Polaris - Your Review

[Skyggeboy]

I think many of us (at least scandinavian) fans will get the Polaris soon. I received my Limited Edition Digipack about 30 minutes ago. I'm listened it right now (of course) and this album really rocks! I think it's best album since 1998 and Destiny. And I decided to do some kind of review by a fan, me

Deep Unknown:

I think every true fan knows this song. Single, video.. For me it's very different Strato. Solos, chorus and everything sounds great. It's not the best song of the album. But very very good. I like it.

Falling Star:

Weird song. Positive way. _maybe_ the weakest link of the album. Chorus and solo are great.

King Of Nothing:

I think this song rocks! Beginning and the chorus are very great. And those lyrics, I love them.

Blind:

Some of you may thing that it reminds Black Diamond but it won't. Very fast song. Sounds good But I can't say anything else about the melodies because it's too fast for me. But that does not mean that this song is bad! It's good really. Fits very well between KON and WS.

Winter Skies:

Beautiful melody and a little bit depressive lyrics. That is the way I like. Listen the chorus, it's great! Slow and beautiful song.

Forever Is Today:

This song would fit to episode-visions category. Reminds very mouch songs from those albums. Happy and nice song. Melody after chorus is great. Jens and Matias in their best!

Higher We Go:

Another little bit fast song. Chorus and solos are great! Verses too. Koti is doing very good work at this song!

Somehow Precious:

Lyrics.. Reminds me about the things in my personal life. Slow beautiful song. I have no more words to descripe this song. Great!

Emancipation Suite I & II:

New fresh Strato. Very different song than before. I like the solos much. I'm just wondering why Lauri decided to do Part I and II ? Part II could easily be in the end of I. Part II sounds very much end of part I. For me these songs could be in one. Nice songs still! I'm just wondeting why to "separate" those?

When Mountains Fall:

Very beautiful ballad! Much much better than Forever. Of course you can't compare those two songs. Only connect between these two are the violins and that they both are ballads. I love the lyrics, verse, chorus, everything!

---
I love this album. It's much better than AoA from RR (and this is for those who think that Polaris sucks ass ) Most positive thing in this albums are lyrics. How the hell you guys could do so good lyrics? They are much better than ever in Stratovarius history! Also the solos in every song are great. Even if the song first sounds little bit lame then comes the chorus and then *boom* solos! This album is best since Destiny. And i'm not joking! Every REAL Strato-fan should go and buy Polaris.

Jens, Timo, Lauri, Matias, Jörg. Thanks all of you! You are the best.

[Peoplez]

It's always a good sign when you are saying that Falling Star is the weakest link and in my book it's one of the best songs of the album.

[Mormegil]

I love this album. It's much better than AoA from RR (and this is for those who think that Polaris sucks ass ) Most positive thing in this albums are lyrics. How the hell you guys could do so good lyrics? They are much better than ever in Stratovarius history! Also the solos in every song are great. Even if the song first sounds little bit lame then comes the chorus and then *boom* solos! This album is best since Destiny. And i'm not joking! Every REAL Strato-fan should go and buy Polaris.

Seems like there's no use for me to write a review, since this already states my thoughts word-for-word.
If I'd have to describe Polaris with one word, it would be "fresh." It's a new beginning, but still very much the same Stratovarius I fell in love with years ago. The band now has 4 songwriters, who complement each other perfectly. I'll comment the songs individually, when I have listened to them more.

May I add that the sleeve-design of the digipack is astonishing.

[mayhem-for-all]

I have the album ( Digipack ) in my hands and Deep Unknown is playing

[rikkertje]

Edited!

[Ragehead91]

UPLOAD

+ OVER 9000

[lalodrums2]

sounds excellent!

thanks for the review man! and of course every fan should go and buy the album, im just waiting until may 21st to go out and get it!!

And yeah! Thanks stratovarius! You are keeping the fire burning!!

[rikkertje]

Of course every fan should buy it! I'm waiting for my Japanese Edition. But if I can LISTEN to the songs earlier that would be very cool!!!

[Ragehead91]

And I say it again: I NEVER BUY ALBUMS BLINDLY! I like give them a listen before I buy them.

[Stratowarius]

Sorry baby. I think you will be the last one of us here to hear Polaris.

[Ragehead91]

What is so bad about not buying albums blindly? I don't have too much money and I don't want to spent money on a CD and then realize that I don't like it.

[Stratowarius]

Nothing happens-if you don't live in France, where soon the big nasty recordcompany raid your home and take your computer..But but, you will be the last man standing there with empty ears...

[mayhem-for-all]

Those uploads Crapped the page

I will post my review soon.
Until then I might just say that it sounds unbeliveably beatiful and melodic.

[Ragehead91]

Downloading isn't Illegal. Uploading is. At least in germany.

[Stratowarius]

For you to be legal someone else has to be illegal.

[mayhem-for-all]

Crap my review vanished! TWICE!
Now I won't write it again until the evening.
(curses)

I will just say that it was unbeliveably great!

[Ragehead91]

For you to be legal someone else has to be illegal.

That maybe sounds cold but that is not my problem.

[rini]

Anyone that have gotten the collectors edition and can put up pictures on how it looks or do it when you get it?

[foerg]

have a look into the "polaris tracks" thread...

[rikkertje]

I'm listening to the album right now. Falling Star is playing. Sounds good so far!

[NeonVomit]

UPLOAD

Please edit this post, it makes browsing this thread difficult.

[mayhem-for-all]

Deep Unknown:

Basic overall song with some proge elements fitting the song just nice. Grows quite a lot.
5/5

Falling Star:

Great intro. Not so good at first but grew on me fast.
4/5

King of Nothing:

Good instrumental parts.
Great story and great chorus. The song doesn't get stuck on your head for long but once it plays you will be enjoying it perfectly.
The most epic song overall on the album. (not the best though)
5/5

Blind:

Fast. Really fast. Great stuff but in a way a bit lame. Not enough variety. Yet this is just my third listen so I won't lock this thing up yet.
And no its NOT like Black Diamond. The intro before drums kick in just has the same kind of keyboard effect.
4/5

Winter Skies:

Beatiful Ballad. a real Winter feel and beatiful piano part. Calm and simply beatiful song (there just is no other word to describe it.)
5/5

Forever is Today:

Maybe the best song of the album.
Fast catchy and great guitars. Reminds me of No Turning Back yet it is noting like it.
Good song. Best Porras composition on the album
5/5

Higher We Go:

Kotipelto-Kupiainen productions presents... A Sequel to Forever is Today. a Kotipleto like version of the previous song. Fast Catchy and definately Kotipelto like with yet lots of Strato in it.
Catchier but yet it lacks something Forever is Today had. Maybe this is too simple. These two songs are great but don't sound nice like this. I mean another order for the songs would have been better. Higher We Go could have been a really great opening Track.
5/5

Somehow Precious:

A good balladlike but yet strong song.
Once it is playing you have a great feeling but now afterwards I cant remember any details of the song.
4/5

Emancipation Suite Part I & II:

Basically just one song with two phases.
First more sronger phase with proge feel and good singing parts. These songs don't have a lot of singing as the focus is on the great relaxing melodious guitar parts. Then the song changes to a more calm direction as the part II opens but you won't notice it easily. they kind of fuse together.
Really good instrumentally and the few singing pars are well done.
5/5

When Mountains Fall:

The Acoustic ballad.
Something like forever but not forever.
really hard to describe the song.
a good ballad nontheless.
But for me it just is not just as great as Winter Skies both being good.
4/5

Deep Unknown (the remixed bonus track version of the digipack):

I really don't see much difference.
This one sounds more like the video but it propably is an illusion.
I slightly prefer this version and it is 20 sec longer too.
5/5

Overall I love this album.
I do not over exaggerate the songs they all are good and it was really hard to say anything about them exept that they were really good.

Possibly the best strato ever.
I hope we will have more stuff from the reorganized strato next year.

E: the Digipack art and the cd is stunningly beatiful. the cover the way you open it the picture gallery and the poster like lyric thingy are great looking. and the holographic cover.

[Mysteriet]

Deep Unknown: 4/5
Falling Star: 5/5
King of Nothing: 5/5
Blind: 4+/5
Winter Skies: 5/5
Forever is Today: 5-/5
Higher We Go: 4/5
Somehow Precious: 5/5
Emancipation Suite Part I: 5/5
Emancipation Suite Part II: 5/5
When Mountains Fall: 5/5
Deep Unknown (the remixed bonus track version): I really don't see much difference either. 4/5


Total: 5/5

[stratoleo]

UPLOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAD PLEAAASE!!!

[Ragehead91]

1. Deep Unknown: 5/5
2. Falling Star: 2/4
3. King of Nothing: 4/5
4. Blind: 3/5
5. Winter Skies 3/5
6. Forever is Today 5/5
7. Higher We Go 4/5
8. Somehow Precious 3/5
9. Emmancipation Suite (Part: 1 Dusk) 3/4
10. Emmancipation Suite (Part: 2 Dawn)1/3 (Am I the only one who thinks part 2 was very unnecessary?)
11. When Mountains Fall 3/5
12. Deep Unknown Remix 3/5
Overall: 39/60
I have to revise my statement in the "Polaris-Tracks" thread. I've listened to the album completly and I have to say I find it very lackluster. The songs are all technicaly good and very good produced but I miss those earworm songs whch you can't get out of your head. Those songs are IMO not memorable. You listen to them 1 time and while you listen you have a good time but they don't get stuck in your head. It is not the awesome return I've hoped for. It is good but IMO not memorable or outstanding in any way. Maybe I just need time to get used to it. Let's wait and see.

[NeverendingAbyss]

Upload them and I shall cure your hex.

[foerg]

just watched them all on youtube... really great work!

[NeverendingAbyss]

just watched them all on youtube... really great work!

Like this one, King of Nothing--
<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/JsrED-Z9kzE&hl ... ram><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/JsrED-Z9kzE&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>

[Sonata89]

1.Deep Unknown 5/5:
This Song sounds like the new modern Stratovarius.
Some space-effects and a little touch of prog.
I liked it since the first time, just fantastic!

2.Falling star 5/5:
Again a Song which sounds very modern. The intro
is just a great catchy melody and all the rest fits in
perfectly.

3.King of nothing 5/5:
The intro of this song presents a dark and weird
atmosphere where you got caught in. Then it explodes
and shows very great lyrics. The keyboard parts are so
nice!!!

4.Blind 5/5:
Damn! This song has a very mysteric
intro but after that it is getting
as fast as songs like Find your own
voice. The riffs are awesome and
what should I say about the chorus?
PERFECT!Jörgs Drumming is also very
great in this song!

5.Winter skies 5/5:
The first ballad on this album and
it has again a very atmospheric
intro like blind. Timos Vocals
are beautiful in this song and
it just touches me...

6.Forever is today 5/5
First this song reminds me on
Legions but the chorus sounds
like Freedom, very happy and very
catchy!Each Strato Fan will just LOVE it!

7.Higher we go 5/5:
This song has a kick start and
it just comes to the point. I am
thinking of Hunting high and low
when I am listening to this song.
It's a little bit like the last
track. Happy and positive!

8.Somehow Precious 5/5:
As I listened to the melody at
the start of this song I just
hoped that it will be the melody
of the chorus. And I was right,
it IS the melody of the chorus.
It's the second ballad on this
album and it touches me as much
as Winter skies, Timo you are
singing like a god!

Emancipation 1/2 5/5:
The Intro of this song reminds
me on the Orient you know? Maybe
a little bit like babylon
although i hate babylon but
in this song it sounds perfectly!
Great instrumental passages and a
very quiet end in part 2.

When Mountains fall 5/5:
A very quiet song only with
violins and Timos great voice.
The lyrics kinda sweet and
this ballad at the end is damn good as well.

5/5

THANK YOU STRATOVARIUS, WELL DONE!!!

So what should i say in the end?
I LOVE EACH SONG!!! The more I
listen the more I love! This
album is really varied and full
of surprises if you ask me. You
got earworm songs like Blind
or Higher we go, you got
beautifull ballads like Winter
Skies or Somehow precious and
you got epic Songs like King of
nothing or Emancipation. This
album contains everything what
Stratovarius has done in the
past and it even has a new
fresh touch. BUY AND LISTEN!

[foerg]

Am I the only one who thinks part 2 was very unnecessary?

i disagree. it´s a very fine piece of music...