Stratovarius : Elysium
by Ron & Don Higgins
Staff Writer
Legendary Finnish power metalists Stratovarius are back again with their 13th studio album, the exquisite Elysium. This is their second full-length album since the departure of founding member, guitarist (and former vocalist) Timo Tolkki, and it has gone straight to No. 1 on the Finnish album charts. If there were any concerns about the ability of this band to carry on without Tolkki, this release certainly lays these concerns to rest. It is vintage Stratovarius with classic sounds and exactly what longtime listeners have come to expect. Screaming guitars? Check. Pounding double-bass and ethereal keyboards? Check and Check. Impressive vocals? Checkmate.
Replacing Tolkki on guitar is Matias Kupiainen, who also appeared on their last full-length release, Polaris, along with other relative newcomer, Lauri Porra on bass. Lead vocals once again are handled by the ever-impressive Timo Koltipelto. As usual, drums and keyboards are completed by Jörg Michael and Jens Johansson.
Although this release doesn’t really break any new ground, that’s definitely not a bad thing when it comes to the likes of an impressive band such as Stratovarius. AC/DC doesn’t really break new ground when they release new material either but, as the saying goes, when something’s not broke, don’t fix it! The one thing this release does do; however, is return to some of the symphonic elements of, well, Elements. That’s either a good thing or bad thing, depending on personal preference. Some people prefer the more straightforward rock of their earlier releases, which the band returned to for their self-titled 11th disc and Tolkki’s swan song. However, for those who enjoyed the slick production and progressive metal of Elements I and II, this album is a welcome return to that style.
The album starts off in grand fashion with “Darkest Hours,” which originally was released on a five-song EP by the same name in late 2010 as a sampling of Elysium to whet the appetite of the band’s rabid fans. It begins with some industrial sounds, followed by the expected guitar attack, up-front keys and, finally, Koltipelto’s unmistakable vocals. It’s a classic Stratovarius tune and successfully prepares the listener for what to expect throughout the remainder of the record.
The next track “Under Flaming Skies” is a bit harder than the opener. It still features some impressive keyboards, but they’re not as up-front as in the first song. What is in the forefront is the drumming and shredding. There’s some nice rhythmic guitar playing, and Jörg Michael showcases his double-bass abilities. This is a very up-tempo song and one of the standouts on the album.
Other standouts include “Infernal Maze,” another studio track from the aforementioned EP, “Lifetime in a Moment,” “Move the Mountain” and, of course, the lengthy title-track “Elysium.” “Infernal Maze” has an interesting a cappella intro with some moody wind chimes in the background. The vocals then kick in as the song builds to a crescendo and starts rocking hard with plenty of screaming guitars and double-bass thumping. “Life in a Moment” also has a novel beginning with what sounds like monks chanting before kicking into full progressive metal gear. “Move the Mountain” is a true ballad with a slower tempo and lots of keyboards. It’s a nice contrast to the rest of the album and lets the listener catch their breath before returning to more head banging. The song features some excellent backing vocals and some nice piano work toward the end of the song as well.
The pièce de résistance, is the epic 18-minute title track “Elysium.” Now, if you’re going to include a song that’s half the length of all the other tracks on the album combined, ala the Rush masterpiece “2112,” then you better make sure the song is worthy of the effort. Be rest assured, this one certainly is. It contains everything a power metal lover would ever want. There are breathlessly beautiful slow moments interspersed with up-tempo, head-banging, fist-pumping, guitar-shredding metal moments. Although, musically, it runs the gamut from instrumental balladry to high-octane riffing, it flows nicely and is very cohesive. It’s an accurate representation of the disc as a whole and the one track that truly shines on this most recent effort.
Elysium is like one big concept album with nine parts, albeit one part is quite massive. It has straightforward rockers as well as symphonic moments harking back to the glory days of Elements. Although Stratovarius struggled a bit in recent years with releases such as their self-titled finale with Tolkki, they seem to have new energy and vigor and are well on their way to returning to the top of the power metal echelon along with contemporaries like Helloween, Gamma Ray, and Blind Guardian. Some people may have wondered if Stratovarius can survive without Tolkki. This release answers that question with a resounding yes.
Band:
Jörg Michael
Jens Johansson
Timo Kotipelto
Matias Kupiainen
Lauri Porra
Track Listing:
1. “Darkest Hours”
2. “Under Flaming Skies”
3. “Infernal Maze”
4. “Fairness Justified”
5. “The Game Never Ends”
6. “Lifetime in a Moment”
7. “Move the Mountain”
8. “Event Horizon”
9. “Elysium”
Website: http://www.stratovarius.com
Label: Japan – Victor / Worldwide – Edel
Hardrock Haven Rating: 8.75/10