•
Rating:
Summer 2003 - September 2005
Two years have passed, years of arguments, silences, and finally (fortunately for the fans) Reconciliation.
The Stratovarius, after a truly dark period in their history, which led them to disband (also due to health problems for the leader Timo Tolkki) are reuniting, they are more energized than ever, have tons of new material to work on, and unleash all the passions that have engulfed them recently. Result: Stratovarius. No, I haven't confused the album title with the name of the band. This is exactly the title that the Finnish band wanted to give to their 13th studio album in 16 years of activity. And it's a completely new album, light years away from those "Elements" that perhaps had slightly tarnished their good name.
9 tracks of a power that, as I just mentioned, have very little in common with those that graced the covers of "Elements" 1 and 2.
It's a different power, much more inclined towards heavy, although the classic ballads are not missing, and the general tone is one of substantial harmony and joy, in fact, the tracks are all very engaging and "positive" with sophisticated tones and melodies that exude a considerable power. The real novelty lies in the almost excessive use of electronics, which provides the central theme for several pieces and gives that extra kick of movement to an album that certainly had no intention of revisiting the dark and sad tones of the "Elements" from two years ago.
It starts with Maniac Dance, whose momentum is precisely due to a series of notes initially created solely by a synthesizer, which then become more complex with the addition of guitar and keyboard. It continues with Fight!!, which is somewhat the keyword of this album, a highly energetic track set as the album's flagship, through a series of notes that are easily received and liked by the listener, and denotes a remarkable effort by the Finnish band to seek simplicity and naturalness.
The subsequent tracks flow by quickly when listened to, one after another, Just Carry On, calmer than the previous ones, Back To Madness, Gypsy In Me, Götterdämmerung proceed in the vein of the previous tracks, and then comes The Land Of Ice And Snow, a track that represents the classic Stratian ballad. Leave The Tribe and United, the last 2 tracks, mark a return to canonical Power, although with some Heavy notes in certain parts, and hearken back to the Stratovarius of the "old times" that the most ardent fans will now be accustomed to hearing.
What can I say in conclusion? In my opinion, it's an album worth listening to, very entertaining in certain parts, now all that's left is to await September, and wait for it to hit all the stores, and, subsequently, on November 27th, the only Italian date of the band's 2005 tour, which will be held in Milan, at the Alcatraz. Happy Listening to Everyone!
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
02 Fight!!! (04:03)
Climbing mountains
Big stone on my back
Hopeless feeling
Everything is black
What am I Fighting for?
What am I living for?
That is the part that I don't know
You gotta fight
Fight for your life
Until you die
Fight for your life
Endless searching
In the cyberspace
All is turning
Into a disgrace
What am I searching for?
What am I running for?
That is the part I don't know
You gotta fight
Fight for your life
Until you die
Fight for your life
03 Just Carry On (05:28)
Time goes by
But you can't rest
Too many things
And you're obsessed
Trying to find
Some sense to it all
No-one knows what you've been through
Like no-one cares
But it's not true
Turn the pages
And make a fresh start
When you are low
You should known
You are not the only lonely soul
And you will find
The strength inside
There is no more need to hide
Just carry on
Fullfill your dreams
Don't let them try to pull you down
So carry on
Don't give up
March on till the end
The road is long but you'll reach the final bend
05 Gypsy in Me (04:27)
I was sent out
To the world
From the mission
I just returned
The dust has not settled down yet
Still I am needed more fame to be earned
I thought I could have some rest
But I feel like I am possessed
I shouldn't be complaining coz I am blessed
Must have been the Gypsy
The Gypsy in me
All the pressure
On my shoulder
I can feel
It makes me older
I've given everything tonight
It is enough I still have to fight
My heart is beating so fast
If this breath would be my last
Would I die happy or would I regret my past
Must have been the Gypsy
The Gypsy in me
Must have been a mistake
But I agreed
06 Götterdämmerung (Zenith of Power) (07:12)
A failed painter, born to change the world
Beaten up kid swore his revenge
Whirlwind of chaos and destruction man has never seen before
Blind masses led like a flock of lams
Deception, blinded by the lie
Another “saviour” of mankind showed the way
Gargantuan monster
Spread terror, food for the guns
Obsession turned to hate
It was their final fate
Projecting, persecuting, murdering and conquering the world
A diabolical plan was created
Armageddon and the apocalypse
Six million people vanished in the air
For the cause of the one man
Gargantuan monster
Spread terror, food for the guns
Zenith of power
Zenith of power -He changes the course of history
The final hour
Madness reigns
Zenith of power
Zenith of power -remains forever a mystery
The final hour
Madness reigns
08 Leave the Tribe (05:42)
Listen to what I have to say
We could get out of here today
I'll take you with me if you want to go
New kid of place, just let me know
I am a man, I'm not a child
And I am free, 'cause I can feel
We just have to get away
We have nowhere left to stay
We can run and we can hide
We just have to leave the tribe
Doing things in our own way
We'll just let the others stay
Those who fought and those who lied
We just have to leave the tribe
Leave the tribe!
Everything is always the same
They try to make you play their game
“This is the way”, you're being told
Bet hear me out, you can't be sold
And still they roll like pigs in the mud
While you have the fire burning inside
We just have to get away
We have nowhere left to stay
We can run and we can hide
We just have to leave the tribe
Doing things in our own way
We'll just let the others stay
Those who fought and those who lied
We just have to leave the tribe
Leave the tribe!
You have to leave the tribe
You have to leave the tribe
There's no where left to stayy
I have to leave the tribe
Loading comments slowly
Other reviews
By emanuele
After 12 albums of unquestionable quality, the 'Stratovarius' release an album that, to put it kindly, borders on the scandalous.
Ultimately, this represents everything I never wanted to hear from a band like Strato.
By thetrooper
"The album itself might have deserved a higher rating, but an album of Maiden-style heavy metal with splashes of hard rock is not what we expect from Stratovarius."
"Stratovarius is a prestigious and important band, but I don’t feel like giving more than a 3."
