri Porra. Taking the listener on a nine song roller coaster ride from traditional headbangers like `Gypsy In Me’ to complex compositions such as `Back To Madness,’ monolithic anthems like `Maniac Dance’ through to a real Stratovarius epic, `Götterdämmerung,’ the album reconfirms Stratovarius’ place at the top of the international melodic metal tree.
There are bands which do play symphonic metal, but Startovarius isn’t one of them…
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