Polaris - Your Review

[Mormegil]

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, I personally wouldn't call any album masterpiece after just two days of listening, but I think Polaris is the most "intelligent" album Stratovarius has ever done. You call the vocal-lines forced, I consider them interesting and different. It takes time to get familiar with them, so you can start singing along and that's something I've learned to hold as a good omen in terms of how the album will stand the test of time.
Also, I've been reading several metal-related discussions on the web and I've found a lot of peope saying stuff like "I've never liked Stratovarius, but this album rocks." I'm not being a fan-boy here, but merely suggesting that you should look/listen deeper into it, because that's what albums like Polaris need. Telling people what to think of any piece of art only makes you look like an ignorant dick.
I think succesful rebirth and power to attract new fans would definitely qualify Polaris as a "special" album.

[Stratowarius]

Polaris is a Masterpiece, a Masterpiece, a Masterpiece.

Polaris is a Masterpiece, a Masterpiece, a Masterpiece.

Polaris is a Masterpiece, a Masterpiece, a Masterpiece.

And so on and on and on, 9000 times.

[Texidor]

Everyone is entitled to their own view. I think it is the best album that they have ever done. And that is my opnion. The other albums are great but there is something in this album that is unique and special for me. Something that the other ones did not have. To me it is a masterpiece. I think the way you let music in is the way your going to take this record. I hope that this gives them all the glory they deserve because they deserve it. Thank you Stratovarius for blessing me with POLARIS!

[RazielSR]

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

Oh, yes! I'm gonna stop saying Polaris = masterpiece, cause a user called gazinwales tells me that Polaris = worst Stratovarius album ever. Yes, wait a minute.

Let's see, first of all you can't say to the people what to do or not.

To me, Polaris is a masterpiece. And I'll keep saying that. I've listened enough to the album to have in my mind that conclusion and i'm following the same PERSONAL interpretations and musical values that I used with another albums that I consider masterpieces.

I completely disagree with your opinion, the same as you with mine. But I'm not gonna tell you:

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

I mean, if you don't like the album it's ok, but the album is a masterpiece in mi opinon. Who is right? Of course ME!

[Texidor]

We're with you there ! :ola:

[RazielSR]

And the most important to me is the "feeling". Damn I was yearning for that feeling again. That good vibes with the songs that makes you happy and powerful!!

Now it's time to enjoy and buy merchandise and see what the guys are preparing for live shows!!!!!!!!

Regarding merchandise, please make some shirts or something!

[empi]

Listened to Polaris 3 times till now. And hmm dont really know what to think.
Sometimes there is so much beauty like in winter skies at 2:50 there the music transports something and on the other hand there are positions where i think omg how boring. sometimes the instrumental is really genius and then the vocal melody seems so yeah maybe forced and doesnt really fit.
but this is only my first impression lets see.

[Star_Ocean]

I was originally going to give Polaris a 3/5.

But it sounds like Kotipelto says "Sweaty Shit." So I have to bump it up to a 3.5/5.

Anyways, since I don't have the time I thought to write a short review that meets my personal standards, I'll just rate every song.

Deep Unknown - 4.5/5
Falling Star - 4/5
King of Nothing - 2.5/5
Blind - 3/5
Winter Skies - 3/5
Forever is Today - 3.5/5
Higher We Go - 3/5
Emancipation Suite - 3/5
When Mountains Fall - 3/5

Overall: 3/5 (3.5/5 if you include sweaty shit )

[foerg]

For me this is the best Strato album since Destiny.

Big Agree!

[empi]

I like infinte and elements very much.

[stratodan1990]

Yeah. Polaris has elements of alot of albums. I can hear links from Episode, Visions, Destiny, Infinite and even the two Elements albums.

[emperor_black]

For me this is the best Strato album since Destiny.

Big Agree!

That's exactly my opinion, 8757648495985 pluses for this

[RazielSR]

For me this is the best Strato album since Destiny.

Big Agree!

That's exactly my opinion, 8757648495985 pluses for this

+1


I agree.

[robocop656]

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.

Hey man you got some balls on you. Kotipelto's vocals do sound like they were just thrown together in some spots. I mean some vocal parts are defiantly different than the past albums, but they weren't going for that same shit anyway right? I also would love to hear more mattias, a lot more. Usually you don't hear sophisticated lyrics in power metal, so what were you expecting? I wasn't keeping my hopes up for anything really, because I am a bigger fan of their instrumental shred songs. BUT anyway, it should sell about 2000000 copies in japan and then everybody will be happy.

[icecab21]

How many school boys write about a love that they lost and when they finally went to find the person, found out that the love had died three years before?

[Rebel]

How many school boys write about a love that they lost and when they finally went to find the person, found out that the love had died three years before?

Plenty, it's a pretty basic concept, everything with Love is so played out and stereotypical at this point, it's the fact that TK makes them sound convincing that is a good thing.

[icecab21]

If we reduce everything to a broad category, we miss the details. It’s sort of like calling all cats "cat" instead of recognizing that each one has it's own DNA.

[Polaris]

I hate reviews, so I will not waste my time to do a review!

The only thing I will say is this:

Polaris is a great album & I love it!!! :luv1:

[ggonza43]

The other albums are great but there is something in this album that is unique and special for me. Something that the other ones did not have.

Maybe the expectation we had for this album... I mean, 4 long years, that's a lot. And also, we were waiting and wondering how would Stratovarius sound without TT. I had that strange feeling too, and I'm very happy with Polaris

AND FOR ME IS A MASTERPIECE; I'M NOT GOING TO STOP SAYING THAT BECAUSE SOME DICKHEAD TELL US TO DO SO... WE HAVE OUR OWN OPINIONS DUDE !!!

[CES]

AND FOR ME IS A MASTERPIECE; I'M NOT GOING TO STOP SAYING THAT BECAUSE SOME DICKHEAD TELL US TO DO SO... WE HAVE OUR OWN OPINIONS DUDE !!!

Actually, all the fanboy spamthreads are a much better example of the dickheads on the forum.

[AAAAAAAAAA]

The album is actually somewhat uninspired, and carried mainly by the bands musical talents and years of experience. Material that TT writes sounds a lot more natural than anything in Polaris, where the vocal lines in particular really don't flow very well. But on the other hand, TT's material is all the same, and doesn't have the nice progressive edge of Polaris.

This is just constructive criticism, I'm actually very happy with the new album. Maybe I spoke too soon when I called the album a "masterpiece", but I still believe, with all the criticism aside, that its excellent, and definitely one of my favorite Stratovarius albums. And it'll take a few spins before we can all really appreciate it, I've only heard the album once.

[hiro23]

The point is we have our own opinions and it seems more people like this album then not, we are not going to listen to the dictates of a few bitter people who seem to think that because the band has a different line up they should automatically hate it.

if this album had come out and it wasn't called Stratovarius I'm sure these same people would be calling it a great album.

I'm already sure what someone will say to this statement and that's "yeah but it is called Stratovarius so can you blame us for judging it that way?" and I say yes I can. Every band sounds slightly different whenever there is a band member change, either you accept the difference in sound or you leave and find another band to listen to.
Either way it will save the rest of us these hate speeches.

Sorry if I'm coming off as an asshole here, I'm a little cranky today.

[AAAAAAAAAA]

Sorry if I'm coming off as an asshole here, I'm a little cranky today.

Your apology is not accepted, philistine.
Why can't we have an honest discussion about how we feel about the album? Our praises would be meaningless if no dissenting viewpoints were allowed either. I'd hate to have this turn into the "suckup" thread.

[hiro23]

AAAAAAAAAA:
I don't mind the dissenting viewpoints however some of them were coming off like we were idiots for even enjoying the album.
I welcome different viewpoints if they are presented the way Ragehead did it, he said he didn't enjoy the album much but didn't make fun of it or the people who like it.

I would give do the same for any album I didn't like.

[stratohawk]

I have bought it today. I have listened to it now 3-4 times. And, objectively:

This! Album! Is! Fucking! Gooooood! All in all, the quality is so high that I haven't found single songs that are outstanding, though I never had a doubt, this high quality is still a positive suprise for me. The album is so much full of energy, unbelievable, I feel years younger while listening to it.


(though, my first favourites are Deep Unknown and Winter Skies )

[empi]

so after listening 2 more times i say forever is today is in my opinion the best song because it has the best melody and one of the best vocallines where tk voice sounds best followed by king of nothing and deep unknown.
king of nothing intstrumental so cool but i dont really like the vocal lines.
its not against tk even if kiske or sammet or something else would sing it i wont really like it i think.
dont get me wrong i think all in all its a good album but hmm i thought it will be something huge like episode visons or so but hmm.

[hiro23]

I welcome this new change, however to me with the material I've heard so far it seems they still have that Strato sound yet they are trying to do something different.
I always applaud a band for trying new things, they make it easier for other bands to have more room to work in.

[Morgana]

Well, I comprehended the album and now I'm ready to say what I think about it I cannot avoid comparison so forgive me this
First, a lot of keyboards, less guitar. You can see who is the new leader in the band. It's understandable, it's normal. And guitar is not the main instrument anymore, unfortunately. I haven't understood yet what is the main one. The guitarist is very good but there's no long solo and grand guitar parts anymore. This is the minus.
Second, the common style has changed. The authorship is different, and it's obvious. I cannot say that it sounds worse, no! But it's different.
The last 3 compositions are the most successfull IMO. But the best thing is "When Mountains Fall". It's great in its simplicity.
My estimate to this album is 8/10. Guys are attaboys, as opposed to "Nightwish" they hasn't soiled themselves in a new cast. Everything is fine and quality. very very good.

[AAAAAAAAAA]

My estimate to this album is 8/10. Guys are attaboys, as opposed to "Nightwish" they hasn't soiled themselves in a new cast. Everything is fine and quality. Razz very very good.

Dear Morgana,
I'm not sure how I would rate your grasp of the English language, but it would not be 8/10.
Regards,
A10

[palarmux]

Here is my ratings from songs:

1. Deep unknown 9/10
2. Falling star 8½/10
3. King of nothing 10/10
4. Blind 9/10
5. Winter skies 9/10
6. Forever is today 10/10
7. Higher we go 8½/10
8. Somehow precios 9/10
9. Emancipation suite part I 9½/10
10. part II 9½/10
11. When mountains fall 9/10

The album is overall 9+, so it's Awesome

1= Cannot listen; horrible 2=Really bad 3= Bad 4=not good 5=moderate good 6=Good 7=Really good 8=Great 9=Awesome 10=Masterpeace

Good work Stratoarius! You did really good work!