I'm new here and just wanted to introduce myself!

[sonata's wish]

Hello fellow strato fans! I've been watching this forum for a while and thought it was time to join. I'm a black chick who absolutely loves metal and only metal and because of this I'm not accepted much. Other blacks don't like me because they think I'm weird and I don't often go to metal concerts because I'm scared I might get my ass kicked(it almost happened when I went to see shadows fall). But I think I would be accepted here because you guys seem cool.

[Stealth]

Well, you have my acceptance for sure

So where are you from?

[browneyedgirl]

You are Very Welcome here!
Hope you will have fun posting with us!

[sonata's wish]

I'm from the states.(Houston, Texas)

[browneyedgirl]

WOW! That is a big city--from a BIG State!
I'm from kinda close to you--Alabama. Yep--if you know any good&tasteful Alabama jokes just let 'em rip. I think I can take it!

But, how did you get to know Stratovarius--when did you hear 'em for the first time? The song?

[sonata's wish]

I just bursted out laughing when I read that you were from alabama. I guess I have heard of too many alabama jokes. Well I am a huge fan of sonata arctica and I always hear people say that they are a rip off of stravarius. So I decided to give them a listen, I think the first song I heard was paradise and I've been hooked ever since. So what's your story on finding them?

[Equinox]

Hi Sonata's Wish!

Are u in SA's forum?

Anyway...Paradise is a good song.

Be very welcome.

We are like God, we accept everybody, from every ethnecity(Or whoever u spell that shit.).

So...u know what to do.

[fernando_levy]

Hi, sonata's wish!

Welcome to this forum. I think this is a place where we all love stratovarius, so there's no discrimination (I'm from Monterrey, Mexico). Feel free to say what you want! My story about finding stratovarius goes back to August/September, 2003, when a friend of mine who had been to their concert that same year in August showed me some songs (Black Diamond and Phoenix). I immediately loved it and started buying their albums, thus becoming a devoted stratovarius fan. I also love sonata arctica, particularly songs like wolf & raven, victoria's secret and champagne's bath. Don't feel bad about loving metal; to me it's the best music that exists. Here in Mexico it's not very popular either; people prefer to listen to commercialist crap like Blink 182 or Avril Lavigne. But I don't care; I have found my favorite music group now (stratovarius). I hope you can go to one of their gigs in their first USA tour which will start 4 days from now. I went to their gig here in Monterrey yesterday, it fucking kicked ass! The new bass player is awesome.... I think the group is in a much better condition than 2 or 3 years ago. I know maybe I wrote a lot for just welcoming you, but I just needed to hehe See ya around, keep in touch! rock on!

[Equinox]

I think this is a place where we all love stratovarius, so there's no discrimination (I'm from Monterrey, Mexico)

I don't know, but this one sentence made me smile.
I wonder if it has to do something with 'discrimination'.

[Neorave]

It's a place of brotherly (and sisterly) love, so no worries. Greeting to you, my friend!

Pretty much how I found Strato (and metal, perhaps) is that I was watching a fighting game combo video, and it was playing Destiny. So, after doing some research on the band, I finally started listening to other songs they did. And that's how I got into Strato and metal.

[iron_thunder]

Hails! yep, you'll find no problem here. It makes me embarassed to be a metalhead when i hear about prejudices like that, though i guess i've gotten my fair share of harassment (most of you people know what i'm talking about!)...

Anyway, welcome

Don't feel bad about loving metal; to me it's the best music that exists.

I'll drink to that!!

[Shurik]

Hello!

[MaFiaBoY]

I'm a black chick who absolutely loves metal and only metal

Other genres have great music too, think of jazz, older rock... A world with ONLY metal would be boring as hell. Anyway, welcome here

[htcdude]

Wilkommen! Be careful some of them in here bite.

[browneyedgirl]

I just bursted out laughing when I read that you were from alabama. I guess I have heard of too many alabama jokes. Well I am a huge fan of sonata arctica and I always hear people say that they are a rip off of stravarius. So I decided to give them a listen, I think the first song I heard was paradise and I've been hooked ever since. So what's your story on finding them?

I first heard Stratovarius in August,2000 on LOUD--a now cancelled Heavy Metal Show that was on MUCHMusic Channel on DirectTV.(MuchMusic is now FUSE). The Against the Wind Video--since I went through a period taping that show every week for my son, I was probably the First in this Forum to Own Against the Wind Video!
This was the Stratovarius with Lassila on drums&Ikonen on Keys, btw!
I really loved their music at once--similar to Maiden, but softer&the lyrics very catchy and serious, about meaningful issues. The band seemed very well clean-cut&classy which impressed me as well.
A few months later I ordered the Infinite album&Infinite Visions Video. Eventually I obtained all oftheir albums--even solos--the last I ordered Yesterday The New album!

[Neorave]

Wilkommen! Be careful some of them in here bite.

Like me!

[neonlightchild]

Wilkommen! Be careful some of them in here bite.

Like me!

well, bite this, you piece of.... hehe, just kiddin'

[neonlightchild]

Welcome !!!

[StratoÄijä]

Welcome !!!

[StragOvariuS]

Bienvenue!

[stratoplayer]

Welcome! Compared to other forums ive been to this is one of the best in terms of friendliness, openess and no bashing (well, at least its kept at a minimum...) dont worry, as stratolevy said we too get sort of dissed in highschool (him and i are very good friends and see each other daily as school) because most of them here listen to commercialist crap... well its their loss

[StratoFactor]

Tervetuloa! Yes, I was saying, welcome to the Stratoforums Sonata's wish. As you can see, this place owns!

[Bones]

Welcome... nothing more to say

[Pikkusielu]

Tervetuloa voorumeille! :jump:

[Bones]

You can find some guys totally insane... I'm warning you

I'm a cd-player, I'm a cd-player...!!

@Pikkusielu: Äläpä kovin rellomaan ala

[StratoÄijä]

You can find some guys totally insane... I'm warning you

I'm a cd-player, I'm a cd-player...!!

WHAT! Totally insane... No! BTW you are a firetruck!

[Heiserich]

Cheeerio, sonata's wish! Hope you enjoy this forum.

I'm a little shocked that you fear of being harassed at metal-concerts because of your ethnicity. I know that there are some right-wing suckers in metal, but it's a very small minority, isn't it? I've been at quite many shows, and as far as I can remember, I never saw real serious aggression towards other fans... except for the Slayer-show in Düsseldorf in 1998 or `99, when one guy from "Slaytanic Wehrmacht" hit a Sepultura-fan in the face. But that's the only occasion I experienced, and it's seven years ago...

[Neorave]

You can find some guys totally insane... I'm warning you

I'm a cd-player, I'm a cd-player...!!

WHAT! Totally insane... No! BTW you are a firetruck!

No, you are a big, long, plastic...cup! XD

[Pikkusielu]

No, you are a big, long, plastic...cup! XD

Itse olet!

[IceBreaker]

No, you are a big, long, plastic...cup! XD

Itse olet!

Hei, älkääs pilatko hyvää topicia.
"Hey, pls don´t mess a good topic up."