Tolkki "hired" Kotipelto for the same reason that recruited Jens and Jörg: because he needed excellent musicians that could be able to play the music that he had in mind.
If you look over what Tolkki composed during those years, you will see the same way to compose, the same style, but you have to notice that, although they were similar compositions, following a broadly similar pattern, were very different. Are Episode and Elements pt.I similar? There is the same voice and the musicians themselves, but evidenced significant differences, which relate to the natural development of a musical ensemble. Remember that Stratovarius was Tolkki's band before 2008, his project and his music, and I think our music.
If you actually look over why Stratovarius had success during 1995-2007, is because in every CD that they composed, you can see an evolution comparing it to the previous one. I don't share your opinion Tarhaea, because I think that without Kotipelto, Stratovarius would never reached the success that they had, and you can say a lot of thinks about Kotipelto, but there is one thing for sure, he is professional and always tries to be in perfect condition.
And nowadays Stratovarius returned a bit to the roots of his existence. in 1996, the album was so
progressive, after that, more like
melodic metal and afer that, with Infinite, faster than ever
(speed metal?). In 2003 we can see the
symphonic part of that band, and after that
hard-rock mixed with metal xD. They tried with RR cd to return to the "
traditional" power metal (at least, Infinite, Elements, Stratovarius, were not as traditional as we thought...
![Wink :wink:](./images/smilies/icon_wink.gif)
), but that wasn't enough. Now, we can see another time
progressive metal in that band, different than Episode, because it's a modern conception of the style, but similar...
"the stuff during Kotipelto era has been very traditional power metal and hasn't brought much new to the genre" how many different styles of metal I have called and have diverged with the group during the Kotipelto period? I regret that there are people who can think that Stratovarius has not contributed anything to the music.