Polaris - Your Review

[CES]

Not so much a full review, more of my thoughts on some songs.

I suspect Higher We Go, Deep Unknown and King Of Nothing will be the tracks that make the cut for the live setlist.

Forever Is Today is a straight forward slice of Visions-era Strato.

Emancipation Part 1 at parts sounds a bit like Ice and Snow from the 2005 album and at other points has a distinctive Judas Priest feel to the song.

When Mountains Fall is a big surprise to me. It's a wonderful ballad to round off the album.

[RazielSR]

The masters are here again, I will make my review when I've listened more to this enormous album.

[Lurdi]

Stratovarius is the boss, and it's back!

[Verdades Parias]

After 5 or 6 listenings, the albums is a big natural metal album, is so fresh even Forever is Today wich is a classic Strato-song, is . For me the exactly words to define this album are: melancholy, notalgia, sunrise and COMPLETE.

My favourites: Forever is Today, Winter Skies, Somehow Precious and King of Nothing

At least but not less important, in somehow i'm happy that TT is not in the band anymore because there was nothing more to say and write in that vein of music, that is the reason way I see New era as a fake Stratovarius, really I never saw Stratovarius like the Timo Tolkki's band, maybe he was unable to see Stratovarius as a real BAND. A song is a song no matter who wrote it, if Timo Tolkki wrote all the Elements albums, and the black one, he is responsible for the long decay of his music (in my point of view New era, Saana and Age of Aquarius is the proof of his deep decay of composition)

[Ragehead91]

(in my point of view New era, Saana and Age of Aquarius is the proof of his deep decay of composition)

+1

[Texidor]

Hey Legions: I wanted to share with you my thoughts on the new Stratovarius release "Polaris". I was very excited and at the same time concerned what the remaining members Stratovarius would create. Would it the record the would shine and re-write Stratovarius history or will it go down in flames like the ill- fated "BLACK"album. Being that Timo Tolkki was was very worriesome as he wrote most of the Stratovarius classics and just the though of something different could spell disaster. So I placed the disc in player and pressed play. From the beginning notes of "Deep Unknown" you know that something speaicl is happening. The only way I could describe it is like part in the film " Closer Enounters Of The Third Kind" where there was silence and the mother of all ships arose from the backdrop. And for the next hour I was able to rediscover something that I have not felt since probably Inifinite- power, positivity, emotion, majetsy. Everythhing thet emplified Stratovarius to me returned. And not to knock or disrespect Mr. Tolkki but you set the free and these eagles are ready to fly!!!!!! I thank him for doing what he did so because in my opinion this is the catalyst that has relit the fire that is Stratovarius. Here is my Track by Track:

1.Deep Unkown - the lead single/video takes you through a roller coaster musical landscape. A monster track with catchy progressive edge. The one thing very noticable then last few releases is the return of the harmonic backing vocals. It really takes Kotipelto's vocals to the next level. I great pumping start to the album.

2.Falling Star - The second track definately has alot of single potential especially on international scale. The song once again starts of with huge keyboard/power chord intro and smoothly goes through its verses into another huge chorus. Another catchy tune & great Porra track!

3. King Of Nothing - After two catchy single oriented tracks it is time to fall into more serious territory. The omynous sound of marching armies sound in this track that really has a serious and somber tone. Vocally Kotipelto shines on this track using his mid range very well and emotional. I must admit this song took me a second listen to get the full scale of it. The solo itself is very classical and heart wrenching and Matias and Jens pull it off very well.

4. Blind - To me this songs is the BEAST! when you hear the errie harpsichord seems to bring in something beyond powerful! Then it comes , the speed, the drums , the everything. This has to be my favorite song of the album. The chorus is very uplifting as well. Once again awesome solo and Lauri's bass is exceptional.

5. Winter Skies- The album brings it down a notch into a cold and spellbinding ballad. In a way the closet things to Elements era stuff. Jens adds an awesome piano solo with Matias coming really showing off his melodic and emotional edge. Another fave!

6. Forever Is Today- Am I listening to Visions- it really could fit on that album Another great speedy tune with a very positive tune. I love the chorus. Actually this is probably my least fave track on Polaris but I still love it.

7. Higher We Go- Alot people tend not to like this track. In my opinion it stands up there with the other gems with a really strong beginning. A great comeback style song. I love the message on this one. A little short but powerful. Another great Matias tune!

8. Somehow Precious - This little ballad is very different than what I use to hearing from Stratovarius. A very touching balld with a great mid section. Has an almost 70's feel to it but with the Strato trademarks. Once again Timo Shines on this one!

9. Emancipation Suite - I really think that this song should've been left as one piece but anyways.....Its been awhile since I have been awed by a good epic song by Stratovarius. The ones on Elements seemed too repettitive an uninspired. This song makes you feel the words. Lauri has a gift for musical landscapes. You can feel the darkness and then the rise. Very play -like almosy like theater. A great return to form and very new and fresh! A MASTERPIECE!

10. When The Mountains Fall- I think this track brings in nostalgia as it will probably bring back feeling of " Forever". Its very sweet and once again touching. A great closer to very powerful record. Nuff said!


THEY HAVE RETURNED TO RECLAIM THEIR THRONE!

This is A New Era. RR has nothing on this.......not even close. The best since Infinite.......actually in my opinion their best ever. Hail Polaris !

Buy it guys! Buy it- Suppport it. Put them on the international charts! Buy The tickets...go see them in concerts! Make them # !


STRATOVARIUS FOREVER!
[/quote]

[Infinitestrato]

Hey guys, i've listened to Polaris like 3-4 times now, here's my review!

1.Deep Unknown: i listen to this song for quite some time now,different from old strato indeed but very good and heavy!

2.Falling Star: one of my favorite of the album,i really like the feeling on this song, awesome keys from jens.

3.King Of Nothing: with the samples i couldn't w8 to hear it, it didn't disappointed me but i was quite suprised by the entire song,still a good song

4.Blind: VERY FAST SONG! reminds me a bit the speed of Find Your Own Voice,really like that one!

5.Winter Skies: beautiful song,lyrics are great so is the music,again,WHAT A NICE PIECE OF KEYS/PIANO FROM MR.JENS!

6.Forever Is Today: one thing: L E G I O N S ' S C O U S I N! the chorus is catchy and could really fit on Visions easily.

7.Higher We Go: i know this one for quite some time like DU. really catchy chorus!

8.Somehow Precious: Really nice lyrics, great song in general,reminds me the Infinite era which i find wonderful.

9.Emancipation Suite Pt.1 - Dusk: M A S T E R P I E C E! everything is awesome in this song! slow and heavy, the solo caught my feelings right away,just beautiful!

10.Emancipation Suite Pt.2 - Dawn: could had be the end of Pt.1 but i don't mind,reminds me of Season Of Change.one of my favorite!

11.When Mountains Fall: Forever's Cousin for what i can hear,really beautiful ballad!

My Favorites: Falling Star,Blind,Higher We Go,Emancipation Suite I and II,When Mountains Fall

But overall this album is a M A S T E R P I E C E! a M U S T H A V E for every stratofans!

[neonai]

few very great tracks, i am not a fan of 70s proge, but heavy metal with proge influenses are great sometimes, i can only dream what kind a monster album it would be if the whole album would be full of "king of nothing" and "Emancipation Suite" kinda songs... i like this new sound of stratovarius...i would leave the fast songs to rest for a few albums completly, if only they would carry this path and search for more of this what they have found...still they could play the fast evergreens onstage

they would really rise to another level.. or would take the another step forward.. so my conclusion: "they really have something here"

[Skyggeboy]

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.

I agree with that, cover art is very nice indeed. And pictures are nice too and that lyrics "poster" also. I personally can't find anything to criticism in this album/cover art. Nice work.

[icecab21]

So far the ones I like are blind, forever is today, higher we go, somehow precious, and when mountains fall

[Mormegil]

Deep Unknown - Blew me away right from the start. It's catchy and everything in it works just perfectly. 5/5
Falling Star - Chorus is top-class and rest of the song is good too. 4/5
King Of Nothing - Love it. Heavy shit. I would compare this to Soul Of A Vagabond. Keyboards, backing vocals and especially lyrics really impress me. 5/5
Blind - Nice traditional, speedy power metal -song. Funny how chorus reminds me of A-Ha's Take On Me. 3,5/5
Winter Skies - Amazing! Right up there with Coming Home and Mother Gaia as my favourite Strato-ballad. 5/5
Forever Is Today - Takes me back to Visions. Great vocals from Kotipelto. 4,5/5
Higher We Go - It's ok, but a bit unimaginitive. Solo is great, but it's still the weakest link of the album. 2,5/5
Somehow Precious - I find the lyrics a bit too sentimental for my taste. Maybe it's just me, but I hear some Scorpions-influence here. Which is only a good thing. 3,5/5
Emancipation Suites - Lets just say, that after this I'm not least bit surprised that Lauri Porra is descendant of Jean Sibelius. 5/5
When Mountains Fall - I like it when bands end their albums with ballads (Episode, Manowar - The Triumph Of Steel). It does its job as a simple, beautiful ballad and is a nice add to the prog. influences on the rest of the album. Lot better than Forever, which I never really liked that much. 4/5

Deep Unknown (Mikko Raita Vinyl Mix) - Quite pointless bonus track. -/-

42/50

[Star_Ocean]

I will write a review a little bit later once I've listened to it a bit more. But right now, I am only really fond of two songs. The rest haven't had time to settle in yet.

[Lurdi]

I will write a review a little bit later once I've listened to it a bit more. But right now, I am only really fond of two songs. The rest haven't had time to settle in yet.

Before you write you preview at least I already know what you are going to say. You never like anything.

[valo_666]

I truly had much higher expectations on Polaris... Excepting 2 or 3 songs (deep unknown, winter skies which takes me to the old times with that genuine keyboard sound and the epic chorus and maybe the emancipation suite which is epic too). The melodies and vocals don't sound polished at all, though the overall production sounds outstanding. But it is not a memorable album in my opinion, it's an OK thing just like an excuse for starting touring as soon as possible.

[En extremt tråkig pe]

Well I'm someone who was... 'less than overwhelmed' with the Elements albums as well as the self titled one but I think this is a really nice album. There are 3 tracks I can't stop listening to (Blind, Winter Skies, Forever Is Today) and the rest are all solid album tracks. It's easily up there with Visions, Destiny, Infinite for me. It might be better than some of them, who knows, need to listen to it for a few months to tell for sure.

Still sounds like Stratovarius, with some new added flavors (mostly in Deep Unknown). It's great to hear more keyboards again and the guitar playing definitely stands up to that of the departed one. Speaking of whom, it seems obvious to me that the creativity in this band didn't leave with the previous guitar player. More like the opposite if you compare this album to that of his new band. I'll join the others who've said Strato sounds revitalized.

So thanks, lads. I didn't think I could feel giddy about new music of this kind anymore but .. I do. Here's to success and more albums from this line up.

[lalodrums2]

I've listened the whole album and I just can say...

THANK YOU GUYS !!!!!! EXCELLENT JOB!!!!

It's great to hear the mixture of talents either in the composing part as in the performance.

It's an amazing album.

Thanks again and see you guys on tour !!!

STRATOVARIUS dead? Who said that? It seems that it's more alive than ever!!!! We can feel that real union vibe in the songs!

[Irinia]

Emancipation Suites - Lets just say, that after this I'm not least bit surprised that Lauri Porra is descendant of Jean Sibelius. 5/5

Absolutely!
I listen to them over and over again!
Although I wish they were put as one piece, instead of two

[mayhem-for-all]

Emancipation Suites - Lets just say, that after this I'm not least bit surprised that Lauri Porra is descendant of Jean Sibelius. 5/5

Absolutely!
I listen to them over and over again!
Although I wish they were put as one piece, instead of two

I have now more than ten listens of Polaris and I have to say Emancipations grow a lot.
And I now see the difference between these two parts more clearer.
(+he truly is worth his family)

[Star_Ocean]

I will write a review a little bit later once I've listened to it a bit more. But right now, I am only really fond of two songs. The rest haven't had time to settle in yet.

Before you write you preview at least I already know what you are going to say. You never like anything.

What the fuck are you talking about?

[mayhem-for-all]

I will write a review a little bit later once I've listened to it a bit more. But right now, I am only really fond of two songs. The rest haven't had time to settle in yet.

Before you write you preview at least I already know what you are going to say. You never like anything.

What the fuck are you talking about?

Propably you.
Hey Don't look at me.

[stratodan1990]

Deep Unknown - A new Strato sound, some of the solos sound different, otherwise I was still stunned at hearing this. 10/10

Falling Star - I love it, it's a little different again, but after hearing it several times it really grew on me alot. 10/10

King Of Nothing - I think this is yet to grow on me. The intro is brilliant. Timo shines on this song. The marching at the beginning and end brings a different feel to any other strato song written. 9.5/10

Blind - Well, this is one of my favourite songs of Stratovarius ever. Start to end, I get chills up and my hairs stand on end. I hope they bring this to the setlist on Saturday. FOR SURE 10/10

Winter Skies - Similar to Before the Winter, excellent ballad, can't get enough of it! Solo is stunning. Musicianship throughout is tight. 10/10

Forever Is Today - Like people say, the brother of Legions or No Turning Back, I have to agree, but takes parts from episode, visions and destiny. This is why I love the song so much, Matias' solo really blew me away. I am so happy they have such a genuine guitarist. 10/10

Higher We Go - Good song, one of the songs that may make it as a single - i'd prefer one of the others to make it, personally. Chorus very catchy, unforgettable song I think. You can tell it was written by Timo, 9/10

Somehow Precious - Very unexpected, the solo stands out for me in this song, outstanding. Interesting ballad 9.5/10

Emancipation Suite Dusk - WOW! This is what I call epic, I think this song defines it from pressing play. I was surprised at the samples; I thought they would appear later on in the song, not at the beginning, but this surprise was a great one. Reminds me of songs such as Infinity and Babylon. AWESOME. 10/10

Emancipation Dawn - I think this would have been awesome if it was one song with Dusk, nevertheless, great song catchy and Lauri is a legendary songwriter. 10/10

When Mountains Fall - A good reminder of the songs Forever and Coming Home, both I love. Killer end to what is the album of the year. 10/10

POLARIIIIIISSSSSSSSSSSSS [/code]

[ggonza43]

In whole, Polaris is one of their greatest masterpiece (along with "Visions", "Destiny" and "Episode"). Here is my review:
Deep Unknown: Reminds me a lot of "Hunting High And Low" (don't ask me why ), great song

Falling Star: Cool song, has a wonderful energy

King Of Nothing: Well, what to say... Truly amazing!

Blind: DEAR GOD!!! Fast and furious song, kick ass!!!

Winter Skies: I'm kind of undecided with this, not sure yet, but nice one (reminds me of any "Fourth Dimension" song)

Forever Is Today: OMG, just pure awesomeness!!

Higher We Go: Excellent chorus, the best one I've ever heard!

Somehow Precious: Beautiful melody, really really good

Emmancipation Suite I and II: Reminds me A LOT of "Babylon", simply great!

When Mountain Falls: Soooooo beautiful balad, one of the best with "Forever"

[CES]

I can see where you got the HHAL vibe from Deep Unknown now that you mention it. It's sort of like a darker, leaner HHAL. Instead of light, chime-y keyboards though we have a lower sound run through a few filters (which I think is a first for Jens in Strato)

[RazielSR]

FUCK THIS ALBUM IS A MASTERPIECE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[AAAAAAAAAA]

Is it just me, or are some of the vocal melodies a little "forced"? There are actually a few mediocre songs which are well hidden behind virtuosic musicianship and excellent production.
But overall I agree; that the album is a masterpiece, the best thing coming from Strato in years! :w00t: I haven't had a chance to listen to everything yet but King of Nothing, Winter Skies, Forever is Today, and Deep Unknown are all just unbelievable

[hiro23]

I haven't yet got to review this yet as my copy won't be available for at least another week or so, though I have heard a lot of the singles on the net and so far this album kicks a whole lot of ass.

I'll give my full review when I receive the album

[gazinwales]

The album is a total disappointment for me.
I can't remember a single good thing about the album.
Kotipelto's vocals sounds 'forced', his accent makes most of the words not understandable and the lyrics are simply school boy stuff.

The music is slightly better, with Jens really sounding pretty good. Too bad the new guitar virtuoso, hardly gets a solo and his riffs are generic and generally uninspired.

For me this is the worst Stratovarius album ever.

Please stop calling it a 'masterpiece'.
That description is resevered for a bands best album that is something special.
Polaris is not that album.

[Ragehead91]

The album is a total disappointment for me.
I can't remember a single good thing about the album.
Kotipelto's vocals sounds 'forced', his accent makes most of the words not understandable and the lyrics are simply school boy stuff.

The music is slightly better, with Jens really sounding pretty good. Too bad the new guitar virtuoso, hardly gets a solo and his riffs are generic and generally uninspired.

For me this is the worst Stratovarius album ever.

Please stop calling it a 'masterpiece'.
That description is resevered for a bands best album that is something special.
Polaris is not that album.

You have your opinion and we have to respect that. I am myself disappointed too. Although I dont think that it is as bad as you say, I can somehow understand you. But you also have to respect our opinions. If the others think it is a masterpiece it is their opinion and they have the right to think so. And don't tell others to stop saying their opinion.

[Skyggeboy]

The album is a total disappointment for me.
....
Please stop calling it a 'masterpiece'.
That description is resevered for a bands best album that is something special.
Polaris is not that album.

Well, we all have right to have our own opinions. You have your own. For me this is the best Strato album since Destiny. Something new and some old-kind-of stuff. Of course you can thing that people who likes this album are nuts.

Like I said, we all have our own opinions and i'm not going to argue about those thinks.

[hiro23]

The album is a total disappointment for me.
I can't remember a single good thing about the album.
Kotipelto's vocals sounds 'forced', his accent makes most of the words not understandable and the lyrics are simply school boy stuff.

The music is slightly better, with Jens really sounding pretty good. Too bad the new guitar virtuoso, hardly gets a solo and his riffs are generic and generally uninspired.

For me this is the worst Stratovarius album ever.

Please stop calling it a 'masterpiece'.
That description is resevered for a bands best album that is something special.
Polaris is not that album.

You have your opinion and we have to respect that. I am myself disappointed too. Although I dont think that it is as bad as you say, I can somehow understand you. But you also have to respect our opinions. If the others think it is a masterpiece it is their opinion and they have the right to think so. And don't tell others to stop saying their opinion.

Amen to that, it's one thing to not like an album however it's completely another when you start telling people what to say or think about something, it's okay that you don't like the album however stop telling us not to call it a masterpiece, if that's what we think we have the right to say it.

This is not an attack by the way, just stating an opinion.