The Stratovarius Thread

[wolfking]

I think Elysium's lows were lower, but its highs were higher (specifically the title track).

You just hit the nail on the head my friend.  I was trying to work out the comparision between the two albums, but this is just it.

[RazielSR]

Well, I would say Elysium song is the best composition from the new line up till now and one of their best ever, but Nemesis is a LOT better as a whole album than Elysium, without any doubt.

[Scrub206]

Nothing will ever top Event Horizon. That is one of the best tracks they've put out in the last few albums IMO. has that very "Stratovarius-y" feel more than most songs.

[RazielSR]

Nothing will ever top Event Horizon. That is one of the best tracks they've put out in the last few albums IMO. has that very "Stratovarius-y" feel more than most songs.

  for me is a "weak" song on Elysium.

But it is nice to see that many people have different opinions about their newest albums. It's cool and makes me happy. 

[wolfking]

Event Horizon was definitely a highlight on Elysium.

[Dark Castle]

God damn the guitar work on this album's hooked me like a fish, the crunch and sharp bite is so damned infectious.

[Mladen]

Event Horizon was definitely a highlight on Elysium.

It was one of the highlights indeed. 

I don't think Nemesis will top Elysium in my book. Elysium started with four fantastic songs and ended with a great shorter tune and a groundbreaking epic, whereas Nemesis is incredibly strong during the first half, then suddenly gets boring and doesn't pick up until the title track. I still heavily enjoy it, I've been spinning Stand my ground all day yesterday.

[Scorpion]

I still have to listen to this... though the one song that I know (Unbreakable) isn't really up to par with Elysium, and my interest in Strato has been waning, so I didn't pre-order. When this hits Spotify, I'll give it a listen.

Also, while I rarely listen to Strato, when I do, it's almost always Elysium. Not a bad track on that album, and the title track is probably one of my favourite power metal tracks of all time.

[RazielSR]

It is funny and strange, people in this forum say more or less the opposite of what is said in other froums regarding Elysium album vs Nemesis album. I think it is because in this album there is a new style and some people can't get in that easy. It use to happen. Don't get me wrong, for me Elysium is an amazing album, it is wonderful and I enjoyed a lot, plus I think Elysium song is the best song from this lineup and one of the best ever, but I think (and the majority) that Nemesis is way lot better as a whole album. Anyway, enjoy Stratovarius! 

Vinyl version bonus (Old man and the Sea) : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lBz38Qck3q4

[Scrub206]

Event Horizon was definitely a highlight on Elysium.

It was one of the highlights indeed. 

I don't think Nemesis will top Elysium in my book. Elysium started with four fantastic songs and ended with a great shorter tune and a groundbreaking epic, whereas Nemesis is incredibly strong during the first half, then suddenly gets boring and doesn't pick up until the title track. I still heavily enjoy it, I've been spinning Stand my ground all day yesterday.

D: but Castles in the Sky! and Dragons! both awesome tracks. I feel the two weak points on the album are "Stand My Ground" and "One Must Fall." Other than that its an all around strong album.

[wolfking]

Event Horizon was definitely a highlight on Elysium.

It was one of the highlights indeed. 

I don't think Nemesis will top Elysium in my book. Elysium started with four fantastic songs and ended with a great shorter tune and a groundbreaking epic, whereas Nemesis is incredibly strong during the first half, then suddenly gets boring and doesn't pick up until the title track. I still heavily enjoy it, I've been spinning Stand my ground all day yesterday.

I tend to agree with this at the moment.  The more I listen to Nemesis, the more I like it, but the more I think I like Elysium better.  Elysium has that up and down like you said and seems to have more variety.  Nemesis is very consistent, maybe too consistent.  Loving Fireborn, the title track, Fantasy, well most of them really.  I just it's just a different beast to Elysium and time will tell which one will come out on top.

[Scorpion]

So I listened to the album and it was a very good listen, but almost nothing stuck with me. Elysium felt far more memorable on the first listen, though I'll keep listening - maybe it'll grow on me.

[wolfking]

Elysium felt far more memorable on the first listen

This is very true.  Nemesis seems like a realy grower.

[RazielSR]

I can tell you it is like you say. You will see how will be growing. When I was listening Halcyon days for the fisrt time I was like WTF have they done¿?¿? And now I just love it. It always happens the same. When you are used to a band releasing some kind of songs, and then they are heavier or different, you can get a bit underwhelmed, but it is the obvious process. What this band is doing is extremely fantastic. I'm listening this band for a long time and I have listened to their whole albums more than I have been listening any other band including my other favourite band, DT. I mean, you can say I love this band, it is my favourite for many reasons. And I can tell you that this album have something that makes me feel exactly as when I heard Episode or Visions for the first time. The whole 14 songs, are just incredible and if you hear the album in a whole, it is just astonishing. Stand my ground is my fav at the moment but I feel bad for the rest of the songs by saying this, because woooooooooooooooow 

I just hope they play live Halcyon Days as an opener and Nemesis to finish the concerts. In the middle they can put Elysium song, Emancipation suite and the rest everything about Nemesis album 

[wolfking]

I loved Halycon Days the first time I heard, I still think it's one of their top 10 songs of all time.

[Scrub206]

I know there's only so much you can expect from a power metal music video, but I'm excited to see the Halycon Days music video.

[RazielSR]

Halcyon days videoclip is online (but just for Finland until Friday) -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=5f1qZRMmZxI

Anyway, if you are outside Finland and want to see it, it has been uploaded by another user-> https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=SeDaEmOmZyk

[wolfking]

What the hell was the point of the chick, made the video pretty cheesy.  It would have been much more powerful if it was just the band playing.

[RazielSR]

What the hell was the point of the chick, made the video pretty cheesy.  It would have been much more powerful if it was just the band playing.

True, it ruined a little bit the video.

[Mladen]

Nice video for my favorite song on the album. Don't badmouth the girl, she's hot.  And that's one fine beard on Timo, although no one can beat James LaBrie when it comes to transformation by growing a beard. 

[RazielSR]

  Stand my ground RULES live!

Tk was ill these days and it said in an interview after the concert that he had not fully recovered from flue. Anyway, it sounds really good and the power of the new songs live is AMAZING.

 Some videos here:

Stand my ground: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZxR2hPtIJM
Fantasy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGF7mm7-5V4
Halcyon days: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7nLEMbJ4sxo


Nemesis reached #16 on Billboard, #32 in Spain. A really really good figures for Stratovarius.

A little Rolf solo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20q5Mnx0OYE

[RazielSR]

Unbreakable-> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCGgj_nIbIo

[Mladen]

It's too bad he struggles with the high notes, the guys tuned down their guitars quite a bit. Still, it all looks really good and I'd love to see them again.

[RazielSR]

It's too bad he struggles with the high notes, the guys tuned down their guitars quite a bit. Still, it all looks really good and I'd love to see them again.

He was a bit ill. I think the new songs sounds incredible live, mainly Stand my Ground.

Abandon with Rolf pov -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AI_25sLt_4o 

[gazinwales]

I'm kind of surprised that a band as big as Strato still play small venues like Tavastia?

I finally got the Japanese version this week, I was a little underwhelmed at first, but Nemesis is growing on me.

[?]

I'm kind of surprised that a band as big as Strato still play small venues like Tavastia?

Basically every band, big or small, plays at Tavastia, Nightwish is the only exception that comes to mind. Besides, Stratovarius' popularity isn't as huge as during their heyday in the late 90s (although they get airplay on at least one radio channel) - NW, Sonata Arctica, Amorphis and Bodom are bigger in Finland nowadays.

I still haven't heard Nemesis; I'll borrow it from the local library (if they get it at some point) and buy a copy for myself if I like it.

[wolfking]

Kotipelto sounds dreadful.  He has never been a great live singer, hopefully it's just his sickness, you couldn't possibly to a full blown tour sounding like this.

[RazielSR]

Intro+Abandon+Speed of Light -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2CYMMshb6xc

[Scrub206]

It's too bad he struggles with the high notes, the guys tuned down their guitars quite a bit. Still, it all looks really good and I'd love to see them again.

He was a bit ill. I think the new songs sounds incredible live, mainly Stand my Ground.

Abandon with Rolf pov -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AI_25sLt_4o 

he hits pretty hard. he seems like a very solid drummer so far ! 

[RazielSR]

Amazing

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cd0tVGDXRyI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4sMNYMpENM

[Scrub206]

They played Destiny when I saw them in 05 or 06 and it was 

[RazielSR]

Dragons-> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QebcQBxVSsw

Stand my ground ( I love this song and I like a lot live) -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCIc8wA5WsU&feature=youtu.be

Abandon (bad audio but the vocals sounds good, until the mic fucks up the thing lol) -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZ1mPtnFCuU&feature=youtu.be

Speed of Light -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5sbkYAJyKA

[RazielSR]

Last saturday night Stratovarius show at Madrid was unbelievable! Tk's voice was astonishing. I cound't believe it cause as we all know he was ill again and we were afraid about it. But when the show started, my ears realized I was hearing the best Kotipelto again! I hope the rest of the people that is gonna see them live in this tour can have TK with that quality for the rest of the tour.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=uEujDcipp2U

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HepBNvBAH3g&feature=player_embedded

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJ9ophv_fF0&feature=player_embedded

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=uJyuevYfW4c

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_X3-HB_lVag&feature=player_embedded

[Scrub206]

Why cant they just come to america for a show or two D:

[gazinwales]

They'll come to the USA and anywhere else when they are booked by a promoter to tour.
Bands do not decided or book countries they tour