Stratovarius [Enhanced] [Limited Edition] [Import]

Stratovarius [Enhanced] [Limited Edition] [Import]

Track Listings

1. Maniac Dance

2. Flight

3. Just Carry On

4. Back To Madness

5. Gypsy In Me

6. God Of Twilight

7. Land Of Ice & Snow

8. Leave The Drive

9. United

10. Stratovarius Rockmentary (Documentary Movie)

11. Break The Ice (Live)

Editorial Reviews
Product Description
Limited Edition Japanese pressing includes two bonus tracks: a documentary called Stratovarius Rockumentary and 'Break The Ice' (live). Victor. 2005.

Tracks:

Father Time
Will The Sun Rise?
Eternity
Episode
Speed Of Light
Uncertainty
Season Of Change
Stratosphere
Babylon
Tomorrow
Night Time Eclipse
Forever
When The Night Meets The Day

Album Description

Originally released in 1996, their fifth release was a greatsuccess for these masters of melodic metal. For the first time, choirs and a symphonic orchestra are introduced to their music and the effect is amazing. Now includes the bonus track 'When The Night Meets The Day'. 13 tracks

Customer Reviews:

Another amazing album from Stratovarius.......2006-02-15

Stratovarius is one of the best bands ever. This album is a metal milestone and it's not even there best album! This song has everything fast rockers, slow epics, ballads, amazing vocals, virtuoso guitar work, a great rythym section. The songwriting is excellent too.

1.Father Time- 10/10 A great fast opener. The riff is awesome and Timo Kotipelto's vocals are excellent. An excellent guitar solo too. This is a classic

2.Will the Sun Rise?- 10/10 Another great song. The riff is excellent and Kotipelto hits some very high notes. The classic section is great too which leads right into an explosive guitar and keyboard trade off.

3.Eternity- 10/10 The intro is awesome and the riff is one of the best I've ever heard. The soft part which Kotipelto singing has an 80's feel to it. The keyboards are great in this song and Timo Tolkki throws in god like guitar solo.

4.Episode- 10/10 A beautiful instrumental. The keyboards are excellent and Timo Tolkki's guitar work has a lot of feel to it. A great intro to the next song too.

5.Speed of Light- 10/10 Another classic. The riff is excellent. There's one guitar fill in here so fast you'd swear it was sped up but it's not! Timo Kotipelto's vocals are great and Timo Tolkki's guitar solo is incredible and it is one of the best guitar solos I've ever heard.

6.Uncertainty- 10/10 A great song with an awesome riff. The pounding rythym section sounds great too. The soft part is excellent and Kotipelto's vocals are great. Another great guitar solo too.

7.Season of Change- 9/10 A great ballad with amazing vocals by Kotieplto. A very well written song with a great chorus. A great keyboard solo too. Timo Tolkki's solo is great too.

8.Stratosphere- 10/10 An awesome instrumental with excellent guitar work. The opening line is great but it gets even better when it explodes into a fast solo section. The soft part is beautiful and features some of Timo Tolkki's best guitar work ever.

9.Babylon- 10/10 An excellent Rainbow influenced epic. This sounds a lot like the Rainbow songs Stargazer, Gates Of Babylon and Eyes OF Fire. The vocals are excellent and I don't even need to say that the music is great too. The scream beofre the solo is excellent too. The solo sounds like a mix of Ritchie Blackmore, George Lynch and Yngwie and the keyboard solo is great too.

10.Tomorrow- 9/10 Another great song. The riff is awesome and the vocals are great. Timo Tolkki's solo is excellent too.

11.Night Time Eclipse- 10/10 A classic song with one of the best guitar riffs I've ever heard. The soft part is beautiful and Timo Kotipelto's vocals are excellent. More great guitar work. An excellent epic.

12.Forever- 10/10 A beautiful ballad with amazing vocals. This has a real mideval feel to it.

13.When the Night Meets the Day- 10/10 Another great song. This song is very slow and it's a ballad. The vocals are amazing and the guitar solo is very touching.

If you like power metal than this album is essential. There best album is Visions but this album is great too. Timo Tolkki plays fast but plays with a lot of emotion too so the guitar solos are almost perfect. If you like Helloween, Queensryche, Rainbow, Dio, Iron Maiden or any other Stratovarius album than you need this album.

Timo Kotipelto- Vocals
Timo Tolkki- Guitar
Jorg Michael- Drums
Jari Kainulainen- Bass
Jens Johansson- Keyboards

I don't know why people give it less than 4 stars........2006-02-02

This is an excellent cd. It's quite a jump from their original cds and songwriting however, it's for the better. I love the musicality and intricacies. I also like the addition of an epic feel to songs like Eternity and Stratosphere. The singing is a little different but I grew accustomed to it. Overall I would recommend this to any power metal fan.

An interesting stepping stone on the Stratovarius journey.......2006-01-11

This album straddles two eras of the band. There is plenty of clunky early style stuff. But just when you thought that this might be like Dreamspace or Fright Night they pull out stuff like Father Time. Personally I prefer the live version on the Visions live double CD but this is still a cool track. Not to mention the fey sort of feelings invoked by listening to Forever. Try it with the lights out! However I can't justify more than three stars due to the feeling that these Finns were only just seeing beyond the front door and hadn't yet escaped their musical isolation.

Though I was tempted to make this four stars due to the excellent Season of Change.....

Inconsistent drumming will never do a masterpiece.......2005-08-25

Don't believe these reviewers.
If only Stratovarius could bring Tuomo Lassila back...
The band would be perfect.Jorg Michael used to sound like a drumming machine sometimes .
I don't want to mock you, Jorg, it's only an advice for you to wake up. ( He woke up in Stratovarius 2005 album )
Where on hell were the band's conscience when they chose Father Time to be a single?? What a big mistake.(lovers of this song,sorry).Eternity, Night time eclipse or When the night meets the day are 1000 times better and interesting than this throw-out!

The double bass drums are used in almost 50% of the album(1 star lost):
Father Time ( the chorus had too high vocal notes to me that made dislike
this track,a magnification);
Will the sun rise?;Speed of light; Tomorrow;Stratosphere
Result: lack of originality

Babylon: I tried to enjoy this after some listens. It's boring.
Father time and Babylon took the other star off.

The ups:

-Timo Tolkki's solos in:
1-Speed of light(especially the ones in middle and at the end),
2-Night time eclipse( in the beggining before the singing,in the midway when it speeds up and in 6:13; IMPRESSIVE!!). This track is one of my favourites.
3-Stratosphere

-Timo Kotipelto in Uncertainty , good riff too

Other favourites: Eternity and When the night meets the day (the ending is beautiful when the
voice notes changes with Tolkki's backing vocals; If you don't have it, buy Intermission. I simply don't understand why Tolkki didn't put it Episode originally. What a stumble!It's one of the best Strato's ballads ever). He should have replaced Babylon.

You may be thinking: Why am I complaining about the drums? I don't like double bass? No, the overuse makes the repeated listening tirering or even annoying. There is a risk of getting bored with it.The songs will seem like a formula. Listen to the albums after 1996 and you'll understand my point of view.

Masterpiece!.......2005-07-01

This is it! The Strato album with loads of emotion and most thoughtful compositions. Goes almost hand to hand with Dreamspace for the best Strato album ever. Songs like "Father Time", "Will the Sun Rise" and "Speed of Light" were fantastic and fresh at the time. "Eternity" and "Night Time Eclipse" deliver amazing lyrics and emotions. "Season of Change" being maybe my favourite track with "Eternity" on this album. Listening to it is like waiting a flower to burst to all its glory. Kotipelto's performance might also be at its best in this song and he is singing some fantastic lyrics in the end that go directly in your heart and soul.

Episode is remarkable album that changed the musical style of the band into more melodic and symphonic. I think this is "the" album where to start listening (or maybe Visions) the band if haven't heard anything from them. Anybody who claims this is an uninspired album doesn't understand anything about music! PERIOD! Musicianship from the whole band is top notch and Tolkki is one of the best guitarists/songwriters ever! I've spoken.

Average customer rating:

Best Stratovarius Album
The best Stratovarius album!
Don't listen to these people who say that this is the best
Now this rocks
Instant Classic

Visions
Stratovarius
Manufacturer: Noise
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Episode
Destiny
Infinite
Dreamspace
Fright Night

ASIN: B000005DSN
Release Date: 1998-01-06

Tracks:

The Kiss Of Judas
Black Diamond
Forever Free
Before The Winter
Legions
The Abyss Of Your Eyes
Holy Light
Paradise
Coming Home
Visions (Southern Cross)

Album Description

U.S. debut for the progressive metal act's 1997 album. Contains 10 tracks, including the single 'Black Diamond'. A Noise Records release.

Album Details

Latest Release from These Heavy Metal Greats. Tracks Include Legions, Coming Home, Holy Light, Visions and More.

Customer Reviews:

Best Stratovarius Album.......2006-09-08

There are many albums by Stratovarius, but this one is likely the best, based on what I have heard and read. The album art is spectacular, which hints at what you are about to hear when you play the album. Sometimes the music sounds like it could help you soar above the clouds in a blissful Metal fantasy. If you like Stratovarius' style but don't already have this album, do yourself a favor and get it. You will not be disappointed.

The best Stratovarius album!.......2006-02-13

This is my favorite Stratovarius album. The band never sounded better. The writing is amazing and the vocals and guitar are mindblowing. This album sounds like a mix of Helloween, Dio, Iron Maiden, Yngwie Malmsteen, Rainbow, Queensryche and classic Stratovarius. This was the first Stratovarius album I bought and it blew my mind. This album made Stratovarius one of my all time favorite bands and made me go out and buy other Stratovarius albums.

1.The Kiss of Judas- 10/10 Amazing melodic opener. The opening keyboards and the intro riff are great. Kotipelto's vocals are excellent and the lyrics are great. The chorus is excellent too. This song has a strong 80's feel to it. The riff right before the solo is excellent too and the neo classical guitar and keyboard solos are excellent. Melodic metal at it's best.

2.Black Diamond- 10/10 The keyboards sound great on this fast song. Kotipelto's vocals are great and he does an excellent job of singing on such a fast song. The lyrics are excellent and Tolkii and Jens Johannsen's keyboard and guitar trade offs are excellent. Another classic.

3.Forever Free- 10/10 An excellent fast paced song with an excellent guitar riff. Kotipelto's vocals are excellent too. The lyrics are excellent too. Tolkii's melodic shredding solo is excellent too.

4.Before the Winter- 10/10 The soft intro is amazing. Kotipelto's vocals are great. This song shows off Kotipelto's range too. This song has a real mideval feel to it. Kotipelto's solo is amazing and it has a ton of feel and some excellent neo classical shredding. Another classic song and one of the best power ballads ever.

5.Legions- 10/10 Another classic song. the main riff sounds like Lightning Strikes by Ozzy and the neo classical guitar fill is awesome. Kotipelto's vocals are amazing and the the drums are great. Great solo by Tolkii again.

6.The Abyss of Your Eyes- 10/10 An excellent progressive song with a lot of changes. There is a heavy part, a really heavy part and a soft part. Kotipelto's vocals are amazing on this song. The keyboards work great and Timo Tolkii's solo is incredible. Another classic song!

7.Holy Light- 10/10 A great instrumental with exceptional playing from Timo Tolkii. This is up there with yngwie's instrumentals as far as neo classical instrumentals go. Very progressive and plenty of changes including a beautiful soft part.

8.Paradise- 8.5/10 Another good song. Timo Kotipelto's quiet vocals sound like Bruce Dickinson. Probably the worst song on this album. I don't why but the feel of the song just isnt't that good. Kotipelto's vocals are good but really not one of the better songs.

9.Coming Home- 10/10 Another amazing power ballad. The arrangement is incredible and Kotipelto's soft vocals are amazing and when the song goes into the heavy part Kotipelto's vocals soar! The lyrics are great and the solo is amazing and rivals any Yngwie Malmsteen solo. The solo has a ton of emotion and shredding.

10.Visions (Southern Cross)- Stratovarius' best song ever! An epic over 10 minutes long! Rainbow has Stargazer, Iron Maiden has Hallowed Be Thy Name, Deep Purple has Child In Time and Stratovarius has Visions(Southern Cross). This is there big masterpeice. The lyrics are excellent and the riff is great. The drums and bass are amazing. The use of keyboards is great on this song too. Kotipelto's first high high note is excellent but he belts out even higher notes later on! The demonic voice sounds great and the soft part of the song is incredible. Timo Tolkii's solo has a lot of feel and fits the song perfect.The high note right before the solo is incredible and shows that Timo Kotipelto's vocal range is over 4 octaves! An amazing epic that is one of the best songs of all time. Kotipelto's ending note hold leads into a great voice telling a short story.

This album is a metal milestone and is up there with Rainbow Rising, Dio Magica, Iron Maiden Number Of The Beast ect. This album has everything mind blowing vocals and guitar, great songwriting, an awesome instrumental, slower rockers, fast songs, epics, ballads everything. Visions (Southern Cross) is one of the best songs ever. This is an album that any metal fan will love.

Timo Kotipelto- Vocals
Timo Tolkki- Guitar
Jorg Michael- Drums
Jari Kainulainen- Bass
Jens Johansson- Keyboards

Don't listen to these people who say that this is the best.......2006-01-24

The true bands best recordings are Fright Night,Dreamspace and Fourth Dimension. They have more creativity and originality.

When I bought this album and listened first I thought it was masterpiece, but I don't think it anymore. It's because of that god damn Jorg Michael's addiction to double bass drums that spoils these tracks: Legions ( despite the good melody ), Holy light ( this instrumental song isn't bad at all; Jens Johansson the keyboardist , playing harphischord, incredibly manages to follow Timo Tolkki in his turbo soloing, putting the musical notes at the same speed as him, Wow!) , Visions and Forever free
( I hate these 2 songs , they suck! )
Another reason to hate Forever free is the chorus. Magnification.
Equal to Episode's (album) Father time.
Happily ,Jorg Michael, stopped with these annoying repetitions in the 2005 release. Now I forgive him.

These 3 songs are killer:

The Kiss of Judas:
The song that introduced me to Stratovarius.
It has the best drumming peformance by Jorg in the band's history to me besides his multiple flaws.
The solos ( keyboard and guitar) are really fabulous.
Surely it's one of most techically difficult guitar solos that Tolkki even invented. Watch him doing it at the clip and you'll see what I mean. He's a guitar monster, and one of my idols of this genre.
Another wonder in this track is the ending: the chorus in a different tone that gives a gorgeous feel. One of the best endings Strato ever done.

The abyss of your eyes: It starts with a muffled guitar.
No comments:very well played.The bridge and the ending are
amazing.

Coming home: The best ballad of Timo Kotipelto's times. Beautiful.

Black Diamond was one of the singles. The riffing is cool and enjoyable and fits perfectly with the harphischord. It's the
only one where the double bass drum doesn't disturb.
The chorus is another goodie.
" Paradise" is catchy.

Visions (1997 release) has more hits than mistakes and still worths your money.

Now I?ve listened to all studio albums and that?s my sincere opinion from best to worse:

1. Fright Night
2. Dreamspace / Fourth Dimension
3. Visions
4. Infinite / Elements part II / Stratovarius 2005
5. Intermission
6. Episode / Destiny
7. Twilight time
8. Elements part I

Buy in this order if you want to be a completist.It?s really difficult for these finnish to do a perfect record and Fright night came closer. You can see that 2 of the releases on the
top of the list are with Timo Tolkki on lead. The consistency of the songs overall was my standard.
The recipe to be perfect: the repetitive double bass drum loss was the first step , Timo Kotipelto is an extraordinary singer, but Tolkki could get more courage to sing together with him or do backing vocals at least,
put some more skilful guitar/ keyboard solos per album ,forget the ballads without electric guitar ( "drop in the ocean and celestial dream " - like ) and get back with that instrumental songs , with the same quality as Fire Dance or Stratovarius where Tolkki shows why he is number 84 in a list of the best guitarists of all time.
The worse mistake in the double bass drumming was the IDENTICAL rhythm in the songs:
Find your own voice and Father time ( arrgh ), anthem of the world, learning to fly , freedom ( not 100%,but close enough), glory of the world, legions, visions, tomorrow , speed of light , no turning back and stratosphere.

Now this rocks.......2006-01-11

Yep indeed, a concerted head bang from all around. This album won so many converts to the Stratovarius cause it's just not funny. Polished lyrically and production wise with more grunt under the bonnet than most of this bands product. Stuff like Kiss of Judas and Black Diamond - this stuff is just quality with even Classic Rock mag calling the latter track 'Teeth Rattling'. And that's not a mag that is a fan of Stratovarius style music.
This is the album to get in order to be acquainted with this fine band from finland.

Instant Classic.......2005-07-01

Visions re-defined the sound of 90's Power Metal. One of the greatest albums in this genre and the one that inspired many forthcoming bands, and sadly yes, copied by so many bands nowadays. Visions totally blew my mind when I first heard it and "Kiss of Judas" is still one of my very favourites with unbelievably haunting melody and superb guitar solo and drumming. Other great songs are "Black Diamond" (or is it "Live Diamond", heh), atmospheric "The Abyss of Your Eyes", catchy "Paradise" and beautiful "Coming Home". I've always liked more of mid-tempo and emotional Stratovarius songs over those speedy ones.

I still rank Episode a little higher than Visions, because it was more emotional and humble effort with better lyrics. Visions is somewhat easier and slightly more commercial than previous albums. Still, all Strato albums following this one feel more or less insignificant and I think Stratovarius will never achieve the same sheer power of Visions. It's almost perfect album when it comes into this kind of music. Recommended!

Average customer rating:

Their BEST album
Best old-school Stratovarius record
Their best......
Sheer European (Prog-Metal) Excellence!
Darker Strato

Dreamspace
Stratovarius
Manufacturer: Noise
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Episode
Visions
Twilight Time
Destiny
Fright Night

ASIN: B00000AE1Y
Release Date: 1998-10-20

Tracks:

Chasing Shadows
4th Reich
Eyes Of The World
Hold On To Your Dream
Magic Carpet Ride
We Are The Future
Tears Of Ice
Dreamspace
Reign Of Terror
Thin Ice
Atlantis
Abyss
Shattered
Wings Of Tomorrow

Album Description

Early album from 1994 by the Finnish prog metal quintet, available for the first time in the U.S. 14 tracks. 1998 Noise International release.

Customer Reviews:

Their BEST album.......2005-07-01

Even though this album might sound strange and very different than their other albums, it might also be the reason why Dreamspace is their best. The songs are very varied, emotional and progressive at the same time. Something you can't find from any of their other album. The sound is very cold, some may say it's flat, but I think it suits this album perfectly. It might be even intentional, who knows, not a lack of production. This is the creative peak of Tolkki and could actually be his solo album rather than 3rd Stratovarius album, it's that much experimental. This is the Strato album I listen to most.

"Chasing Shadows" has a haunting guitar sound with irresistible drive.
"4th Reich" has the most creative sound in this album, something I can't even describe.
My absolute favourite piece is "Eyes of the World", pure genius! Tolkki sings so beautifully in this one and the lyrics are really touching, not to mention the guitar solo that is one of his all time best (it's not about how fast you play, it's the emotion you deliver and how great it fits into the song overall). Only con is that it might get too repetitive in the end but it doesn't bother me really cos I like the chorus sooo much.
"Hold on to Your Dream" is one of those incredibly catchy and positive songs.
"Tears of Ice" is very beautiful ballad with great atmosphere.
"Dreamspace" is the most progressive song they've ever made and also one of their best. Includes some finest riffing in the middle of the song and also notice how high Tolkki reaches with his yell.
"Reign of Terror" is very angry song with crunching riffs and funny lyrics. It's about the time when Matti Nykänen (skijumper champion from the 80's) made a horrible song in the beginning of the 90's and it was somekind of a "success". Lyrics go like this: 'What the hell is going on, skijumpers making music that sells gold'. Very funny indeed.
"Thin Ice" is the only track I still don't understand.
"Abyss" one of the best with great keyboard melody.
"Shattered" a nice trash metal piece with the most furious riffs ever from Tolkki.
"Wings of Tomorrow" a great ending and one of those cheerful and positive songs.

I could go on forever. Too bad this album seems to be heavily underrated by many people who just want to listen to those stereotypical power metal songs. Tolkki actually sings quite well and his voice definitely fits these songs better than Kotipelto's would. On their DVD "Infinite Visions" is a bonus acoustic live video of "Hold on to Your Dream" sung by Kotipelto and it sounds quite bad. He tries to reach too high with his voice and just messes the whole song, too bad. I recommend this album to everyone who likes the band or doesn't like (yep, it's that different, believe me). No matter what kind of albums Stratovarius makes nowadays and in the future, these oldies will live forever!

Best old-school Stratovarius record.......2005-01-31

It took a bit longer than expected, but I finally got my copy of 'Dreamspace' (1994), the third studio record from Finland's metal gods, Stratovarius. I must say that I own 'Visions' as well as this, and I must say, comparing this to 'Visions' is like comparing apples to oranges.

1. There are only four members, just two of which played on anything after 'Fourth Dimension' (1995).
2. Antti Ikonen is more of a backing keyboardist, there are no keyboard solos.
3. The basic sound of the guitar and bass is COMPLETELY different than the more modern Stratovarius. The bass sounds much cleaner (as opposed to a more slapstick sound used on later releases), and the guitar sounds a lot crunchier.

All those differences aside, 'Dreamspace' is a terrific album, and for the time, the production by Timo Tolkki is certainly far from bad. Timo Tolkki is not as good of a singer as Timo Kotipelto, but when listening to this record, I could instantly picture Kotipelto singing a vast majority of the songs from this album. Jari Kainulainen is his usual self, though at the time of this record's release, it would be hard to say that, since this was the band's first recording with him on bass. I really must say, I don't pay as much attention to Antti Ikonen as I would to the godly keyboardist Jens Johanssen (who replaced Antti not long after 'Fourth Dimension.') Drummer Tuomo Lassila is actually a lot better than his replacement, Jorg Michel. It's not that he's BAD, it's just that Tuomo has a bit more technical skills.

And now, the highlights of this album. Opener "Chasing Shadows" is a typical power metal opening tune: fast and frantic. Very heavy, with a bone chilling intro riff. Track 4, "Hold On To Your Dream," is my personal favorite of the album, the little lead at the beginning is really cool, and I love the buildup of the song, it begins with the lead, then for the first part of the verse, we get no guitar, just a simple bassline, but then the guitar kicks in for a simple tune that crunches along at a perfect tempo. Then, there's the title track (track 8), which has a very interesting intro. The riff is one I can expect to hear in a planetarium, and the bass line...I picked it up right off the bat, it's not hard at all. However, it is one of the lengthiest tunes on the album (a straight 6 minutes) and really shifts around a lot. Ultimately, this is the band's most unpredictable album, and I would highly recommend it to fans of any of Stratovarius' other albums: 'Fright Night,' 'Twilight Time,' 'Fourth Dimension,' 'Episode,' 'Visions,' 'Destiny,' 'Infinite,' and the Elements series. Also recommended for fans of Finnish metal like Nightwish, Thunderstone, Sonata Arctica, and Children of Bodom or power metal like Helloween, Edguy, Blind Guardian, and Gamma Ray.

DEATH TO FALSE METAL!-Manowar

Their best.............2004-04-22

This album reminds me of growing up. That's 1 reason I love it so much. The other reasons though, are straight up great lyrics, instrumentation, production, etc.....It's all Good! Definitely their best album, & I really miss Tolki on lead vocal.

Sheer European (Prog-Metal) Excellence!.......2004-03-01

Stratovarius has impressed me by just their orchestration! Timo Tolkki's guitar skills are second to none, and his vocal talent is the best that Stratovarius has ever had. The keyboards, bass, and drums all merge well. Track one, "Chasing Shadows," starts with a powerful drum intro followed by awesome guitar intervals. By having this inro it really gets you excited about what is to come. They also throw in a melodic ballad, "Tears of Ice," a real steller song! My favorite track would have to be the title track ,"Dreamspace," because I think of all the tracks it has the most progressivew qualities. However all of the tracks are wonderful to listen to with the exception of Magic Carpet Ride, which has terrible vocal movement. I give this album 4 stars because all the songs are wonderful musically, but sometimes the lyrics are not as moving as I would like. So, if talented muscianship and insightful lyrics are two traits you like in music, then you will enjoy this piece of metal history.

Darker Strato.......2003-12-17

I dont know if its me or not but this album sounded disturbingly dark to me. I have all the Stratovarius albums, and it seems like up to this 3rd album, they've always tried to catch a dark mood. Dreamspace is the peak point of this. Dont get me wrong, its a great album, but is somewhat different than the last Strato albums. If you're used to the new style, it might take a little time get used to Dreamspace. Actually if you dig in, you'll find some really interesting stuff. There are much more progressive elements in Dreamspace than the other albums, capturing another side of Stratovarius. "Chasing Shadows" "4th Reich" "Hold On to Your Dream" "Tears of Ice" "Dreamspace" "Shattered" and "Wings of Tomorrow" are great songs, especially "Wings of Tomorrow", which stands out in the whole bunch, sounding like a graduation theme, closes the album very well. Timo Tolkki isnt great on vocals, but he has some moments. There arent any keyboard-guitar duels in this album, infact the keyboard isnt used as much, just fillers and background strings. I think Tuomo Lassila is a much better drummer than Jörg Michael. He just doesnt pound on the double bass throughout the whole song, and plays much diverse rhythms and variations. The recording quality is not outstanding but instruments are well balanced and clear, and Tolkki's guitar tone is not as dijital as the last albums.
Overall, it's a different album, and great for those who want to discover a new side of Stratovarius

Average customer rating:

A good Stratovarius album
Timo's great music, great mind
Repititous and Gets Really Dull
Strato Rules
AWFUL

Infinite
Stratovarius
Manufacturer: Nuclear Blast Americ
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

Visions
Episode
Elements, Pt. 2
Destiny
Elements, Pt. 1

ASIN: B00004IC9H
Release Date: 2000-03-28

Tracks:

Hunting High And Low
Millennium
Mother Gaia
Phoenix
Glory Of The World
A Million Light Years Away
Freedom
Infinity
Celestial Dream
What Can I Say?

Album Description

The 8th release by The Finns, joined by Jorg Michael (drums) & Jens Johansson (keyboards) and featuring Derek Riggs Artwork. Nuclear Blast.

Customer Reviews:

A good Stratovarius album.......2006-01-11

A good Stratovarius album, if that's what's your thing. And by this stage of their career you should know if it's your thing. And hard to argue when there is great stuff like moving ballads (Million Miles Away) that had a cool video to accompany it and rockers like the darn excellent Hunting High & Low. Sure, it all gets a bit silly in places with the whole melodic rock peddling of keyboard laced pomp, which for this listener tends to dilute the enjoyment of this particular band.

While reviewing this album I should also point out that the tour for this disc makes up a lot of the footage used on their first home video and certainly that's a release that any fan of the band should get.

In some ways I think of this as the last proper studio album of Stratovarius' rise to power, for after this the Elements would close in for a couple of albums and take the wind out of their sails (and sales too presumably).

Timo's great music, great mind.......2006-01-03

I like Timo's music and philosophy. In this album, sounds and lyrics united into great music. Make sense to me

Repititous and Gets Really Dull.......2005-11-11

Let me start off by saying that this is the only Stratovarious album I have listened to, and that I started off liking the album. I really like the instruments used, and I personally think the drummer knows his stuff. There are also a few good, catchy songs on the album, such as "Hunting High and Low" and "Millenium". And the cover art is of course gorgeous, though that really has nothing to do with the music. However, there are quite a few flaws.

To start off, I do not like the singer. To me, he has a rather squeaky and poor voice, and while he does well in the first two songs, I truly start to get sick of him in the rest of the album. I'm afraid I truly cannot elaborate on this, as I can't really describe what it is about his voice, besides that it is too high-pitched, and sounds especially bad when he tries to hit higher notes.

However, I can explain my problem with the songs. There are two problems with repitition: lyrics, and the way the song is played. The songs are basically about the exact same thing; in fact, they are painfully obvious. Furthermore, the lyrics are nearly exactly the same. They haven't even tried to change the phrases. Melinnium contains "We have got to change our ways/ THere is no way to go back anymore"; then Mother Gaia has "There's no second chance/ We should have learned by now/ But it's not to late too change the course"; and then Phoenix has "I got to change the way I live/ Can't go on this way". Worse, the song Infinity has "It's not too late to change the course"; gee, that sounds familiar.

Actually, Melinnium and Infinity are set up in the exact same way, chorus and all. Basically every song has the same message, with no attempt to make it sound poetic or at least hide it. It also sounds the same; there is little to no variation with the instruments and how they are used. Only Mother Gaia is different from the others, and even then there is rather aggravating repitition within the sound. Overall, the album would have been best with one song; it would've told the entire story anyway.

That said, there's another problem with this album, and it again deals with the lyrics. They simply don't have any good quality to them. They are rather cheesy, plainly tell the point of the song, and overall make it so I don't have to think whatsoever about the song. Just listen once and I know what the entire thing is about. I prefer songs that have metaphorical lyrics and a distinct melody to them; basically, I prefer songs that are like really complicated poetry. Stratovarious has no such songs, which disappoints me greatly.

Overall, combined with the poor lyrics and repititious melodies, Infinite gets old really quickly. While I did like it for a few months (unlike other albums, where I can't even get through the entire thing), it has quickly gotten old, and I highly doubt if I'll listen to it again, unless I'm highly bored. I give it three stars purely because it holds some quality at least at some point.

I hope this review helped you. Thank you for reading!

Strato Rules.......2005-10-20

Strato is one of the best power bands ever and Timo kotipelto's voice is awesome and there is no doubt about it.

AWFUL.......2005-09-30

THESE GUY'S ARE THE BIGGEST WEENY'S. THEY ARE SO HAPPY SOUNDING.
I CAN'T STAND THE SINGER'S VOICE.

Average customer rating:

The best Stratovarius album? Hmmm... well not for me anyways.
It lets "Twilight Time" eat dust !
Masterpiece for melodic metal fans!
I Love This Album!
Frightfully genius!

Fright Night
Stratovarius
Manufacturer: Import
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Episode
Twilight Time
Dreamspace
Visions
Infinite

ASIN: B000024M3O
Release Date: 1994-06-01

Tracks:

Future Shock
False Messiah
Black Night
Witch-Hunt
Fire Dance
Fright Night
Night Screamer
Darkness
Goodbye

Album Description

Reissue of their very first album from 1989. Import only!

Album Details

1994 Reissue of the Band's Original 1984 Release, this is the First Studio Album featuring Timo Tolkki on Vocals.

Customer Reviews:

The best Stratovarius album? Hmmm... well not for me anyways........2006-08-08

Well... I would call this CD an average CD but this isn't really for me entirely. It came out in 1989, but it sounds a lot older than that. It sounds like something a band would come out in the very early 80s. Although I am a big fan of a few old school metal bands (like old Metallica, Iron Maiden, and Slayer) this really doesn't do it for me. It's not really that heavy for a power metal album. Certainly not for people who care for heavyness in their music. I'm not saying that softness is a bad thing in music I just think that this album would have sounded better if the production increased the sound volume a lil more. So what I am saying then, if you like something that sounds in the line of Black Sabbath and Black Label Society you well probably love this album. As for me, it just didn't do it for me. I got three albums from them so far. They are Visions (amazing album), Elements Pt. 1 (only liked a few songs here but the ones that I like are my favorites), and Episode (another awesome album). I know that they were different in the past so I was prepared to expect the difference (I love both old and new Arch Enemy, same goes for In Flames). Do not get me wrong of this but I STILL LIKE IT but just not wowed is all. If your gonna start off with this band start off with Visions. It's definitly the best way you can go.

Song ratings: 1 = lowest 10 = highest (in my opinion)

Future Shock: 6/10 Not a bad intro to the album. It kicks things up with a bang.

False Messiah: 7/10 This song has a beat that makes the album feel like it's still starting up while it's getting stronger at the same time.

Black Night: 5/10 My least favorite on here. It's not that bad but the vocalist annoys me when he says "no no no no no no".

Witch Hunt: 10/10 This song is stuck in my head so I really have no choice but to give it a 10. It's an awesome song and the rhythm will get stuck in your head for days.

Fire Dance: 9/10 The half way point of the album. It's an awesome instrumental and it launches you into the second half of the album. The drummer is a shining sun on this instrumental.

Fright Night: 10/10 Best song off the album without a doubt. It's the longest and heaviest song off the album. Very great. Sometimes I just skip to Fire Dance, listen to this song next, then just turn off the album because I just feel like listening to this gem.

Night Screamer: 10/10 Very good song. Deserves another 10.

Darkness: 7/10 Not bad. Very enchanting feeling.

Goodbye: 8/10 It's an outtro. I love albums that have these instrumentals in it cause it keeps the pace of the album will either ending of beggining it. It's a nice way to end this album. After this song ends I feel pretty majestic yet disapointed at the same time.

So this maybe wasn't my cup of tea. I probably had too much death metal is all but anyways. These are just my faults for the album. Others I'm sure will enjoy it since a lot of people enjoy the old school feeling this album brings. I woundn't recommend it to someone who likes really heavy bands such as Necrophagist, Obituary, Carcass, Death, and you get the point. I highly recommend it though to people who love old school metal. Just be warned it's not for everyone at all. Dangerously overhyped.

It lets "Twilight Time" eat dust !.......2005-11-03

If you don't know, Twilight time or Stratovarius II was the group's second cd. It's only average, despite the good songs
(Break the ice or Out of the shadows for example).
Fright Night is the band's rarest studio album, but the best with
Timo Tolkki on vocals if we make the good track percentage. (Debut too)
With the exception of the filler Goodbye ( acoustic instrumental)
this work has NO DOWNS. Almost no keyboards, but inventive riffs
and AWESOME guitar solos by Tolkki as always. Tuomo Lassila ( ex-drummer) doesn't let the repetition ghost, that haunts Jorg Michael, get near.It's heavier overall but didn't lose the melodic metal attributes.

Future shock: Looks like Timo put clothes nailer on his nose to sing, but don't be afraid: it doesn't mean untuning.

False Messiah: It contains something that Jari Kainulainen doesn't do in Strato songs : bass solo (short,but well placed).
The beat varies much (thanks, Lassila!). Good chorus. One of my favourites.

Black Knight: Go, go, go ,go, go ,go! Black Knight! Tolkki's energy in this track called my attention. That guitar stroke in 2:20 ...... fabulous! He does some David Murray-esque(Iron Maiden guitarist) linking solos (turbo)in the beggining. Listen, man!

Witch hunt: Tuomo does an interesting drum solo at start, check it out.

Fire Dance: Well worked instrumental. 47 seconds mark: a rhythm that remembers the army, I like it. As in standard Strato instrumental songs, Tolkki abuses of his playing abilities.How great!

Fright Night : It's like the 2nd track ,many tempo variations.
It came closer to the progressive style.
It has my favourite riffs in the album. One word sums it all:
perfect

The 7th and 8th tracks are worthwhile too.
If you can't buy it in your country try downloading it from internet.

Masterpiece for melodic metal fans!.......2003-09-06

This is absolutely Stratovarius best album! There are no weak lenks. Tolkki sings better can you imagine. Instrumental tracks are just great ( Fire Dance and Goodbye ). My favourites songs are False Messiah and Fright Night, which are melodic heavy classics. Why I can't find these songs of Chosen Ones best of collection. This album is must buy for every Stratovarius fan and those people. Keyboards player is a real professional and he plays like a heavy metal god. Tolkki can play guitar like a master!

I Love This Album!.......2002-11-14

Being that this was the first album put out by Stratovarius, I have to say that I am impressed to hear that they were good even back then. I absolutely love this album! Obviously, its not really like their newer stuff (except for the solos, which you can obviously tell is by Timo Tolkki) but it is still one of my favorite albums of all. Every song on this one is great. The songs are unlike anything I've ever really heard. Believe me, I'm not saying this album is great only because its Stratovarius and I have to say its good no matter what, I truly mean it. Maybe not everyone would agree this album is incredibly good, but for those of you who are open minded, like Stratovarius' other albums, and appreciate early metal, you should give it a try. Besides, if you really don't like it that much, just remember, their are many other people out there who would love to have this rare album.

Frightfully genius!.......2000-07-13

This was the last edition to my Stratovarius collection. At first, skepticism took hold of me...not for long. The melodies may not be as dramatic as on some of their newer, more symphonic albums yet the unique Strato sound is not lost. I guarantee that if you enjoy the newer music put out by this band, then this CD belongs with you!

Average customer rating:

Better Than 1st Of The 2
An stronger second Element
Meh.....its ok, but nothing special
"I am the dark and light / I am the day and night"
Ew, this album is really boring.

Elements, Pt. 2
Stratovarius
Manufacturer: Nuclear Blast Americ
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Elements, Pt. 1
Infinite
Episode
Visions
Intermission

ASIN: B0000DI7UR
Release Date: 2003-11-04

Tracks:

Alpha & Omega
I Walk To My Own Song
I'm Still Alive
Season Of Faith's Perfection
Awaken The Giant
Know The Difference
Luminous
Dreamweaver
Liberty

Album Description

Finnish metal gods, complete the epic Elements series with their latest masterpiece. Elements Part 2 is a must for fans of Rainbow, Blackmore, Iron Maiden, Dio, Dream Theater and the like. Nuclear Blast. 2003.

Customer Reviews:

Better Than 1st Of The 2.......2007-01-09

The first time I played this I thought it could very well be there best.But am now just glad I finally got it.It's a great Strato album.The best since Infinty,maybe better than.Buy and you judge.

An stronger second Element.......2006-01-11

Obviously to some extent stung by overwhelming criticism of Elements Pt 1 the band respond with this effort. And it's pretty good. Anyone trying to convert a non-rock listener to the point of view that this music takes talent and isn't just a bunch of derelicts banging away on their instuments should buy them this. A lot more genuine feeling than the first Element and more body to the songs. Timo Kotipelto has the pleasing opportunity to do less bellowing and lets the songs breath while this still sounds like a working rock band. Where this Elements stuff would of taken the band eventually is anyones guess given what subsequently happened to the band.

Meh.....its ok, but nothing special.......2005-08-10

I was just introduced to Stratovarius not long ago from a friend. My friend showed me the song I'm Still Alive. I thought it was ok, and decided to investigate Stratovarius a little more. I then heard Speed of Light, and I also thought that song was ok. So I decided to buy my first Strato album. I headed down to the store, and only found elements pt 2, so I said "what the heck" and gave it a try. This is a mediocre album at best. It has some enjoyable tracks such as the album opener, I Walk to my Own Song, and I'm Still Alive. However, this album is just boring for the most part. This band has so much potential. Kotipelto can sing pretty good when he is in key, and Tolki is a good guitarist, but the songwriting is not good. This album is full of dumb lyrics. "Mr Mean you don't know Beans"-enough said. Don't get me wrong, this is an enjoyable album, but it isn't anything special. I rate this album 2.5 stars, but I'll use my rounding skills that I learned in 3rd grade and give it a 3.

"I am the dark and light / I am the day and night".......2005-01-28

this masterwork is a metaphor for the constant struggle between the ego and superego, a neverending battle between good and evil.

Ew, this album is really boring........2004-12-21

This album is mostly a let down, but it does have a couple decent moments, but first I'd like to comment on Stratovarius' current trend of music.

Timo Tolkki is not a very good songwriter for the most part. On every album Strato has done, Timo shines on about 2 or 3 songs, but the rest have become so formulatic it's laughable. (except for the mostly incredible Visions, which still dropped two turd tracks) Besides the one or two great tracks on the CD, you get a really fast, boring chord structure, pounding headache drums, with Timo Kotipelto soaring with hardly any melody over the mess of distortion. Of course, then Timo rips into a typical fast guitar solo. I could stick about tons of Strato songs that fit that category, and they all sound the same.

No Turning Back
The Rebel
Cold Winter Nights
Find Your Own Voice
Learning To Fly
Know The Difference
I'm Still Alive
Speed Of Light
Tomorrow
Millenium
Phoenix
Freedom

And that's off the top of my head. Timo also seems to write songs over again. Stratosphere, Stratofortress, Stratovarius, those three are the most laughable. Timo just throws the same crap over and over at us in EVERY album. The ballads are a bit more melodic, but still are formulatic. Sorry, but Timo has to step it up, because just listen to Father Time, Eagleheart, The Kiss Of Judas, and SOS. It's like he just comes out of no where and kicks us in the ass once in a while that he is a great songwriter, but then the rest of the album blows. C'mon Timo.

Onto Elements Part II. Although it is as boring as hell, it has a bit of charm since two of the songs have a good melody to them, or it could be the album artwork. The opening track Alpha and Omega has something about it that brings you back. A nice little chorus that has a sting to it. Walk To My Own song had tons of potential with a unique guitar lick at the beginnging, but something about it just made it suck. Maybe the unharmonized vocals, or the completly blown out vocals to the stupid lyrics "you don't know beans." I'm Still Alive went in the big song list of mine as usual songs. It has an almost decent chorus, but still a dumb song. Season Of Faith's Perfection is a Strato ballad, boring and uninspired. Awaken The Giant, Awaken The Giant, Awaken The Giant, whoopdee doo, this song is repetitive. Know The Difference is on my list, it's terrible. LUMINOUS!! This song is GREAT, melodic and soft. Very touching, undeniably the best written song on the album. Dreamweaver, Dreamweaver, whoopdee doo, boring. Liberty, kind of good, but Kotipelto sounds like a clown on it.

This album is boring. Very boring. As is Stratovarius. Timo has tons of potential to write a full album of great songs, let's see it. Don't get this one unless you are a completist.

Average customer rating:

Very solid release
Solid - but not for beginners
Another U-turn. So how was it for you?
Tried to experiment a bit.....
Could be...

Stratovarius
Stratovarius
Manufacturer: Sanctuary
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Episode
Elements, Pt. 2
Infinite
Dreamspace
Visions

ASIN: B000ARG2KU
Release Date: 2005-09-13

Tracks:

Maniac Dance
Fight!!!
Just Carry On
Back To Madness
Gypsy In Me
Gotterdammerung (Zenith Of Power)
The Land Of Ice And Snow
Leave The Tribe
United

Album Description

Stratovarius, the Finnish masters of symphonic metal, are prepared to unleash their eponymous 11th album. The respected lineup of vocalist Timo Kotipelto, guitarist Timo Tolkki, drummer Jorg Michael and keyboardist Jens Johansson has carried on the Stratovarius legacy, along with new bassist Lauri Porra. Taking the listener on a nine song roller coaster ride from traditional headbangers like `Gypsy In Me' to complex compositions such as `Back To Madness,' monolithic anthems like `Maniac Dance' through to a real Stratovarius epic, `Götterdämmerung,' the album reconfirms Stratovarius' place at the top of the international melodic metal tree.

Customer Reviews:

Very solid release.......2006-04-08

Stratovarius is back with their self titled album and it certain is a big step away from their progressive and symphonic elements albums...its more of a heavier release than their earlier works, and slower too. But that doesn't mean its worse; it by all means isn't.

These are some of the notable highlights from the album:

United is a very powerful song resembling more "older" stratovarius and really captures the heart and soul of what people like about Stratovarius; power and melody.

Maniac Dance starts out with a simple riff but ultimately carries a lot of power and emotion with it; at first when I heard it I didn't like it, but it grew on me.

Zenith of Power (Gotterdammerung) - Timo Tolkki's song about Hitler, certainly a very powerful song. A bit repetative, and more could/should have been done with it, but it was still really good. By the way, Stratovarius's label almost prevented them from releasing their song earlier; the old version had hitler's speech in it and they worried the people would be outraged...so in the new version, the speech can still be heard, but its toned down.

But the songs Back to Madness and Fight are the best. Fight is just a classic power metal song but it has a great edge to it, and really good vocals by Kotipelto...again its harsher, darker, and slower than previous stratovarius material but they haven't lost that thing about them which identifies themselves from any other boring power metal artist. Back to Madnesse sort of reminds me of an opera, with the singer at the end, its about Timo Tolkki's fight against his depression problems, the things he went through the last year, etc.

I can understand if some people do not like this album because
1) its heavier, slower than some (like me) might like, but really its justified because it was a darker period for the band, and also, Stratovarius really needed to change from the elements style; Kotipelto and Tolkki made an agreement that they would move away from the style. I'd rather have this slower album than no Stratovarius at all, personally
2) Harsher vocals (no squealing from Kotipelto)
3) No double bass drum
4) A few filler songs in my opinion, like Just Carry On, but we've seen a couple of those in every Strato album for quite some time now =]

But ultimately, the power of Stratovarius came through and it was a great release, very solid 4/5.

Solid - but not for beginners.......2006-03-22

This album is a strange beast. Most of the tracks are slower than one would traditionally associate with Stratovarius. Its also very dark. I understand the guitarist (who is the principle song writer) was having some uh, emotional difficulties (ie. went a bit mental). And actually if you listen to it with that in mind, it plays better - it allows you to see where he's coming from on tracks like Back to Madness and Maniac Dance. As with all Stratovarius I find the drums too heavy and pronounced, making the slower, softer songs a little disjointed. Listen to their old stuff first, when they were happy, before coming to this album.

Another U-turn. So how was it for you?.......2006-01-11

It had to happen. After the dismal Elements Pt.1 sent a swift kick right where it hurst most to their legion of fans there has been a total return to rockin' by these likeable Finns. And that's just it. The actual likeability of these guys somehow permeates almost all their releases. How do they do it? They could make huge wads of cash if they could bottle their affability and sell it to other charisma challenged bands (Metallica would order it by the truckload).

But I digress. After the lead cut of Maniac Dance you can settle in for a solid, if not yet back to peak condition Stratovarius. After all the inter personal stuff that went on it's amazing this album got made at all. Perhaps not worthy of four stars musically but for sheer effort and determination to overcome barriers it's good to have this band back and making records together, instead of headlines.

Tried to experiment a bit............2005-11-29

I love Stratovarius and they are well known for their power music and great guitar solos and double drumming but this album doesnt let you down i swear! The songs have great chorus and the riffs sound a bit like Megadeth which is good of course. I like this album it has very good changes throughout the whole album if you dont think this album is worth your money then download it or something....

Could be..........2005-11-06

If you know stratovarius from their previous albums, you may not like this one. There is no double bass drumming here, almost no keyboards and no great guitar solos. Stratovarius definately changed with this album. The style now is just normal heavy metal, but with a slow pace. If you buy lots of heavy metal albums just because it's heavy metal, you may check this one out. If your looking from something really groundbreaking, you won't find it in this album, although it's a quite solid one.

Average customer rating:

not a bad hits album but it is missing some huge key elements
New Generation of Metal
A great collection for a great band!!!!!!
Hit or Miss
A Good Sampler Of Stratovarius

The Chosen Ones
Stratovarius
Manufacturer: Noise
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Infinite
Destiny
Episode
Live Visions of Europe
A Night at the Opera

ASIN: B00002MZ5H
Release Date: 1999-11-23

Tracks:

Black Diamond
Twilight Time
Father Time
The Hands Of Time
Dream With Me
Paradise
Out Of The Shadows
Forever
Full Moon
Kiss Of Judas
SOS
Dreamspace
Against The Wind
Speed Of Light
4000 Rainy Nights
Will The Sun Rise?

Album Description

16 track 'best of' collection for the greatest melodic neo-classical metal group in Finland. Noise Records (the band's label) placed ads in major metal magazines & on the group's website asking fans to cast votes for their favorite Stratovarius songs, and 'The Chosen Ones' is the result! Over 75 minutes long, it contains some very rare Japanese-only tracks, including 'Full Moon' and 'Dream With Me'. 1999 release.

Customer Reviews:

not a bad hits album but it is missing some huge key elements.......2007-04-28

WELL FELLOW METALLIANS I AM ONLY WRITING TO SAY THIS, HOW CAN STRATO MAKE A BEST OF ALBUM AND NOT INCLUDE THE ABYSS OF YOUR EYES,OR A MILLION LIGHT YEARS AWAY, ALSO PLAY WITH FIRE AND FALLING INTO FANTASY,AND PAPILLION ARE NOT HERE, IM GIVING THIS CD A 4 STAR BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT THOSE 5 SONGS ARE NOT HERE, AT LEAST SAVE OUR SOLES AND THE KISS OF JUDAS ARE HERE. IF YOU ARE NEW TO STRATO THEN BY ALL MEANS CHECK THIS OUT BUT IF IF YOU KNOW AND LOVE THIS MUSIC AND WANT TO KNOW WHAT ALBUMS OF THEIRS TO CHECK OUT THEN CHECK OUT DESTINY OR INFINITE OR INTERMISSION. INTERMISSION IS AWESOME IT HAS 4 OR 5 NEW TUNES AND ONE OF THEM CALLED FALLING INTO FANTASY IS ONE OF THE BEST ROCKING BALLAD-ANTHEMS OF ALL TIME AND THE REST OF THE CD IS LOADED WITH RARE TRACKS AND COVERS, ONE OF WHICH IS PRIEST'S BLOODSTONE AND THAT IS AWESOME. SO KEEP THE METAL FLOWING IN YOUR VEINS AND STAY TRUE TO THE ALLMIGHTY METAL. YOUR FRIEND IN METAL, BRANDON WHITSON 25 OF NORTH CAROLINA

New Generation of Metal.......2003-03-21

These guys out class every metal band back here. american music has gone down the toliet as far as im concerned. does anyone remember the days when our guys were this good? if you've never listen to them, get a cd or two. you'll be converted. METAL!!!

A great collection for a great band!!!!!!.......2002-05-24

Stratovarius is one of the best powermetal bands in the world. They have written lots of great songs, but also a lot of lesser songs. "Infinite" is the first album that contains no flaws at all, but for the older albums you can better buy this cd. (This album is ideal for first time listeners!!!!) It contains all the great hits. Only number nine [is bad], but that leaves 15 good ones!

I think that from the GREAT powermetal bands no one has a sound that is near the sound Stratovarius creates. Sonata Arctica tries, but they are hopeless....

Hit or Miss.......2002-01-10

This is the only Stratovarius CD I own - this is the ONLY Stratovarius CD I will probably EVER own. I won't spend too much time writing about them, but they are essentially a 'hit or miss' type band. Some tracks are good, where others are just dire. The one track that really lowers them in my estimation is "Paradise". Not only does it rip off Iron Maidens '22 Acacia Avenue', but the lyrics are just diabolical. They make you want to laugh out loud and then hide under a rock from shame. Also, I understand the fans selected these songs, but since they are listed in no particular order, who had the bright idea of placing three tracks with the word "time" back-to-back??
Anyway, like I said, there are some good tracks here: Black Diamond, Out of the Shadows, Kiss of Judas, Father Time. The guitar solos are nothing worth writing home about - take a 'splash' of Malmsteen and add a 'dose' of widdle-diddles (Timo Tolkki barely qualifies in the category of 'shred').
Without sounding too harsh, there are some quality moments, but unfortunatley there are some really awful qualities that sometimes overshadow their strengths. Analogy: sometimes you wish that Malmsteen would release an album without any mindless solo'ing because it just ruins the rest of the track...these guys may want to subscribe to the 'less is more' concept.

A Good Sampler Of Stratovarius.......2001-05-23

This is one of my favorite power metal bands, and are one of the most talented ones out there! Timo Kotipelto has a very powerful voice & can hit those high notes. I feel the early Stratovarius was much heavier and the sound they have now is much more melodic & progressive. I feel this album would be a great introduction to new Stratovarius fans since it features songs from all of their previous albums with the exception of "Fright Night". Jens Johansson (Yngwie Malmsteen & Dio) does a fantastic job at the keyboards, and is one of the main reasons their sound stands out. Can't wait to hear their new album Intermission (special edition), which i should receive in a few weeks!

Average customer rating:

Very Underrated! There was only three songs that I didn't like off this CD (not a kid)
Oh dear, The Elements are against us....
Boring Part 1
yaaaawwwwwnnnnnn
The Stratovarius Disease....

Elements, Pt. 1
Stratovarius
Manufacturer: Nuclear Blast Americ
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

Elements, Pt. 2
Infinite
Visions
Episode
Intermission

ASIN: B00007LL7O
Release Date: 2003-02-11

Tracks:

Eagleheart
Soul Of A Vagabond
Find Your Own Voice
Fantasia
Learning To Fly
Papillon
Stratofortress
Elements
A Drop In The Ocean

Album Description

This release is the first of a two part concept album series, part two will be released in 2004. Cover artwork by Derek Riggs (Iron Maiden, Bruce Dickinson and Gamma Ray). This is their first release in almost three years. Nuclear Blast. 2003.

Customer Reviews:

Very Underrated! There was only three songs that I didn't like off this CD (not a kid).......2006-08-18

First off I am not a kid. Amazon for some reason is requiring someone to purchase an item inorder to review it now so I can't review it under my account. I purchased the CD elsewhere and know what I am going to be talking about. If you want to know who I am off Amazon I'm Clay (the your average night owl person)and 17.

This CD is highly underrated. I was listening to this CD prepared to bein disapointed and I pretty much loved it. I can't believe how everyone rated this CD. This atleast deserves a few stars instead of one. This CD does indeed have it's boring moments but there are relatively less boring parts over the fun parts. The CD has an operatic style on some of the songs which might have also contributed to the low album rating. Also there are three soft songs off the CD. I only liked one of them. The rest are pretty heavy. Don't believe me? Listen to Eagleheart. That sounds nice. Also Find Your Own Voice. Sounds heavy enough yet? That song even reminds of a Visions album song. Elements.. Yes... that song is plenty heavy and it just builds up as it rolls along. It's not heavy in a death metal kind of heavy it's in a power metal kind of heavy. I was not disapointed by this CD at all unlike many of the other people here. When it ended I felt very spacey and atmospheric. A pleasant musical adventure.

Here are the song ratings. They rate for 1 to 10 in my opinion.

1. Eagleheart: 10/10 Don't understand why the person who calls this their favorite album says this is the album's worst song. I prefer to disagree. This is my 2nd favorite off the album. I love this song. It's very atomospheric with asstounding bass beats. The vocalist is at his best on this song. Probably one of the band's most unique song.

2. Soul Of A Vagabond: 7/10 This song is indeed repetative but it makes up for it in heaviness. Also not only is it repetative but it has a very slow beggining. Every song except Eagleheart and A Drop In The Ocean has a slow beggining off this album. Once they started up though it sounds awesome. This song is no exception. If you think 7 is a low number it is not, it is still a great song.

3. Find Your Own Voice: 10/10 3rd favorite. This song sounds like something you'd hear in the Visions/Episode/ or Destiny era. Very slow beggining but the AMAZINGNESS of this song definitly reverses the thought of it even having a slow beggining. A perfect score 10.

On a side note... the album slows down dramatically for the rest of the album. The first 3 songs were the really fast songs off the album. The only time the album will speed back up again is on Stratofortress bridge instrumental.

4. Fantasia: 4/10 The most disapointing song off the album (even though it's not my least favorite). Just listen to the first couple of mins or so and you'll see why I feel it is so disapointing. The beggining is absolutely amazing and I loved it so much. When I first heard it I was thinking this could be the greatest song the band has ever made. But no they had to slow it down into something so boring and so annoying I coundn't stand it. Plus the lyrics annoy me even more. If the entire song kept up a pace just like the beggining did then this could have turned into the best Stratovarius song ever. They ruined the greatest oppurtunity they ever had in their career and the chance to make people feel this album is asstounding. Really deserves a 5 but I gave it a 4 out of disapointment. The Beggining is good and there is one minute in the middle of the song that I do like. It's when the heavyness increases for just a brief moment and the ending is average.

5. Learning To Fly: 6/10 This song has no direction in it with drumming. It stays the same. The guitars have some talent in it I guess. The vocalist is horrible at the ending of the song. The song also has a very slow beggining and ending which makes the song also boring for a heavier song. It's average but definitly bad for Stratovarius standards. Good song after listening to Fantasia though so that's why it gets a 6 instead of a 5.

6. Papillion: 2/10 I don't like this at all. It is slow all the way through, soft all the way through, and it just repeats the boringness of the song over and over. Just skip past Fantasia, Learning To Fly, and Papillion fore they are all fillers and might have led to the album to be criticized as "boring". Would be good for an opera though.

7. Stratofortress: 7/10 Great instrumental. It's exetremely powerful with great guitar playing and even better drumming. The last 58 seconds of it though ruins the instrumental for me though. It's got a really annoying guitar beat with it on the last 58 seconds. I just tend to skip the last 58 seconds but the rest is outstanding.

8. Elements: 10/10 I love this 11 mins long song. I can't really figure out a way to describe it though like the rest of the album. Mmm lets just say that it just builds up as the song goes along and the last portion of the song, after the continous builing up, made it my 1st favorite song off the album. It talks about the elements of the earth and the emotions of the earth.

9. A Drop In The Ocean: 9/10 Another soft song. Actually I wasn't annoyed by this song for being soft like Papillion and Fantasia. The reason why is because it's highly atomospheric and has an oceanic feel to it. Once it ends I feel ummm just fantastic.

6 good songs 3 bad songs. Really it deserves less than 5 stars but this album is so poorly underrated I'm gonna give this a 5. Plus since Eagleheart, Find Your Own Voice, Elements, and A Drop In The Ocran are some of my most favorite Stratovarius songs ever, I don't see why I shoundn't be prasing this album. I have yet to check out or even listen to anything off of the Elements Part 2 album so I can't provide the answer on if this is better than Elements Part 2. Most of the other people on here say yes. That'll be awesome if Part 2 is better than Part 1 cause I already love this album enough. But anyways I am just rambling now. Ready for some of the best Stratovarius songs you'll possibly ever hear (and some of the worst also!!!) then come on by and check this out. Your about to discover what Stratovarius sounds like at their best and at their worst! Also recommended is Visions, Episode, and Destiny.
(ps if this helps to see my views of Stratovarius I wasn't a big fan of Fright Night and have yet to check out another album by the older Stratovarius, I will one day though cause I didn't terribly hate it)

Oh dear, The Elements are against us...........2006-01-11

The gradual softening down of Stratovarius, with ludicrous attempts at driving a rock band via keyboards, has finally produced this. Some love it, but most old time Strato fans failed to see the point. Some lovely music, very few real songs and a total change of direction for the most part, this is an album of stories that nobody seemed interested in. The track Eagleheart is promising enough and builds to a cool crescendo - so why doesn't the rest of the album follow this lead cut? A disappointing effort from a band who always seemed to be on the verge of producing a masterpiece of melodic power metal.

Boring Part 1.......2005-10-01

Title said it all, this is nowhere near as good like their other albums.

yaaaawwwwwnnnnnn.......2005-03-11

This is pretty much the biggest load of overrated crap i've heard I'm used to over the top bands like Rhapsody, Sonata Arctica, and Nightwish those are all good bands with solid songs but this. When I first put this in and heard Eagleheart, fast catchy REPITITOUS but over all not bad from there on borriinnngggg same uninspired licks vocals I can hope Elements Pt2 Is better than this snooze fest which saddens me because there OLDER stuff is acually pretty good

The Stratovarius Disease...........2004-10-25

This band has sooo much potential, but they can't EVER pull it together.

What am I trying to say? Well, Stratovarius makes 1 or 2 masterpieces on each album and every other song is a throw-out. This album is no different, there's Eagleheart and A Drop In The Ocean, melodic and catchy as hell. The rest are....boring.

Other examples include:
Infinite - Hunting High and Low, A Million Light Years Away
Fourth Dimension - Against The Wind, Distant Skies

Other than the two great songs per album, it's just the same ol stuff over and over. Tolkki just does a fast guitar riff, terrible double bass pounding and Timo's lead vocal is just doing the same ol stuff on every fast strato song.

C'mon Strato, pull it together and give us a whole album.

Average customer rating:

their best most mellodic catchiest album to date
Michael J. Mathes, you are an idiot.
A low 4 stars, but 4 stars all the same
Michael J Mathes
Great but nothing new

Destiny
Stratovarius
Manufacturer: Noise
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Progressive Metal | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music

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Similar Items:

Visions
Episode
Infinite
Dreamspace
Elements, Pt. 2

ASIN: B00000DCJT
Release Date: 1999-01-19

Tracks:

Destiny
S.O.S.
No Turning Back
4000 Rainy Nights
Rebel
Years Go By
Playing With Fire
Venus In The Morning
Anthem Of The World
Cold Winter Nights

Customer Reviews:

their best most mellodic catchiest album to date.......2007-04-19

hello fellow metallians , pay no attention to characters like this ross reynolds, all they do is take up space that should be used for good reviews, so that aside, if you are a true metal fan ,and i mean true metal, that includes epic metal,power metal,symphonic,traditional,speed,mellodic and so on, and absolutely no nu metal, i cant believe it is even considerd to be metal. this is an amazing power metal album and to me it has to be stratovarius's crowning achievement. the mellodies are tighter and catchier than ever. this has a similar approach to the musical style as their previous efforts but it also is and was a new beginning for these guys. i love the beautiful erotic female operatics in the distance of some of the songs, it adds to the mellody and really makes the songs more diverse. if you want a more technical sound from these guys then buy their later albums, they to have plenty of mellodies and catchy ballads, but this is the catchiest material they have put out. so if mellody and sing along choruses and power chords with light symphonics is what you crave then give this cd a try. you know how on the next album they hit it big with the catchy as hell song a million light years away, well if you liked that song you will eat this cd up because most the songs here are in that style and most could be singles, so metallians enjoy and others do us a favor and if you are going to review an album just let us know how the band sounds , give us ideas of who they sound like, are they speed, death, fast or slow,or so on, please dont waste space arguing with other reviewers(even if it can be funny hearing other idiotic rude comments)if you like bands like dark moor, kamelot, hammerfall, silent force, thunderstone, sonata arctica and so on then you will surely love stratovarius. your friend in metal, brandon whitson 25 of north carolina

Michael J. Mathes, you are an idiot........2006-09-02

If you'd actually read Lord Chimp's profile, you might see that what he listens to is far from Korn or Limp Bizkit, and saying he doesn't know about metal or prog is a laugh, considering he's probably explored music to greater lengths than you can even imagine. And either way, it's just a matter of opinion. How dumb and insecure do you have to be to attack someone just because they don't like something? And you're calling people "kiddies", like you're so mature? Please.

Oh, and I think this album sucks too. Come and get me, tough guy!

A low 4 stars, but 4 stars all the same.......2006-01-11

My initial reaction to this album was dissappointment. After Visions I was hoping that the band would bulk up their sound a bit and maybe even drop the utter reliance on double time drumming which has ruined so many of their songs.

But on second listen there are so many things to be thankful for here. Sure, in some ways this album was the beginning of a long decline away from outright hard rock/metal, but stuff like S.O.S is hard to argue with. And in Europe the band were a real force at this point due to talent and plain hard work.

Michael J Mathes.......2005-09-12

I get a kick out of you kiddies who pan this disc. lord wimp know's nothing about metal or prog metal. I get tired of the winers complaining about this type of music. Go back to wimp triskit and corn. Better yet go back to the cheese metal from the 80's. I just got into stratovarius because they were recommended to me at a record shop. I have five of their dics and their all very good.

Great but nothing new.......2005-07-02

Destiny is a faithful follower to Visions in good and bad. If you liked Visions then you will like this one too. But if you are looking for something new you are out of luck. This was my most anticipated Strato album ever and I was so happy when it went straight to #1 in Finnish official Top40 chart. At first the music was everything I hoped for but later it started to bore me even more until came a time when I didn't listen to it at all for a long time. The reason was somewhat lack of originality compared to Visions which was something quite unique.

Today when I take this cd for a spin I like it again and think 'This wasn't so bad after all'. Albums starting from Visions are getting more and more epic all the time and it shows on this one too. Now there's 2 long epic tracks "Destiny" and "Anthem of the World" compared to Visions that had only one, the title track. But the most important thing with this album is that it's quite well balanced and it still ROCKS! "SOS" and "Playing with Fire" are the best songs on Destiny and show that Stratovarius hasn't forgot how to please a hard rock fan like me. The latter delivers one of the best performances ever from Kotipelto. His voice sounds perfect when he doesn't try to reach too high notes. The lyrics are about a man eagerly craving a divine woman, very traditional as they are but work everytime. Other great songs are "4000 Rainy Nights" which is a very nice yet quite soapy ballad, and impressive slow-paced "Venus in the Morning". "Rebel" has quite annoying guitars but nice chorus, "Years Go By" is a little pretentious but ends with a beautiful fading guitar solo, "Anthem of the World" has a very atmospheric beginning but get's quite boring towards the end.

In all a very solid release from a band that reached the peak of their career with this one. If there weren't an album called Visions I would give this 5 stars but now I'll take 1 out because of a lack of originality and a little weaker songs.

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