Posted on Friday, May 15, 2009 1:26 PM
photo: Ville Akseli Juurikkala
Finnish metal band Stratovarius has been to legal hell and back. Their former folded while they were on tour and took three years to sort out the mess. Aftrer a settlement was reached they entered a studio in September last year to begin working on a new album. The result - Polaris - sounds triumphant with singer Timo Kolipelto channeling Ronnie James Dio while the band is playing up a storm of layered guitar, keyboards, bass and drums.
Strotovarius are veterans on the metal circuit - their first album was released 20 years ago. They never got past the eighties keyboard sound they grew up with, and that sounds a bit dated now.
Stratovarius:
Jans Johansson: keyboards
Timo Kotipelto: vocals
Matius Kupianinen: guitar
Jorg Michael: drums
Lauri Porra: bass
Their European tour kicks off tonight in the UK in Wolverhampton. Headbanging required.
Polaris is released on earMusic. UK release date: May 18th.
Tracks:
- Deep Unknown
- Falling Star
- King Of Nothing
- Blind
- Winter Skies
- Forever Is Today
- Higher We Go
- Somehow Precious
- Emancipation Suite: I Dusk
- Emancipation Suite: II Dawn
- When Mountains Fall
MP3: Stratovarius - Forever Is Today
Video: Stratovarius - Deep Unknown
ยป stratovarius.com