Stratovarius – Elysium (2011)

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After the somewhat uninspired “Polaris”, Stratovarius delivers one of their best albums in their whole career. With “Elysium” the band takes their sound to a whole new level, combining traditional elements of their earlier sound with some progressive elements and some amazing vocal arrangements, making this album a great listening experience for fans of the bands and the genre.

Featuring an excellent production, “Elysium” brings back memories from the past releases of the band (“Infinite” and “Elements” mainly) with a very dynamic and modern sound thanks to the skills of ‘newer’ members Matias Kupiainen and Lauri Porra. We now have some great bass guitar lines provided by Porra, and shredding wizardry courtesy of Kupianien that will make you forget that Timo Tolkki is no longer in the band.

Since the album’s first track “Darkest Hours”, we can see how Stratovarius is reinventing themselves with new influences and precise execution. The vocal melodies are always top notch as you can expect from somebody of the caliber of Timo Kotipelto and they are graciously adorned by catchy chorus sections and some backing vocal tracks that make everything sound more bombastic in general.

Jörg Michael does again and excellent job behind the drum kit and keeps the songs very dynamic and fresh with countless tempo changes and technical magic, as only a musical veteran like himself can do. Jens Johansson work in the band seems a bit more discrete on this release, allowing other elements to flourish but is still commanding when we get keyboard solos and arrangements that will make you want to listen to them over and over to fully appreciate them.

In terms of the band’s sound we have 9 tracks that show different strengths in each one, and together create a very cohesive album that has minimal flaws and will be loved by almost everybody into this type of music. Songs like “Infernal Maze” feature the wide spectrum of elements that the band has to shine and takes full advantage of a group of musicians that feel better adjusted to playing together (versus how they sounded in “Polaris”).

In general there are very emotional tracks like “Elysium” and “Move the Mountain”, and there are other tracks are just massive Power/Progressive Metal anthems like “The Game Never Ends” and the magical “Event Horizon”. All of these songs fit very effectively together and create a very solid album that shows all the magic the band still has left in them, and generates a new path to follow after the departure of their ex leader Timo Tolkki.

Band: Stratovarius Album: Elysium
Label: Edel/E-A-R Music (Europe) / Armoury Records (USA)

Release: January 18th, 2011 (USA)

Official Site myspace
Genre: Power Metal

Country: Finland

Rating: 91/100
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