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What’s the 4-1-1?
After a hectic 2004 that saw the departure and subsequent return
of two of its band members, the Finnish quintet returns with their
11th album.
Genre
Power metal / heavy metal / hard rock
The Good
What’s a good power metal album without an inspiring anthem? “Fight” is
that anthem, and Stradivarius loads this one with lots of energy, driving riffs,
and over-the-top vocals. Every superhero should have a theme song similar to
this. “Just Carry On” forces you to look at yourself for the answers
and not depend on others. The verse sections rely mostly on drums and vocals.
The bridge kicks in with some great vocal melodies and power chords, while the
chorus does the same. “Back To Madness” is an intricate journey
into the mind of someone losing their grip on reality. There’s an interesting
operatic section where I believe the main character has finally lost it. Lots
of tempo changes here to please the fans.
“The Land of Ice and Snow” is
a ballad that emphasizes keyboard effects and tuneful vocals. As the track climbs
closer to its conclusion, thick riffs and pounding drum make their presence
known. The Meaning of “United” can be take two ways actually;
it can either be about coming together in a relationship or coming together
to
fight a common enemy. The track is full of empowering arrangements and enduring
vocal melodies.
The Bad
The album’s first single “Manic Dance” is a little goofy. Not
only is the main riff so basic a beginner could nail it, but the electronic version
that precedes the track doesn’t help. Although I can’t stop humming
it (maybe I should move this to good). Most of the songs could have been cut
off by a minute or two. The instrumental segments don’t seem to add to
the track because they don’t differ in tempo or arrangement from the rest.
The Verdict
Stratovarius establishes themselves as the Queensryche of European power
metal on their latest album. Not only do you get the standard constructions
of
the
genre, but you also get a lot of progressive elements that help set the
group apart from their peers.
Did You Know?
When Stratovarius first started, guitarist Timo Tolkki was also the vocalist.
Rating:  out
of 5
--George Dionne
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STRATOVARIUS
