Post
by painkiller79 » Mon Oct 24, 2005 11:43 am
The first 3 albums of Stratovarius are probably the most underrated ones in the discography. Yet they are too important to be left out.
Here's my review of each album:
"Fright Night" is certainly a special album. Why? It gave birth to the best heavy metal band ever to come from Finland. Musically, it's one of a kind and certainly the first of its kind in the Finnish rock scene. Strong guitar riffs, very heavy drumming, interesting song structures and atmospheric melodies. I love this album, there simply isn't another album anywhere near like it! "Future Shock" is probably the first speed metal song to come from Finland, what a massive machine cannon of a song! "False Messiah" has some of the most interesting and artistic main guitar riffs I've ever heard...The title track has a drive that truly makes me feel heavy metal... 9/10
"Twilight Time" represents the ever growing talent and potential of Stratovarius, a signal that this band will be above others in the business. Sophisticated sound and guitar riffs, beautiful guitar leads, fantastic emotional melodies, very heavy metal! "Break The Ice" is like a fist of iron, a true heavy metal piece to say the least! "The Hands Of Time" is my spiritual favorite of the album, it's just so spine-chilling and emotional piece that I can't but listen to it and enjoy it over and over..."The Hills Have Eyes" is the strongest and fiercest metal piece on the album. Heightening feeling, metallic sound and attitude...Just massive! "Out Of The Shadows" represents the deeper inner vision that Tolkki has unleashed consecutively on each of Stratovarius albums. Truly a fantastic blast of emotion and imagination! "Lead Us Into The Light" is a great conclusion to a great album. A massive and powerful song with a sad spirit of elegy within it, yet the light of hope shines in the far end of the path... 10/10
"Dreamspace" marks the point where Stratovarius started to show a huge range of variating fields of musical talent. The album is full of top class metal songs. "Chasing Shadows" exemplifies the melodic speed metal idea, "4th Reich" shows a heavier mid-tempo style and mystical/political aspect of the band. "Eyes Of The World" is a masterpiece combination of great melody, chorus and general feeling. "Hold On To Your Dream" was voted the best Finnish rock song back in 1994 and I definitely agree to this! This song is the epitomizing song of Stratovarius: the main riffing, the vocal lines, especially the chorus...Just great! Even mightier LIVE..."We Are The Future", like the opening track, is a strong multi-package of speed metal, great feeling, great sound! "Reign Of Terror" is a super heavy metal song, massive guitars, drums like thunder, soaring vocals...and I've experienced this song LIVE last year in Nummirock!!! "Shattered" is a brutal, mean-sounding speed metal pounder! Some of the most aggressive riffs of Stratovarius! "Wings Of Tomorrow" truly live up to its name, this song captures my heart and makes me feel I'm flying towards the rising sun... 10/10
Never let go of these great albums, they are the birth of Stratovarius, the greatest heavy metal band of Finland!
P.A.I.N.K.I.L.L.E.R.