A brand new STRATOVARIUS track, titled "I Walk To My Own Song", has been posted online in MP3 format at this location (file size: 3.6 MB). "I Walk To My Own Song" comes off the Finnish neo-classical metallers' forthcoming CD, "Elements Part 2", due on October 27 through Nuclear Blast Records.

The album, which will once again feature artwork by Derek Riggs, will contain the following songs:

01. Alpha & Omega
02. I Walk To My Own Song
03. I'm Still Alive
04. Season Of Faith's Perfection
05. Awaken The Giant
06. Know The Difference
07. Luminous
08. Dreamweaver
09. Liberty
10. Ride Like The Wind (Japanese bonus)

"Elements Part 2" was produced by guitarist Timo Tolkki and mixed by Mikko Karmila at Finnvox Studios. All music and words for the album were written by Timo Tolkki, except for "Ride Like The Wind", which was penned by keyboardist Jens Johansson.

According to vocalist Timo Kotipelto, "STRATOVARIUS will not do ANY touring for 'Elements Part 2'. We might do some summer festivals next year but [I] can't confirm anything yet."

Next on Kotipelto's agenda is the recording of his second solo album, which he hopes to begin tracking in September. The as-yet-untitled follow-up to last year's "Waiting For The Dawn" album (issued under the KOTIPELTO banner), due in early 2004 through Century Media Records, will feature a band lineup that will be more or less "the same" as that on the debut, which included contributions from Mike Romeo (guitars, SYMPHONY X), Roland Grapow (guitars, MASTERPLAN/ex-HELLOWEEN), Arjen Lucassen (guitars, AYREON), Sami Virtanen (guitars, JOE DOAKES), Jari Kainulainen (bass, STRATOVARIUS), Mirka Rantanen (drums, TUNNEL VISION), Gas (drums, H.I.M.), Janne Warman (keyboards, CHILDREN OF BODOM) and Mikko Harkin (keyboards, SONATA ARCTICA).

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