Metal Reviews

This band will always have a place in my heart. They are one of the best in the genre and were one of the bands that got me into Power Metal. I still have hope for their future every time I hear an older album, regardless of the piece of crap they just released (opinion). My favorite albums by Strato are Fourth Dimension, Visions, and Episode. I could be in the worst mood ever, but the second "Against the Wind" starts playing I feel completely uplifted. Anybody who says Fourth Dimension, Episode, or Visions are uninspiring albums needs to have their head examined.

I just want to know everybody's general opinion on the band. What are your favorite Strato releases? What do you feel when you hear uplifting songs like "Against the Wind" or "Eagleheart?" What do you think of the pre-Kotipelto releases?

I do enjoy Stratovarius, though they're not one of my favourites. My two favourite albums by them are probably Destiny and Episode, and my favourite song Destiny- simply fantastic stuff.

Hell yeah. I saw them play that live. Ten minute power metal songs are rarely good, but that song is great.

I'm still working on my Strato collection, I haven't got much yet. They have a ton of fucking albums! I only own Elements Pt. 1, Elements Pt. 2, Infinite, Intermission and Stratovarius. Personally I like all of these albums (just bought Elements Pt. 2 today before work, so I haven't listened yet).

They're definitely on the top of my list of band's to waste my money on. =) Still, from what I've heard I really like. I even like the self-titled a lot, and Elements Pt. 1, which seem to turn people off.

You got nostalgic didn't you Ness.

Well, Visions and Destiny for me as their most consistent albums. Stratovarius is one of the bands that got me into PM also (the other being Sonata Arctica) and I hold them in high regard as well and I hope they release a better album in the future.

And yeah Fourth Dimension is one of their weakest along with Fright Night. As for pre-Kotipelto albums, the best is Dreamspace but Twilight Time is fairly good too.

As for fav. songs...Kiss of Judas, Playing With Fire, Abyss, Reign Of Terror, Black Diamond, I Walk To My Own Song, Dreamweaver... and so on.

I like Elements Pt. 1 a lot, but Pt. 2 is kind of lame. It's not bad, but it doesn't match up to the rest of their catalogue.

HAHA! Yeah I did. I broke up with my g/f and I needed a boost. I think I made a bad decision. Once I started playing some older stuff I got a little reminiscent and felt the need to make a thread about them. Anyway, Sonata Arctica was the other band that got me into PM as well.

Sorry to hear, that man. If you need some comfort and lovin', you can always call me up. Or partake in midget prostitution, if you're into that type of thing.

You did ? :shock:
This sucks, I'm really sorry dude. It's always hard to go through something like this. Go watch some South Park and say a big "f**k you" to life.

Hmm... now that is something to think about.

I just listened to the epic Destiny,and i'm really confused...i really find this terrible.Check the last part of the song,when Kotipelto sings alone with a fake orchestra backing:"I control my life,i am the one,you control your life,but don't forget your Destiny..."

Is it possible to get more pathetic than that?...it makes me wanna smash my CD against the wall,and play some Pleasure to Kill!

But i carry on,and then:"It's time to say goodbye,I know it will make you cry,You make your Destiny,I know you'll find the way,and outside the Sun is bright,the things will be allright,i will be back one day to you,So please wait for ME"

Wow,that's too much for me,my limits are crossed:Come on Timo,we know you ain't no Jim Morisson,but even a 10 years old child can write better lyrics than those!Can you go further into politically correct territory than that?If this is HEAVY METAL,i'll stay away from it,and i'll stick to Bon Jovi,at least it was fun back in the 80s.

I'll have to play them back to back, but Pt. 2 is kicking ass right now! A lot of mid-tempo songs with that—what I like the call—Dio Stomp. I'm on "Dreamweaver" now, one more to go, but so far this has been a great listen! I shouldn't have waited so long to buy it.

I agree with Pyroman, they really hit their peak with Visions and Destiny. Strangely enough, they weren't one of the bands that got me into PM. The first Strato song I heard was Black Diamond and when I heard that song I had already got into many lesser known PM bands :?

I can't comment on the pre-Kotipelto era, since I haven't heard any album from them before Episode. The Elements albums were quite good, but the s/t was boring and uninspired IMO. Overall I like them and I respect them a lot for their influence on the PM scene but they have some flaws. The lyrics are, as stub mentioned, atrocious at times and Kotipelto is a good vocalist, but sometimes he really forces himself to hit too high notes and the results can be pretty bad.

I haven't heard Against the Wind, but I love Eagleheart. I can play that damn song over and over for hours. Their long "epics" are rarely good, and very freaking boring at worst (Elements). My favorite songs are Eagleheart, United (the best on the s/t), Destiny (their best epic), Forever Free, Black Diamond, Forever, and probably many others...I have some Strato albums that I haven't given a spin for quite a long time.

OK, so I'm on my third listen of Elements Pt. 2 and I can't believe some of you were surprised at the style shift on the self-titled. This album is like a total transition album, there are still fast, power metal-like moments, but there's a whole lot of rock here.

"Alpha & Omega," "Walk To My Own Song," "Season Of Faith's Perception," "Awaken The Giant," "Luminous, Dreamweaver," and "Liberty" all point in the direction of what was to become the Stratovarius album.

"I'm Still Alive" and "Know The Difference" are the only two power metal songs. "Dreamweaver" is awesome! Very much in the vein of "Falling Into Fantasy" (my favorite Strato tune thus far).

I really dig Pt. 2.

I don't agree on that "transition" part.

Mid-paced hard rocking songs were the key for this album.

Told ya it was cooler than Pt. 1. 8)

But if mid-paced hard rocking songs were the key for this album, how is it that people were surprised that the style on Stratovarius was essentially the same? There's very little power metal on the self-titled, far less than on Pt. 2, but Pt. 2 is still very much a heavy, metal-influenced rock album in most respects.

Now, I'm not talking about the quality of the self-titled here. I know a lot of people dislike it and the songs are definitely not as good as these songs. Still, had I heard this album first I would not have been shocked, now it all makes sense to me. The band just evolved over the course of two albums.

I'm thinking it more as a evolution from Pt. 1 to Pt. 2 (obviously) and little from Elements to Stratovarius. I don't think that on the s/t the pm is less, or as nearly gone. If you want more hard rock you should check Fright Night and Twilight Time.

On the self-titled they went for something different, they combined their earlier, riff oriented songs from Dreamspace and Twilight Time with the melodic mid-paced power/rock songs from Elements. It gets all mixed on Stratovarius. You're right though, I hear more from Pt. 2 in the s/t so an evolution like this is not impossible. Just my two cents, though. (Stupid expression btw, but you learn something new everyday)

What is with you hearing everywhere rock... first Edguy now Stratovarius.

I'm a rock expert, fool! Rocket Ride is very much a rock album.

I am unfamiliar with Strato's early work, I think Infinite is the earliest I have, maybe Intermission, whichever came first, so you may be right about the earlier style as I've never heard it.

I just think that when bands are honest with their music it's very easy to see how they got somewhere. Elements Pt. 2 to Stratovarius is like a simple chess move, if you ask me.

Well excuse me your rock highness, I'm just a misguided metal fan.

You should familiarize yourself with that Strato hystory. It's worth it. I get shivers everytime I listen Abyss... damn Tolkki could sing.

I don't play chess, I'm a slow thinker. But that move they've made with Stratovarius was total checkmate for them.

A horrible chess move if you ask me. They just lost both of their rooks, their queen, and their bishops with the last two releses. That was gay... but seriousley if you would've sarted with Visions, I think you'd feel the same way.