STRATOVARIUS — Elysium (review)

STRATOVARIUS — Elysium album cover Album · 2011 · Power Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
3.5/5 ·
UMUR
"Elysium" is the 13th full-length studio album by Finnish power metal act Stratovarius. The album was released in January 2011 through Armoury Records. Stratovarius is one of the few top drawer Euro power metal acts out there that most people know. At least by name.

If you are familiar with the previous work by Stratovarius you won´t be in for many surprises on "Elysium". The 9 tracks on the 56:35 minutes long album, are driven by outstanding musicianship. Lead vocalist Timo Kotipelto has a very high pitched and distinct vocal style that is one of the trademarks of Stratovarius sound. He is an extremely skilled vocalist but also a bit of an aquired taste. The fast and neo-classical inspired solo work is shared by guitarist Matias Kupiainen and keyboard player Jens Johansson. The rythm section is hard hittin´ and precise. The album is well balanced between fast double pedalling Euro power metal tracks, heavier mid-paced tracks, a power ballad ("Move the Mountain") and to close the album Stratovarius have chosen to include the 18:07 minutes long epic title track.

So "Elysium" is basically Stratovarius by the numbers. The band sound more or less like they´ve always done. For better or worse. One thing I´ve always had a hard time appreciating about Stratovarius is how formulaic vers/chorus structured most of their tracks are and the fact that their heavy mid-paced tracks have a tendency to come off repetitive and slightly boring isn´t exactly a plus in my book either. When Stratovarius are great they are really great though and they are best when they just pound away IMO, which they thankfully do to a satisfactory level on "Elysium". I´d say a 3 - 3.5 star rating is warranted.
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