Review
Posted: Sat May 30, 2009 6:30 am
I had my doubts too, being a strato fan for a few years now. I was a fan of Tolkki, and his neoclassical influences, but the last couple albums hadn't hit the same nerve that things like Black diamond, and Forever had. So, skeptically, I picked this album up the first day it came out. And I fell in love with it. Mattias had big shoes to fill, seeing as Tolkki had been in my opinion at least, an innovator in the power metal genre, but he picked it up seamlessly, even BETTER then Tolkki, in my opinion. He brought the sort of progressive Steve vai-esque sound needed to truly bring the best out of an amazing band. And jens...as usual, is fucking fantastic, and really shines on this album. Overall, I am thoroughly pleased, to say the absolute least. I would buy it 30 times over.
Favorite songs:
-Blind.
FUCKING LOVE THE BLACK DIAMOND-ESQUE HARPSICHORD ON IT! Its amazing to hear that sound in strato again, and yet its not another black diamond. It is its own song. The drumming, and everything on the song comes together so perfectly. 8/10
-Forever is today.
It seems as though Stratovarius has obtained the means to read my mind, and decipher the exact reasons I love this band, and exploit them for their own gain
This song adds in everything I love. An amazing flurry of keys, neoclassical melodic guitars, Kotipelto's higher range vocals...everything fits together like a puzzle piece 9-10/10
-When mountains fall
I fucking fell in love with "forever", and this song to me seems like an even more perfect ballad. The strings, and acoustic guitar, with Kotipelto's soulful voice add up to the perfect combination. 10/10.
When I heard Tolkki was no longer in the band, I was extremely upset, after hearing the live version of "last night on earth". I was afraid strato was going to die. But after hearing they got a new guitarist, I youtube searched his name, and was extremely excited that strato would enlist such a shredder, but also worried that he might strip away a little of the band's trademark neoclassical beauty. I will gladly eat crow. Polaris forever.
Favorite songs:
-Blind.
FUCKING LOVE THE BLACK DIAMOND-ESQUE HARPSICHORD ON IT! Its amazing to hear that sound in strato again, and yet its not another black diamond. It is its own song. The drumming, and everything on the song comes together so perfectly. 8/10
-Forever is today.
It seems as though Stratovarius has obtained the means to read my mind, and decipher the exact reasons I love this band, and exploit them for their own gain
-When mountains fall
I fucking fell in love with "forever", and this song to me seems like an even more perfect ballad. The strings, and acoustic guitar, with Kotipelto's soulful voice add up to the perfect combination. 10/10.
When I heard Tolkki was no longer in the band, I was extremely upset, after hearing the live version of "last night on earth". I was afraid strato was going to die. But after hearing they got a new guitarist, I youtube searched his name, and was extremely excited that strato would enlist such a shredder, but also worried that he might strip away a little of the band's trademark neoclassical beauty. I will gladly eat crow. Polaris forever.