Music: Power Metal
Website: www.myspace.com/officialstratovarius
Country: Finland
Duration: 56:50
Cool songs: Infernal Maze, Lifetime In A Moment, Fairness Justified
A quick listen of this “Elysium” dish reveals Stratovarius are aging with grace. Not that the music has lost its emotional heft, because all the songs here are quintessential Stratovarius, but it's great to hear the band in such lean shape considering this is the Finns' 13th studio opus. Not counting the compilations and live offerings, Stratovarius have built quite the storied discography. Forgiving a few lapses brought on by the messy soap opera split with Timo Tollkki, the band have soldiered for three decades hammering out the very finest power metal in Europe.
To the eternal joy of their devotees, “Elysium” marks the band's entrance into a new decade. Opener “Darkest Hours” reassures those who need reassuring that Kotipelto and his mates haven't forsaken the Stratovarius ethos, from the proggy frills to the contained bursts of technical elegance, everything is intact for a band who together with Helloween and Blind Guardian form the foundation stones of an entire genre. “Under Flaming Skies” is best suited to listeners who have a keen taste for neo-classical bombast with gay undertones. This is an inescapable facet of Stratovarius; theirs is a fairyland of operatic transcendence and might, full of emotion, tenderness, drama, and uplift. No wonder they've spawned an entire brood of similarly inclined clones.
Gayness aside, “Elysium” is like a delectable slice of chocolate cake for the expectant power metal nerd. All the ingredients are served in generous portions, be it guitarwork that's heavy on the flash and showmanship (Matias Kupiainen is no Malmsteen, but he kicks ass in his own right), rather dull vocals from Kotipelto (except when he's in pseudo-opera mode), plus an evenly measured balance of the majestic stuff with standard fare speed-power orgasms (“Infernal Maze,” “Event Horizon,” “The Game Never Ends.”)
There's really little else worth taking note of besides the album's utter familiarity. Stratovarius have reached a plateau in their creative abilities; already set in the mold they've forged and utterly comfortable peddling the same magic every time a new album is needed. For ultimate gratification, those hot and panting for some sonic awesome should skip the faster parts to enjoy the breathtaking sweep of “Lifetime In A Moment” and “Fairness Justified.” Dont forget the almost 20-minute album finisher that's the title trackso immense, you'll probably fall asleep halfway through.
note: 8.5/10
Tracklist
Darkest Hours
Under Flaming Skies
Infernal Maze
Fairness Justified
The Game Never Ends
Lifetime In A Moment
Move the Mountain
Event Horizon
Elysium
Line-up
Timo Kotipelto- Vocals
Matias Kupiainen- Guitar
Lauri Porra- Bass
Jorg Michael- Drums
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