Live Report - Stratovarius / Into Eternity - Aug25th, 2005, The Opera House, Toronto, Canada
Metal Reviews

Release year: 0
Reviewed by Marty
Back in 1997, we got connected to the internet at work and it was the first experience for most of us at “surfing the web” as the term was back then. I used all my spare time to check out music and metal sites and one name that kept coming up was Stratovarius. Once I realized what sort of metal they played and the fact that they had Jens Johansson (from Yngwie Malmsteen's Rising Force), I set out to find some mp3s (also fairly new technology as well). After hearing Black Diamond and Visions from the Visions album, I immediately ordered the CD from the HMV store in Toronto and the rest as they say...is history. I'm a big fan of this band and have all of their CDs. Unlike many others, I enjoyed both Elements albums but like many others, I was really put off over the last couple of years with Timo Tolkki's antics not only towards his fans but to the members of the band. Things really came to a head a couple of years ago which resulted in the departure of both Timo Kotipelto and drummer Jorg Michael. Timo Tolkki's health deteriorated and after spending several weeks in hospital, he was diagnosed with depression. Earlier this year, the band fulfilled a few contractual live shows in Europe and eventually with all the members coming to grips with Tolkki's problems, the band was reunited again. A few months ago, bass player Jari Kainulainen, left the band for totally unrelated reasons and has been replaced by bassist Lauri Porra from Timo Kotipelto's solo band. After a brief appearance at Wacken as a special surprise guest, Stratovarius was off the play ProgPower in Atlanta and to finally tour North America for the first time. I've been waiting 8 years to see Stratovarius and it was finally going to happen.

I got a chance to interview drummer Jorg Michael before the show and the interview will be up shortly. Opening the show was Into Eternity, the same band that opened for Hammerfall/Edguy a few weeks back. Once again they put on a great show with their very technical and complicated metal and they sure have a great lead vocalist in Stu Block. The mix of power metal style vocals with deep gutteral death metal growls adds an interesting slant to their very heavy style. They were once again well received by the crowd and were very appreciative in return. After the change over, projectors began showing film clips from the current tour with all the countries visited represented in the video collage. There was lots of crazy moments and it eventually ended with a shot of the Toronto skyline and the CN Tower. Right after that, Stratovarius took to the stage with Maniac Dance, the first single from the new album. The crowd went absolutely wild. They followed that with Speed Of Light and Kiss Of Judas which all sounded awesome. It was surprising to see a rather large and boisterous mosh pit going full tilt for any of the speedy songs. Other tracks included Legions, Twilight Symphony (a personal fav), and Will The Sun Rise which lead into a rather uneventful bass solo by Lauri Porra. The Land Of Ice And Snow was one of several slower ballad type songs that they played and although I like those type of songs from Stratovarius, it seemed to disrupt the flow and energy level of the show. They never played 2 fast songs back to back. Visual images were used on the two projection screens behind the band for every track and with the United, from the new album taking on a very personal and political overtone with scrolling text recounting the number of people that have been killed in the last century during the many wars and conflicts that have occurred. They then ripped through Against The Wind followed by Season Of Change before finishing the set with Father Time. Coming Home from the Visions album started off the first encore and I thought it was an odd choice as the energy level seemed to plummet. Things really got cooking again with Destiny and Hunting High And Low from the Infinite album. The crowd was really enjoying this and after walking off for a few minutes, they returned with Forever, a ballad from the Episode album and also found on the Visons Of Europe live CD. Again, although lots of people were singing along, the energy level dropped dramatically, something you really don't want during an encore. Things got back on track with Jens Johansson playing the opening harpsichord intro to Black Diamond. It sounded amazing and was a great finish to the show. The one thing was surprising to me was the lack of anything from the Elements Part 1 and 2 albums on the setlist. The set was basically most of the Live - Visions Of Europe album with a few new tracks thrown in.

Tini Kotipelto's voice can sometimes be hit and miss but on this night, he was right on. His voice was strong and stayed on pitch for the whole show. Timo Tolkki's guitar playing was awesome as well and made up for the fact that he really doesn't have much of a stage presence. New bass player Lauri Porra was a monster on stage and was all over the place and Jens Johansson was his usual self; often playing nonsense and other songs such as the opening of Ozzy's Diary Of A Madman instead of what he should've been playing. Drummer Jorg Michael was a beast behind the drum kit and was flinging sticks in the air and to the right of him to a stage hand off and on most of the night. They were flung right back at him, which he promptly grabbed without missing a beat. It was a great show but once again, the inclusion of so many ballads disrupted the energy flow of the show. I guess it really reaffirms to us that Stratovarius is not just a metal band. They have lots of progressive rock elements as well as classical influences to their music and maybe this was a reminder to us all of that fact. With the costs of touring and the small crowds and venues that many European bands are experiencing for their first North American tour, cities like Toronto may never get to see a band like this again. In the two nights previous to the Toronto show, Stratovarius drew crowds of between 1200 and 1800 people in Quebec City and Montreal. The Toronto show was lucky to have 500-600 people at most. Everyone there liked the show but there was a strange feeling that this may be the one and only time they'll ever play Toronto. We'd love to see them back but if not, at least we got chance to see them as last year, with all the turmoil, it looked like it was the final curtain call for this band.

Killing Songs :
Marty quoted
Other albums by Live Report that we have reviewed:
Live Report - Marduk / Vader - United Titans Tour 2022 - 17th March 2022 - Rebellion, Manchester, UK reviewed by Goat and quoted
Live Report - Genesis - The Last Domino? Tour - 25 September 2021 - AO Arena, Manchester, UK reviewed by Goat and quoted
Live Report - Mgla, Lvcifyre, Wode - 15th March 2019 - Rebellion, Manchester, UK reviewed by Goat and quoted
Live Report - Pestilence, Grimaze, Damim, Cryptic Shift - 23rd February 2019 - Rebellion, Manchester, UK reviewed by Goat and quoted
Live Report - King Crimson - Uncertain Times Tour - 9th November 2018 - Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, UK reviewed by Goat and quoted
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