STRATOVARIUS — Elysium (review)

Album · 2011 · Power Metal

4/5 · 2012-01-05
adg211288

Although Elysium is the thirteenth album to carry the name of long-running Finnish power metal act Stratovarius in reality what we have here is a major case of Trigger’s Broom, with lead vocalist Timo Kotipelto being the longest running band member, having joined in 1994 in time for the group’s fourth album, 1995’s Fourth Dimension. Whether you’re for or against such things is irrelevant, as Stratovarius serves up a solid dose of melodic power metal on Elysium.

Being my proper introduction to the band, I have to say that Elysium sets a really fine first impression. I have to admit that I was a little apprehensive about the album though. Although I’d never really properly checked them out before now I was well aware of the existence of Stratovarius for many years. More specifically I knew that their main writer was guitarist Timo Tolkki and that he parted ways with the band a couple of albums back, and losing your main writer is never a good thing. Secondly I’d seen that the couple of albums prior to Elysium, one with Tolkki and one without, hadn’t exactly been received with open arms, although the first post-Tolkki album, 2009’s Polaris, was admitted better received than Tolkki’s final work with them, the 2005 self-titled effort. Given these two things I was kind of expecting Elysium to be the work of a band well past their prime struggling to relive their glory days. That isn’t the case in the slightest. I don’t need to hear those not so well received last couple of albums to say with confidence that Stratovarius is most definitely back and they mean business.

While the crowning achievement here is the title track, an eighteen minute piece with three sections that takes the album into progressive metal territory, there is plenty of power metal goodness on offer. An early highlight is Under Flaming Skies, which I feel is the moment where Elysium really picks up because to be honest I’m not overly fond of the album’s opener Darkest Hours. I think it’s a patchy song. Fortunately from Under Flaming Skies onwards things maintain a higher level of quality, although Lifetime in a Moment doesn’t make best use of its 6:39 duration and is only saved in its early stages by Kotipelto’s stunning vocal delivery, allowing it time to pick up into quite an interesting piece. Aside from these couple of hiccups we’re dealing with some top notch power metal that has all the elements required to be great, and it is great, but I can’t help feeling that without those small issues we’d be instead listening to something exceptional. Other highlights of the album would be Event Horizon, a very neoclassical infused track, along with Move the Mountain.

I’m overall feeling very positive about Elysium and would easily recommend it to any power metal fan or to a metal fan in general for that matter. Based on this I’m looking forward to checking out the band’s back catalogue because by the sound of things I’ve been missing out. Having checked out the album Visions from 1997 before finalising this review, I can also safely say that Elysium, while not as good, sits with pride beside it.

(Originally written for Heavy Metal Haven, scored at 8.2/10)

more than 2 years ago
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adg211288 wrote:

more than 2 years ago

Yeah, definitely still interested after hearing Visions. Reckon I'll go for Episode next.

Diogenes wrote:

more than 2 years ago

I'd get Episode next if you're still interested. Definitely a classic.

adg211288 wrote:

more than 2 years ago

Visions arrived in the post today, excellent album.

UMUR wrote:

more than 2 years ago

I´d recommend these four albums if you want to hear Stratovarius in their prime: "Episode (1996), "Visions (1997)", "Destiny (1998)" and "Infinite (2000)".