Stratovarius Community

Hello, my name is Mr. Cool Edit, from the far-off lands of southern South America. How about we liven up this forum a bit? I see you're all a little dead, or maybe you've had three bottles of wine thickened by the Nordic cold and can't even move your fingers?

I present to you another section from your friend, Flavio, the tireless troublemaker. This section will be called "RE-MASTERED STRATOVARIUS VIDEOS." Don't be fooled, most of them are pirated videos I found lying around on some remote server somewhere in the world. I tweaked them, and what you see is what you get. Some look good, and some look terrible due to the video's technical limitations—not so much on my PC. Without further ado, enjoy this new section. Comment: if you liked it, great; if not, go cry to Santa Claus in Lapland with Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.

PD: The copyright belongs to Stratovarius, as I've already said, I don't keep anything, only the pleasure of doing what I love and showing what I can do with what little I have



Stratovarius' concert at the DK Gorbunova in Moscow on October 23, 2005, was a key event of their 2005-2006 World Tour. This show marked the band's return to Russia after a period of significant internal instability and the recent reunion of their classic lineup.

Band Context in 2005
By October 2005, the band had just released their self-titled album, Stratovarius. This period was significant because:
Reunion: It represented the consolidation of the return of Timo Tolkki (guitar), Timo Kotipelto (vocals), Jens Johansson (keyboards), Jari Kainulainen (bass), and Jörg Michael (drums), after the public crisis and temporary separation of 2004.
World Tour: Moscow was one of the European stops after having toured South and North America that same year.

Moscow Show Details

The event took place at the iconic DK Gorbunova, a cultural center known as the "temple of rock" in Moscow for decades.

Setlist: The setlist mixed new tracks from the Stratovarius album with their faster power metal classics. According to records from that time on Setlist.fm, the order included:

Intro / Maniac Dance
Speed ​​of Light
The Kiss of Judas
Eagleheart
Against the Wind
Twilight Symphony
Fight!!!
Bass Solo (Lauri Porra, who officially joined shortly after to replace Kainulainen)
The Land of Ice and Snow
United
Father Time
Hunting High and Low
Forever
Destiny
Black Diamond

Fun Facts
Bassist Change: Although Jari Kainulainen recorded the 2005 album, he left the band before completing the tour. At this Moscow show, Lauri Porra was already featured as the bassist, performing a solo dedicated to the Russian audience.
Atmosphere: Reports from that tour highlight a visual production that included video collages of the countries visited before opening with "Maniac Dance."

This video captures a historic Stratovarius performance at Shibuya O-EAST in Tokyo, Japan, on January 22, 2006. The concert was part of their world tour to promote their self-titled album, Stratovarius (2005).

Tour Context
Last Tour with Timo Tolkki: This was the final tour for guitarist and principal songwriter Timo Tolkki before his departure from the band in 2008.
Lauri Porra's Debut: This tour marked the official debut of bassist Lauri Porra, who replaced Jari Kainulainen shortly before the tour.
TV Broadcast: The video comes from a professional broadcast on Japanese television, which explains its high audio and video quality compared to other recordings from that era.

Concert Details

The band played two consecutive nights at the same venue (January 21 and 22). The setlist for January 22nd included tracks from the new album and essential classics:

Album Highlights
Stratovarius Maniac Dance, United
Visions Black Diamond, Paradise, Kiss of Judas
Episode Father Time, Speed ​​of Light, Forever
Destiny Destiny, S.O.S.
Infinite Hunting High and Low

The show also featured bass solos by Lauri Porra and keyboard solos by Jens Johansson, traditionally closing with a version of Beethoven's "Ode to Joy".

The video for Stratovarius - Live in Tullikamari 1992 is a historical document that captures the band in its early years, specifically during the promotion of their second studio album, "Twilight Time."

These are the key points that define the history and context of this video:

"Tolkki Era" Lineup: In this recording, the band did not yet have its most famous vocalist, Timo Kotipelto (who would join in 1994). Total leadership rested with Timo Tolkki, who, in addition to being the lead guitarist, also handled lead vocals.
Live Lineup: The group that appears on stage consists of:

Timo Tolkki: Guitar and vocals.

Jari Behm: Bass (who had a brief stint with the band at that time).

Antti Ikonen: Keyboards.

Tuomo Lassila: Drums (founding member).

Location and Venue: The concert took place at Tullikamari (Klubi) in Tampere, Finland. It is an iconic venue for the Finnish metal scene, where Stratovarius has returned at multiple stages of their career.
Early Setlist: Unlike current shows focused on hits like "Black Diamond" or "Hunting High and Low," this video showcases raw, more neoclassical/progressive tracks such as "Break the Ice," "The Hills Have Eyes," and "Fire Dance."
Origin of the Material: Much of this recording from 1992 (including concerts at other clubs like Berlin and Radio21) was originally recorded on S-VHS by Petri Leinonen and has been recovered and remastered years later by former members like Jari Behm for preservation on digital platforms.
This recording is fundamental to understanding Stratovarius' evolution from a local metal band in Finland to becoming pioneers of European symphonic power metal.

To complete the story of this Stratovarius video, here is the setlist they performed and the context of their discography at that time:
Setlist: Live at Tullikamari (1992)
Although club recordings from that era are often incomplete on video, the documented setlist for their performance at Tullikamari (Klubi) and other similar clubs in Helsinki during 1992 included:

Reign of Terror
The Hands of Time
Abyss
Metal Frenzy
The Hills Have Eyes
Fright Night
Nightfall
Out of the Shadows
Fire Dance
Break the Ice

Context of the Era: The Album "II / Twilight Time"
In 1992, the band was in a phase of transition and identity searching:

Release: The album was originally released in February 1992 under the simple title Stratovarius II by the Finnish label Bluelight Records.

Re-release: Due to international interest, it was re-released in 1993 by Shark Records under the more familiar name: Twilight Time.
Sound: Unlike the fast-paced power metal that would make them famous years later, this era had a darker, more progressive sound, heavily influenced by the neoclassical style of Ritchie Blackmore and Yngwie Malmsteen.
Trivia: This is one of the few recordings where you can hear Jari Behm on bass. He recorded the bass tracks for the Twilight Time album but left the band shortly afterward.

The story behind this video corresponds to a live performance by Stratovarius on October 20, 1998, at the studios of the Finnish television program Jyrki.

Context and Relevance
This video captures the band at one of their peak moments of commercial success and popularity in their home country.

The Destiny Era: The performance was part of the promotion for their album Destiny, released just days before the show (late October 1998). This album is considered a cornerstone of melodic power metal and debuted at number one on the Finnish charts.
The Jyrki Program: This was Finland's most important youth music program in the 1990s. The format allowed bands to play in an intimate setting with the audience very close to the stage, giving the video that characteristic "school concert" or small club aesthetic.

Classic Lineup: The video features the band's most iconic lineup: Timo Kotipelto (vocals), Timo Tolkki (guitar), Jens Johansson (keyboards), Jari Kainulainen (bass), and Jörg Michael (drums).

Setlist: Although individual clips are usually shown on television, the band played a full set in the studio, which included the following tracks:

Paradise
No Turning Back
The Kiss of Judas
Speed ​​of Light
4000 Rainy Nights
Black Diamond
Forever
S.O.S.

Many of the individual videos circulating online from this session (such as "Black Diamond" or "S.O.S.") are excerpts from this same historic recording.

BOOTLEG VIDEO!

Stratovarius's show at the 2004 Gods of Metal festival in Bologna, Italy, is remembered as one of the strangest and most tense moments in the band's history, occurring amidst one of the group's deepest internal crises.

The Unexpected Date Change
Originally, Stratovarius was scheduled to perform on Saturday, June 5th. However, due to a thunderstorm and torrential rain, UFO's set was canceled, and the schedule was altered. As a result, Stratovarius ended up playing on Sunday, June 6, slotting in between The Quireboys and W.A.S.P.

Crisis Context: Tolkki's "Meltdown"
This concert took place during a period of erratic behavior by guitarist and frontman Timo Tolkki:

Internal Tensions: Months earlier, Tolkki had announced the band's dissolution and the dismissal of Timo Kotipelto (vocals) and Jörg Michael (drums), briefly replacing them with a singer called "Miss K" and drummer Anders Johansson.
Forced Reunion: For this show, the classic lineup reunited due to contractual obligations, but the atmosphere was one of complete fracture. Shortly afterward, Tolkki was diagnosed with bipolar disorder.

Onstage behavior: Strange incidents were reported during that year's tour, including the infamous episode at another festival (Piorno Rock) where Jens Johansson urinated on Tolkki while he was playing, reflecting the chaos that reigned within the band at the time.

Concert Details
Venue: Arena Parco Nord, Bologna, Italy.
Setlist: Despite the problems, the band performed a set packed with classics:

I Walk to My Own Song
Speed ​​of Light
Hunting High and Low
Forever Free
Eternity
The Kiss of Judas
Phoenix
Forever
Reign of Terror
Black Diamond

This period of instability would culminate with the release of their self-titled album in 2005 and Tolkki's eventual departure in 2008.

What happened after the chaotic year of 2004 was one of the most dramatic transitions in metal history. Here's how the Timo Tolkki era crumbled and how the band managed to survive:
1. The Last Attempt: The Self-titled Album (2005)
After the disaster of 2004, the band tried to heal their wounds and recorded Stratovarius (2005). It was a polarizing album: they abandoned double-bass drum power metal for a slower, rawer sound. During the tour, tensions remained high; Tolkki was in a fragile mental state, and the chemistry with Timo Kotipelto was nonexistent.

2. The Final Departure (2008)
In April 2008, Tolkki shocked the world with a statement announcing the end of Stratovarius.

The reason: He cited unbearable internal tensions and a lack of enthusiasm.

The legal maneuver: Tolkki legally ceded the name "Stratovarius" to the other members (Kotipelto, Johansson, and Michael), thinking they wouldn't continue without him.

The surprise: The remaining members decided to carry on, recruiting the young virtuoso Matias Kupiainen on guitar.

3. The rebirth: "Polaris" (2009)
Many fans thought Stratovarius would die without its main songwriter, but the album Polaris proved them wrong. It was a success that refreshed the band's sound, giving it a more modern and collaborative feel. Tracks like "Deep Unknown" confirmed that there was life after Tolkki.

4. What happened to Timo Tolkki?
He tried to recapture his glory with several projects:
Revolution Renaissance: His direct response to Stratovarius, where he recorded demos that were originally intended for the group (such as "Age of Aquarius").
Symphonia: A supergroup with Andre Matos that unfortunately didn't take off. Avalon: His metal opera project with famous guests.

Despite his genius, his health and financial problems kept him from the big leagues, while Stratovarius established itself as a solid entity with albums like Nemesis and the recent Survive.

Stratovarius' performance at Knotfest Meets Forcefest 2019 in Mexico City is remembered as one of the few successful moments of a festival that ended in chaos and violence. While the main bands were unable to play, the Finns managed to complete their set with a very positive response from the audience.

Show Details
Date and Place: It took place on November 30, 2019 at Deportivo Oceanía, a venue that received criticism for its poor infrastructure and lack of security.
Festival context: The event was marked by extreme delays in access and poor logistics on the part of the promoter Live Talent.
The performance: Despite the tense atmosphere, Stratovarius put on a solid show throughout the afternoon. Its vocalist, Timo Kotipelto, stood out for his charisma and ability to connect with an audience that was already exhausted by the failures of the event.
The outcome of Knotfest: Hours after Stratovarius' show, the festival collapsed when a security barricade was knocked down, leading to the cancellation of Evanescence and Slipknot. This caused riots where some attendees set fire to the stage and Evanescence's drums.

Repertoire (Setlist)
The band performed a selection of their most emblematic songs:
Setlist.fm
Setlist.fm
Eagleheart
phoenix
Shine in the Dark
Paradise
4000 Rainy Nights
Black Diamond
Unbreakable
Hunting High and Low

Additional Anecdotes

Contrast with Puebla: On that same tour of Mexico, the band experienced a difficult moment in Puebla, where Kotipelto lost his voice due to an infection minutes before leaving, forcing the band to perform an unusual instrumental set.
Legacy: For many fans, Stratovarius' performance was the "bright spot" of what is considered one of the most disastrous festivals in the history of metal in Mexico.

Stratovarius' concert at the Metalitalia Festival 2025 was the closing event of the twelfth edition of the festival, establishing itself as one of the most memorable moments of the Finnish band's European tour that year.
Event Details
Date and Time: The show closed the festival on Sunday, September 28, 2025, beginning its performance at 10:10 PM.
Location: It took place at the Live Music Club in Trezzo sull'Adda (Milan), Italy.
Historical Milestone: This edition of the festival achieved the first double "sold-out" (sold out tickets for both days) in its history.

Context and Production
Stratovarius acted as the undisputed headliner of the second day, dedicated mainly to Power Metal. The band shared the stage that day with other references of the genre such as Rhapsody of Fire (who were celebrating the 25th anniversary of Dawn of Victory), Twilight Force and Vision Divine.

The lineup featured the masterful presence of Timo Kotipelto on vocals and Jens Johansson on keyboards, who led a show full of energy and technical solos. In addition to the music, fans were able to participate in free Meet & Greets with the artists throughout the afternoon.
Repertoire (Setlist)
The track listing included a balanced selection between his immortal classics and songs from his most recent album, Survive. The complete setlist was:

Intro (from tape)
Forever Free
Eagleheart
The Kiss of Judas
World on Fire
Holy Light
Paradise
Eternity
Keyboard Solo (Jens Johansson)
Black Diamond
Survive
Destiny
forever
Speed of Light
Unbreakable
Hunting High and Low (Final Closing)

Stratovarius' concert in Quito, held on April 12, 2025, marked the return of the Finnish power metal pioneers to Ecuador after a three-year absence. The event took place at the Teleférico's Crystal Station, a venue that offered an exclusive atmosphere for fans of the genre.

Show Details
Date: Saturday, April 12, 2025
Venue: Teleférico's Crystal Station, Quito
Lineup: Led by Timo Kotipelto (vocals) and Jens Johansson (keyboards)
Significance: This was the band's third official visit to the country, having previously performed in 2009 (Ágora at the House of Culture) and in 2022 as part of "The Metal Fest".

The Setlist
The performance featured an extensive selection from their discography, combining classic anthems with tracks from their most recent album, Survive. The main songs performed included:

Eagleheart
Speed ​​of Light
Paradise
Black Diamond
Hunting High and Low (the usual closing classic).

History in Ecuador
Stratovarius' relationship with the Quito audience began in 2009 during the Polaris World Tour. Their return in 2022 in a festival format solidified their fanbase, allowing the 2025 show to be planned as an intimate "masterpiece night," with special incentives such as commemorative posters for early attendees.

Originally released on November 20, 2000, Infinite Visions is not a single music video, but a documentary/anthology on VHS and DVD that chronicles the story of the Finnish power metal band Stratovarius over 12 years (1988–2000).

Origin and Concept
The "story" behind this video is essentially a compilation of home videos recorded by the band members themselves during their tours and recording sessions.

DIY Approach: Unlike other highly produced rock documentaries, Infinite Visions stands out for its "do-it-yourself" style. Much of the footage was filmed spontaneously by the musicians (especially Jens Johansson), capturing inside jokes and genuine moments of camaraderie.

Purpose: It was designed to offer fans an intimate behind-the-scenes look, showcasing the band's evolution from their humble beginnings with Fright Night to the massive success of their album Infinite.

Featured Content
The video is over two hours long and is divided into chronological sections, including:

Live Performances: From early shows in Finland (1988) to major festivals like Wacken Open Air in Germany (2000).
International Tours: Documents their first visits to Japan (1996) and their extensive tours of South America (1999), where the band achieved cult status.
Recording Process: Shows previously unreleased recordings from the sessions at Finnvox Studios for the albums Episode and Infinite.
Official Music Videos: All their promotional videos from that era, such as "Black Diamond," "Hunting High and Low," and "S.O.S.," are included at the end of the documentary.

Releases and Trivia
Sonata Arctica: The video includes a 30-second clip of Sonata Arctica performing "Black Diamond" live, which was a major boost for the then-emerging Finnish band.
Reissue: In 2009, a special edition was released that included a bonus CD with live tracks recorded in cities such as Santiago, Chile, and Madrid, as well as several demo versions of their most famous songs.

Stratovarius' concert at the Leyendas del Rock 2025 festival (Villena, Spain) was an outstanding performance within his world tour, characterized by a repertoire that mixed his immortal classics with songs from his most recent album, Survive.

History and Context of the Show
Date and place: It took place in August 2025 at the Municipal Sports Center of Villena, Alicante.
Significance: The show served as a preamble and consolidation of the band before its massive announcement for the 20th Anniversary edition in 2026, where it has been confirmed that they will perform a historic concert exclusively reviewing their four most legendary albums (Episode, Visions, Destiny and Infinite).
Reception: The Finnish band reaffirmed their status as one of the pillars of Power Metal in Spain, attracting one of the largest audiences on the main stage that day.

Setlist Performed in 2025
Based on their performances on the Survive tour and their time at similar festivals on that date:

Survive
Eagleheart
Speed Of Light
Paradise
World On Fire
Legions
Frozen In Time
Black Diamond (preceded by Jens Johansson's iconic keyboard solo)
Unbreakable
Hunting High And Low
The Future: Legends of Rock 2026
It is important to note that, due to the success of 2025, the festival is already promoting its return for August 7, 2026 with a special format:

Thematic Show: A night dedicated solely to hymns from their "golden era."
Confirmed Songs for 2026: They have assured that pieces like "Father Time" will be played, in addition to the usual classics, in a superior visual production to celebrate the two decades of the festival.

Stratovarius' show at the Midalidare Rock In The Wine Valley 2024 festival was one of the standout performances of the fourth edition of this Bulgarian event, held in the unique setting of a winery in the village of Mogilovo.

Concert Details
Date and Venue: It took place on Saturday, July 13, 2024, at the Midalidare Estate stage in Bulgaria.
Festival Context: Stratovarius shared the bill that day with legendary bands such as Mr. Big, Axel Rudi Pell, and Primal Fear. The festival attracted approximately 40,000 people over its three days.
Current Lineup: The band performed with its established lineup: Timo Kotipelto (vocals), Jens Johansson (keyboards), Matias Kupiainen (guitar), Lauri Porra (bass), and Rolf Pilve (drums).

Setlist
The performance focused on promoting their most recent album, Survive, interspersed with their greatest power metal classics:

Survive (Opening)
Eagleheart
Speed ​​of Light
Paradise
World on Fire
Legions of the Twilight
Frozen in Time
Black Diamond
Unbreakable
Hunting High and Low (Closing)
Show Significance
This concert is remembered for its excellent sound quality and the organization of the festival, which combined the power of metal with wine tastings and outdoor activities in a Bulgarian valley. Furthermore, the entire show was recorded and is popular among fans for capturing the band's current energy on a large-scale stage.

PDT: his is the last void that I have done so far, after this the situation changes, only the videos that I will have made in real time will be shown, so the exhibition in the forum will take a few days

Stratovarius' show in Raumanmeri, Finland, on June 24, 2004, was a pivotal moment during their "Elements" tour. Despite Timo Tolkki's emotional instability and nervous breakdown that year, the band delivered a high-energy performance in Rauma, remembered for songs like "Eternity."

Context: It was part of the 2004 summer festival season, a difficult period for the band.
Lineup: Timo Kotipelto (vocals), Timo Tolkki (guitar), Jens Johansson (keyboards), Jari Kainulainen (bass), and Jörg Michael (drums).
Significance: Despite internal tensions and Tolkki's personal problems, the live performance displayed a high level of professionalism, considered a "killer" performance by fans.
Event Details: It took place at the Raumanmeri Festival on the west coast of Finland, on an open-air stage at night.

The concert is hailed as a testament to the band's resilience in a chaotic year for their history.