Darkness And Light - new interview from Stratovarius

[Balu]

Mostly, power metal in general. Until this day, I haven't found a single album from an specific band I can't listen from begining to end . Prog metal is also a genre I listen a lot, but nowadays it's hard to find a good band that doesn't sound similar to Rush or Dream Theater . Lately about a couple of years ago, I started to fully listen to thrash metal bands: Some are very interesting, others just a copy of other bands, and other very repetitive. Also, symphonic metal (JUST symphonic, not power/symphonic, although Kamelot is one of those right? Ah, nevermind!). I tried to listen some black/death metal, but still can't stand those screams...Well, maybe COB is one I can barely listen.

And I can go forever, but this is not what the topic is about

Ah, why not? If we don't talk about something else, the A-s will. : D

Anyway, for progmetal, how about Shadow Gallery or Psychotic Waltz? Both are a lot better than DT. As is Ayreon, my favourite, but that's more like progrock.

[ggonza43]

Shadow Gallery is between my list, great band I have to admit. Psychotic Waltz is a name I've never heard before, better give it a try eh? And Ayreon, well I have listened to some songs, but still they don't convince me; I mean their style is "interesting", but not something I can see listening every day (That and the fact I only listened to 01011001 and haven't found the "spark" I need to fully investigate the band)

And what about you? Besides Strato, are you a huge fan of another band?

[Balu]

Shadow Gallery is between my list, great band I have to admit. Psychotic Waltz is a name I've never heard before, better give it a try eh? And Ayreon, well I have listened to some songs, but still they don't convince me; I mean their style is "interesting", but not something I can see listening every day (That and the fact I only listened to 01011001 and haven't found the "spark" I need to fully investigate the band)

And what about you? Besides Strato, are you a huge fan of another band?

Yeah, quite many. I really like BG, especially their later, more progressive albums, I also loe everything by Arjen Lucassen (including Ayreon), and I'm pretty sure he is the best composer currently in prog music. There are also some bands I really like, but have too few albums to say anything more about them.
Outside prog and power metal, I love some symphonic metal, of which I'm pretty sure, that Haggard is my favorite, followed by Epica and then Therion. And if it comes to weirder stuff, I think Devin Townsend's music is great.

There are a lot more I like, but these aere my favorites for sure. : D

[VictorTDD]

I love BG's A Twist In The Myth very much.

[ggonza43]

Epica and Therion are 2 of the best symphonic bands that are out there for sure! Hey, any opinions on Sitra Ahra? Oh, before I forget, thanks for the PM, it works prefectly

I love BG's A Twist In The Myth very much.

Me too, it's still BG but with a different touch. And what about "At The Edge Of Time"? Nice work too, but for me nothing can't be compared with "Tales From The Twilight Hall" and "Nightfall In Middle-Earth"...Greatest albums ever !

[Balu]

Epica and Therion are 2 of the best symphonic bands that are out there for sure! Hey, any opinions on Sitra Ahra? Oh, before I forget, thanks for the PM, it works prefectly

I love BG's A Twist In The Myth very much.

Me too, it's still BG but with a different touch. And what about "At The Edge Of Time"? Nice work too, but for me nothing can't be compared with "Tales From The Twilight Hall" and "Nightfall In Middle-Earth"...Greatest albums ever !

About the PM: np. ;>
Therion: SA was an improvement, but it isn't as good as anything between Deggial and Sirius B I think.
BG: we disagree here, as while I really like NiME, Tales is my least favourite album from them. New one was great, but not as good as ANatO.

[ggonza43]

Therion: Yeah, Sirius B was a great album...From time to time I wake up in the morning with "Kali Yuga" in my head
BG: "A Night At The Opera" was just a nice album, but for me it seemed they were becoming a bit repetitive, and all that changed with "A Twyst In The Myth" in my opinion. And from the new work, who else just LOVES "Valkyries"?

[Balu]

Therion: Yeah, Sirius B was a great album...From time to time I wake up in the morning with "Kali Yuga" in my head
BG: "A Night At The Opera" was just a nice album, but for me it seemed they were becoming a bit repetitive, and all that changed with "A Twyst In The Myth" in my opinion. And from the new work, who else just LOVES "Valkyries"?

Yup, Valkyies is great, it took me some time to realise that though. It's my 4th favorite of the album, tied with Control the Divine, after Sacred Worlds, WoT and Curse My Name.

[ggonza43]

Yeah, Sacred World is just a pure masterpiece! Anyway, back to the original topic: Have just finished "Darkest Hours", and I have to say that I like the demo more than the original version...Weird eh? It has different lyrics, a different atmosphere, a yet longer solo and better than the original one. That's kind of weird, they choose the original version because it was more "catchy" and (don't wanna say this, but) "commercial"? I know music is a business, but the demo version sounds more to Strato, it sticks to their style. Just saying

Overall, Infernal Maze still kick-asses! And the live versions are great performances (great solo Jens BTW in "Black Diamond"). It's a nice single to prompt the band, after all

[Balu]

Yeah, Sacred World is just a pure masterpiece! Anyway, back to the original topic: Have just finished "Darkest Hours", and I have to say that I like the demo more than the original version...Weird eh? It has different lyrics, a different atmosphere, a yet longer solo and better than the original one. That's kind of weird, they choose the original version because it was more "catchy" and (don't wanna say this, but) "commercial"? I know music is a business, but the demo version sounds more to Strato, it sticks to their style. Just saying

Overall, Infernal Maze still kick-asses! And the live versions are great performances (great solo Jens BTW in "Black Diamond"). It's a nice single to prompt the band, after all

Pretty much agreed.
BTW: I see you're... productive, they already started to pop up on YT. : D

[ggonza43]

Pretty much agreed.
BTW: I see you're... productive, they already started to pop up on YT. : D

Well, I have this theory now: First I said I didn't want to risk my channel putting the "Darkest Hours" EP, but the I thoguht "My followers deserve to know how this is going to be, why not?". Of course, this is temporary until "Elysium" is officially released; after that I'm deleting this videos. Let's just hope for the best and to earMUSIc to please don't delete them...I'm gaining nothing for this, I just want to entertain people. In fact, I think I'm going to link their page up so people can order their own copy of "Darkest Hours" and "Elysium" when it comes up

[Balu]

Pretty much agreed.
BTW: I see you're... productive, they already started to pop up on YT. : D

Well, I have this theory now: First I said I didn't want to risk my channel putting the "Darkest Hours" EP, but the I thoguht "My followers deserve to know how this is going to be, why not?". Of course, this is temporary until "Elysium" is officially released; after that I'm deleting this videos. Let's just hope for the best and to earMUSIc to please don't delete them...I'm gaining nothing for this, I just want to entertain people. In fact, I think I'm going to link their page up so people can order their own copy of "Darkest Hours" and "Elysium" when it comes up

Good idea! : >

[adrian9]

a couple of post ago....

....you let it go dude, you have an opinion I got mine. end of the history.

Seriously, why are you here? All you do is go around claiming your opinions about Stratoalbums are the word of God. You're hardly even arguing why you think what you do.. it's all just "Episode and Visions are amazing, Polaris is shit", as opposed to (gor)gonz(ol)a, who explained what he liked/didn't like about Elements 1. All over this forum you criticize people who don't agree with what you think, you hate Strato's latest album, and yet you're still here

well is an "opinion" forum isnt? that why Im here to check updates and maybe find some interesting point of views;;;;;My favorites Strato albums are Infinite and Fourth dimension...I passed on polaris but I have always loved stratovarius since 1994 like I said , I have an strato tatoo on my right arm, of course Im gonna be around for a while.


. Also,

someday people will value music like a grande dame instead of a hooker.

this was to the internet piracy/copyright/download/ whatever you wanna call it topic, since im not leaking any music I dont know WTF you bring this up.

Polaris is soooooo bad to me , that I prefer listeting st anger, not buying polaris even if that means I will not have the perfect strato collection ever, and I would always dismiss that album in every blog, forum or talk I have the chance.

yeah, and Im stick to this, I got all metallica studio albums, even st anger got somethin interesting like dirty window or shoot me again.
im not comparing albums or bands im just saying this for a fan and collector point of view.

even being myself a METALLICA fan I bought St anger just for the sake of having the whole collection

I will not do that with polaris, im gonna pretend it never happened

and once again just to make it really clear

....you let it go dude, you have an opinion I got mine. end of the history.

[ggonza43]

So, can we all be at peace and just let this thing go? The only thing that matters now is "Elysium"

[adrian9]

So, can we all be at peace and just let this thing go? The only thing that matters now is "Elysium"

yes indeed, by the way.......you post a looooottttt

[ggonza43]

Haha, I like to be an active user of this forum...It keeps me alive, and I keep alive the forum