•
Rating: With Episode, Stratovarius present us with a gem of their precious and immense discography. The band, a quintessential power act, conveys a plethora of emotions through wonderfully melodic songs, accompanied by instrumentalists equipped with the technique necessary to deliver top-notch performances.
In my opinion, the ones who excel at their roles are Johansson and Kotipelto. I couldn't help but fall in love with Timo Kotipelto's splendid voice, a pleasant timbre to hear and quite extensive; he might be the best singer on earth. Jens Johansson is not a power keyboardist, he is THE power keyboardist, his virtuosity has inspired highly respected people, individuals like Tony Kakko, Mikko Harkin, Janne Wirman, and ME (ha ha ha!!!). Timo Tolkki is a guitarist endowed with incredible speed, but his solos are sometimes a bit TOO similar to those of Malmsteen; however, Tolkki's personality is evident in his role as the group's composer. Jari Kainulainen is a good bassist, perhaps a bit too focused on "fixed sixteenths," but he has enough creativity to compose his parts. Lastly, there's the great Jorg Michael, an excellent drummer, who rocks superbly.
I maintain my notorious habit of commenting on each track.
The CD opens strongly with "Father Time," a very catchy song. "Will The Sun Rise" is a very beautiful power piece, with an impressive technical demonstration after the second chorus: first a classically connected piece, then a call-and-response between Tolkki and Johansson, and finally a couple duet solo. It leaves you with your mouth and eyes wide open. "Eternity" is a very peculiar song; I myself cannot find the right adjectives to describe it (perhaps a bit haunting); listen to it yourself and tell me. The choice of assigning a short instrumental piece as the title track is quite odd: "Episode." It seems to echo "Destiny." "Speed Of Light" (the solos are worthy of the song's name), "Uncertainty," and "Season Of Change" together do not speak to me (at least I get rid of three songs). We arrive at "Stratosphere," a very fugue-like instrumental piece; unfortunately (for you) I have to say: it enchants me. It faintly recalls Malmsteen's "Trilogy." It calms down in the middle to resume the initial rhythm. Truly beautiful. We can admire a fairly successful oriental riff with "Babylon." I really like the part where Kotipelto hits a high note, while Tolkki and Johansson's solos begin. "Tomorrow" and "Night Time Eclipse" did not fully appeal to me. To conclude, we have "Forever," a beautiful, moving, poignant, calm, peaceful, graceful, emotional, and relaxing ballad, etc... With "Forever," Stratovarius shows us that they are not just 5 robots solely interested in showing off.
I have found two slightly criticizable aspects of this group; firstly, a somewhat similar technical-instrumental structure in all the songs: Stratovarius aren't very varius. Then the lyrics sometimes seem a bit too elementary to me (except for "Forever").
Episode is certainly among the best albums of their career along with Destiny.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Father Time (05:01)
Walking down the path that lead me to my memories.
Facing all the way without a care in my stride.
Where are the friends of my yesterday,
Have they moved on with their lives.
Can we still laugh and joke about things like before?
Theres no need to hide the past that I have left behind
Its a good resource somewhere for me to find
Why am I waiting for someone to reach out
it should be all up to them
keeping in touch aint that easy but Ill have to try
Where have all the years gone
That's what I am asking now.
What have I learned so far tell me Father Time
- Tell me now.
Now I understand I'll take from time what I need.
And I store it inside it's there for me to find
I can't deny that the years will pass by but it won't bother me.
Coz now I will set out to realize my dream.
Where have all the years gone
That's what I am asking now.
What have I learned so far tell me Father Time
- Tell me now.
02 Will the Sun Rise? (05:06)
Throwing my dreams out of my mind casting them into the sky.
Canceling tasks I've delayed for so long now it's do or die.
I can't be seen I can't be heard but I am here and I am wondering.
Will the sun rise tomorrow will it light up my sky.
Can I wake up with no sorrow awaiting.
Will the sun Rise tomorrow,
will I still see the dawn and not worry 'bout the future at all.
At the end of each day I promise myself, I'd better start to live.
Coz sooner or later I'll find out there's so much I can give.
I can't be seen I can't be heard but I am here and I am wondering.
Will the sun rise tomorrow will it light up my sky
Can I wake up with no sorrow awaiting.
Will the sun Rise tomorrow, will I still see the dawn
and not worry 'bout the future at all.
03 Eternity (06:55)
When clouds are covering the sky
I can't help thinking w behind
in a fading evening
I can feel strange thoughts in my mind
what if we aren't alone here
there's a clone of everyone somewhere
that duplicates all that we do
not like me, not like you
but our other ego
there ain't no wars or crises
only joy and compromises
time has stood still
Why don't you take me there
wanna feel some...infinity
Why don't we just dare
Cause after all remains...
Why don't you take me there
wanna feel some...infinity
Why don't we just dare
Cause after all remains...Eternity
A landscape with no trees
a mist arising from the distance
an illusion just for me
or a proper reward and a chance
there ain't no wars or crises
only joy and compromises
time has stood still
Why don't you take me there
wanna feel some...infinity
Why don't we just dare
Cause after all remains...
Why don't you take me there
wanna feel some...infinity
Why don't we just dare
Cause after all remains...Eternity
(Guitar Solo)
Why don't you take me there
wanna feel some...infinity
Why don't we just dare
Cause after all remains...
Why don't you take me there
wanna feel some...infinity
Why don't we just dare
Cause after all remains...Eternity
Eternity. . .
Eternity. . .
Coz after all, after all remains...Eternity
05 Speed of Light (03:03)
Today is just another day
of my life too short to live.
I should have somekind of meaning
a destiny to believe in
before I go to sleep.
I find some pictures of a time
when everything was still so fine.
Although the years have passed by.
I will give it all I have inside... everything.
I'm away lost in my thoughts,
everyday my life goes by at the speed of Light.
06 Uncertainty (05:58)
Learning by trying it's hard to deny it
while paying for what I used to know
Dreams are deceiving untill I'm achieving
the goals I haven't set too low
Waiting for a new day
to wipe away
the Uncertainty that flows around me
once again to stay
So many choices but so few answers
my time slips away while thinking too much
Whom to believe in they're all just repeating
the same old lies so nice to clutch
Waiting for a new day
to wipe away the Uncertainty that flows around me
once again to stay
07 Season of Change (06:56)
Season of change life feels so strange
Look into my eyes do you see the truth
I'm lost and alone feelings unknown
Come to me stronger than before
On winds of time my soul will fly
The angels are knocking at my door
Oh now I need to be free
From all this hatred I feel inside
Let it be my dreams
Let it be my thoughs
All those things in my heart
One too many days
One too many years
I wasted for nothing
I never realized
The truth is inside
Of every man for all to see
Listen to me now
I'm so close to you
Never felt like this before
The carousel is spinning fast
better enjoy while it lasts
Every moment is like gold
you'll remember when you're old
And the meaning of this life
is to live and is to die
Make the best out of your dreams
they're the world where you are free
All the sorrow and the pain
will be washed away by rain
An eternal joy will come
it can be found by everyone
Though the end is drawing near
I'm not feeling any fear
I have found the truth inside
after all the tears I've cried
Season of Change...
09 Babylon (07:09)
A new day is rising in ancient Babylon
Revealing mysteries to see
and the endless caravan
never ending it's journey
with the wings of the wind I will fly
I can hear you calling me
I am blind but I see
Babylon
your memory haunts me forever
won't leave me be
Babylon
your glory�s stronger than ever
for all to see
Centuries have passed by
but your memory still lives on
In the minds of those who see
Under the summer moon
there comes a sight
that stays with me forever
I can hear you calling me
I am blind but I see
Babylon your memory haunts me forever
won't leave me be
Babylon
your glory�s stronger that ever
for all to see
And underneath the starlit sky
I feel so strong I'll never die
I'm on this road to Eternity
My soul will live forever - I'm free
12 Forever (03:08)
I stand alone in the darkness.
The winter of my life came so fast.
Memories go back to my childhood
To days I still recall.
Oh, how happy I was then.
There was no sorrow, there was no pain.
Walking through the greenfields
Sunshine in my eyes.
I'm still there, everywhere,
I'm the dust in the wind,
I'm the star in the northern sky.
I never stayed, anywhere,
I'm the wind in the trees.
Would you wait for me forever?
Loading comments slowly
