tl;dr review of Polaris

[Beast_Pete]

Okay, this is going to be a bit long...

And the waiting for this album was also rather long... actually the longest in Stratovarius' history. Almost 4 whole years. If I say we were dieing for Polaris to come, I guess I'm right in most cases with the fans.
To be honest I was starting not to be driven much by metal recently. I was listening to some cool songs from time to time of course, but there was nothing special, nothing new, no fresh material that would have blown my mind of joy. Until this week...

It is very difficult to write a review at this moment so early, but I think it's very important that I do it. At least for me. It will be funny and interesting to read it 365 days from now. And especially when the next album is released.

Let me start by admitting I couldn't wait and downloaded it on tuesday. Damn I was waiting for it several months and I couldn't wait one more day (bought it on wednesday ). I fail. The Hungarian release date was pushed back twice and I was visiting one of the biggest metal stores in my city every second&third day. After a while they greeted me by "nope, not yet".

So I play the album hearing the first notes of Polaris a song that I already knew having seen the video clip. Great song, something I expected. Then comes Falling Star and the first wtf. Timo's voice was really strange in the song, though I liked the synth with the space theme the song as a whole didn't touch me at the first time because of Timo. And then came King of Nothing. A great opening, but still a strange voice. This is probably the only song I say that Timo is not fitting to in Stratovarius' history. This is more of a heavy metal song rather than power metal and a true heavy metal singer would have fit to it much better than he did.

The classical touch and then the heavy and speedy start of Blind was fantastic. Timo seems to be finding his place once again, yes this is Stratovarius. And I get the feeling Jens is finding his place as well... finally he can show more of his talent. Winter Skies shows this too. Yes, this is Stratovarius! What an amazing melody.

And then comes what probably the biggest boom on the album is. Forever is Today, this song today is forever in my mind. It gave me the shivvers (if that's the word we use when one has a catharsis) from begining till the end. Especially during the solo, it was something I haven't witnessed in the past some years. And as a continuation Higher We Go was a good choice to be added as the follow up song. Typical power metal song, catchy rythms and chorus.

Somehow Precious is a sudden slowdown - after those two songs - with some Dream Theater and Final Fantasy feeling. Was an ok song for me. Emancipation Suite was a great slow song on the other hand. Feels a bit close to Babylon (which I don't like though ) and to Infinity at the start but then it starts to have its own unique touch. I like this song a lot!

And then another favourite of Polaris, the point to the end: When Mountains Fall. If you say that it is similar to "Forever" then I can understand what you mean. Beautiful song.

To be able to understand my way of scoring I give you some examples of how I score some older songs:
Destiny 11/10 (my favourite song of all times and all bands)
Will the Sun Rise 10/10 (one of my favourite StratoSongs, epic/legendary)
Speed of Light 9/10 (fukken great song)
Elements 8/10 (really good song)
Fright Night 7/10 (good song)
Chasing Shadows 6/10 (rather good song)
4-5/10 decent song that I don't listen to too often
2-3/10 not really liking it, need a special feeling to listen to it
0-1/10 really not my type of song


01 Deep Unkown - 8/10 or 9/10
This song has a typical StratoSound and I think it has the chance to get close to the best songs of Stratovarius. I like the space synth sound and the rather progressive-like solo.

02 Falling Star - 4/10
Not my type of song, really. For others it might be a good song as it does have a style.

03 King of Nothing - 5/10 or 6/10
As I said, Timo's voice does not fit to this song too much, and eventhough there are some good & interesting drums and the solo is very... hmmm spiritual (is that the right word?) I think it's "just" a rather good song.

04 Blind - 7/10 or 8/10
Power! Metal! A true example how a power metal song should sound like. And how a true Stratovarius song should sound like. Maybe a bit more life to Timo's voice and then it's perfect. Let's hear it live in Budapest.

05 Winter Skies - 8/10
Great melodic metal material made Mr Mohansson. The break at around the middle of the song was a good idea, and the whole instrumental part.

06 Forever is Today - 10/10
So far one of the contenders for best song on Polaris title. A masterpiece that might turn legendary during the years passing by... we might even tell tales about it to our grandsons.

07 Higher We Go - 8/10
Really good song, I'm almost sure this is going to be the next single of this album, if there's gonna be a next one.

08 Somehow Precious - 6/10 or 7/10
What have I said? "Was an ok song for me".

09-10 Emancipation Suite - 8/10
A well composed song, having a little more progressivity, a different type of progressivity than previous long StratoSongs served. Good for chilling out on cold winter nights.

11 When Mountains Fall - 10/10
The other contender for the undisputed champion of Polaris. I'm really curious to see/hear what was going on in Lauri's mind while writing this song. We have to admit, maybe not in lyrics, but in terms of sound and feeling, this song is better than Forever. It might be only my feelings, but I suppose others will comment on it anyway.


As a whole I would rate the album 8/10 at this moment. I think the band is taking a good direction and after the failure of the black Stratovarius album (and Elements PtII and the RR New Era) they are taking the good direction. They needed a fresh start, they needed something new, but had to keep something from the past. I think they succeeded in that aspect and Polaris is a good first step for taking even more and bigger steps in the future.

However I think they could have added more "space melodies" to fit the Polaris theme more and to make the sound even better and... even more fresh. I'm not sure if that's the direction they want to take in the future, but if they do, then I approve of it!

Stratovarius returned and seems to be stronger than in the past 6-7 years. Good job with Polaris, see you in Budapest (and hopefully in Wacken as well)!

[Keyssion]

11 When Mountains Fall - 10/10
The other contender for the undisputed champion of Polaris. I'm really curious to see/hear what was going on in Lauri's mind while writing this song. We have to admit, maybe not in lyrics, but in terms of sound and feeling, this song is better than Forever. It might be only my feelings, but I suppose others will comment on it anyway.

Pretty good review overall but that is something I have to disagree with. I think the sound is awful. It's all way too compressed e.g. there are no dynamics, it sounds just dull. The song is just too dry. And I think Timo sounds everything but nice on this song. The song itself is beautiful but the "execution" doesn't do justice for the song. This song really left me cold.

I think the songs I most enjoyed were King of Nothing, Winter Skies and Forever Is Today. Those first two have rather fine lyrics too. Forever is today is a bit low in terms of lyrics. Falling star is pretty nice too.

But wow the atmosphere of the songs King of Nothing is imho the best on the album. And the keyboard solo, wow. But the most beautiful and emotional song is definitely Winter Skies.

[JensJohansson]

Okay, this is going to be a bit long...

And the waiting for this album was also rather long... actually the longest in Stratovarius' history. Almost 4 whole years. If I say we were dieing for Polaris to come, I guess I'm right in most cases with the fans.

Dude.. thanks for waiting and thanks for the nice review

[FreudianLucidity1349]

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.

[icecab21]

How does the song not have dynamics? They play at different velocitys.

[palarmux]

i have very long review too, but it is in Finnish Hmm... Maybe I can try Translate it in English if I have time someday. I think I have time much now, coz day before yesterday started summer holiday And all who have it too, Have a nice holiday!

[mayhem-for-all]

07 Higher We Go - 8/10
Really good song, I'm almost sure this is going to be the next single of this album, if there's gonna be a next one.

Well it was already included in the deep unknown single so propably no.

[palarmux]

Here is my review in English, I translated it with google translator and I repaired the text a bit after google trans. I hope you understand


Stratovarius latest album, Polaris is clearly closer to the band's earlier output, than in 2005 become the heavy rock album. Not Stratovarius was nothing like a failed album. Although it is certainly not the best. Let's finally start . The band has finally taken a big leap in it's genre. But it is still, however, clearly Strtovarius and it is power metal, as fans will want to see. It is not, however, Stratovarius "golden period" of visions destiny, etc., etc., because it has a lot of new nuances. The music is more pompous, as before. And I think it is just a wonderful thing. Tempos are calculated as the time goes far and double basses can not hear so much, even as a couple of paragraphs. Shows the tracks clear progressivity. It is time to reform a fun and fits in very well. It is a good-flavored power metal. These reforms sound like Sonata Arctica Unia album, but the music doesn't sound so much sonata. Polaris tracks are now more and more keyboard shares which, at least appeal to me. There should be much more quitar too. Atmospheric songs improve Lappajärvi gold throat Timo Kotipelto, whose voice is strong, even stronger, as in Tolkki's times. As Kotipelto Polaris said to be positive, it is absolutely true. Although the songs contain proge spices they do not have it for longer. In fact, a little shorter than the songs are. The album's longest piece is about seven minutes, because, unlike nearly all previous boards have sugar from the bottom of a long stripe. No variation is invigorating.

Tolkin scandals should not arise, since he is no longer in the band, Kotipelto assured the interview. In fact, canned Stratovarius broke up, but others do not want it and set up the band again without the cans. Guitarist works Matias Kupiainen, who was also involved in the three Polaris song compositions. I think they sound good. Kupiaisen solos are lovely variety, as Tolkin solos repeated himself, owe them listened for 20 years, and the style has not changed much. Kupiainen is at least as good as canned, although it is so young.

And now I say to each piece something. The albums's start the single already been published in "Deep Unknown," which is a pretty good opening track, but there it is not the albums best. It is a good opening track, because it is not too fast, not slow. That the solos are, however, the ears stroking. So different and it is the intention. Song music video was interesting. (9)

Next track "Fallen Star" is clearly slower than the track "Deep Unknown." It is interesting, not terribly ordinary song. Yet it is the best in the disc. The recital is a lot of interesting sounds. (8)

After Falling star, takes a very melodic song "King of Nothing." It is personally my favorite song from the album. It starts exciting march, which is probably the image of track lyrics the army. Jen's piano sound comes from the outset to support the march, and the result is a wonderfully exciting. Players will slowly under. Kotipelto sings recitals strophe interesting "ambition", which is suitable song lyrics. However, the chorus sing with feeling. this song is now my favorite song from every band!(10)

The fourth track is "Blind" begins with a familiar Jen's piano sounds again. Pianosound finally ends and the real music starts. This is one of Polaris fastest tracks. Not bad, not bad. Recital Kotipelto give back their best. The fifth song is another calm (9½)

"Winter Skies." That also includes a lot of inspiring visual effects, but in my opinion is the best in Polaris. It has the ears Stroking rock ballad (8)

"Forever is today" It is closer to traditional Stratovarius, who is a good thing that the album, so all tracks doesn't repeat itself. At start it sounded slightly Tolkki's Revolution Renassancen "Heroes" each. This song is another strong song, and comes to the album in my opinion the second best piece. (10)

The seventh song is "Higher we go," which was the in Deep-Unknown single too. The track has a relatively rapid. The track is clearly delighted. Kupiaisen guitar solo was especially powerful and my favorite quitar solo in Polaris. The track is nicely done, but Kotipelto wrote the song too much Kotipelto-band style. It would be better agreed with the Lord's solo album, but it does not matter. As I said, this is refreshing. (9)

The eighth track "Somehow precius" It's a good song, but too quiet, as they have been a few already. In this case, the album just to repeat itself, but the smaller the error check. It is a charming album of songs. (8+)

The following two tracks, who would rather count as one piece in two parts. Track names are the Emancipation suite part I and II. First part begins pompous drum package. The part is also the best. The second part begins with a calm manner. It is really a good calm song, but this time the awfully strong. second part will be forced to mind Dream Theater, and it is in this case a good thing. (9 from part I and part II 9 too)

This fine album from a whole to decide a little too syrupy song "When mountains fall" The track is yes, I think pretty good, lyrics are full of love story. In fact, I like it quite a lot, it brings to mind a lot Stratovarius "The land of ice and snow," and Episode classic "Forever." It is a short track. However, it is a brilliant end piece to the great disk. Specialty these tracks was the fact that the drummer, all except the participants were strongly composition and lyrics, by the time Tolkin canned took 95% of the songs. (9)


In short, the Polaris is a positive and wonderful album, the band has taken a big step forward in music among the public. Stratovarius got quite a lot of negative publicity in some of the scandals and because of the dispute. Now the future looks bright. Yes was good to wait, as the proverb says telling.

9/10 Awesome

Ratings: 1) can't listen 2) awful 3) really bad 4) bad 5) moderate 6)good 7) Very good Great 9) awesome 10) masterpeace