Stratovarius (Album)
Occupation
Vocals: Timo Kotipelto Electric Guitar: Timo Tolkki E -Bass: Jari Kainulainen Keyboard: Jens Johansson Drums: Jörg Michael
Stratovarius is the title of the twelfth studio album, the eponymous Finnish power metal band Stratovarius. It was released on 31 August 2005, and is the reunion album of the band to Timo Tolkki, which was on the verge of dissolution.
Timo Kotipelto he had thrown out of the band, and instead the Finn Katriina Wiiala brought into the band, for which he also wrote the songs in late 2003. But then Tolkki made even commit to a mental hospital because of suicidal thoughts. There, it was discovered that he suffered from manic depression. After some time, however, he was considered for the time being cured, and released him from the hospital. The band reunited in January 2005 again, Jörg Michael had already recorded the drum tracks, and in April, the rest of the album was finished. This album marks Timo Tolkki loud the beginning of a new era for Stratovarius; for the first time in the band's history is to be found not a single double bass song on the album.
Even before the release of the album, there were problems with the German Foreign Ministry, as Tolkki had planned a song called Hitler for the CD, which should include as an intro a speech of the dictator. Tolkki had to send the song to Germany, where it was decided that the name changed and the speech had to be significantly blended into the background. The song ended up as Zenith Of Power ( Twilight of the Gods ) on the album.
On the Internet, however, is circulating a BitTorrent file for a video of the demo version of the song, so the version in which the Hitler speech nor is the intro. The song is accompanied with pictures from the Second World War. However, this video is not official, but only the work of a fan.
The songs Maniac Dance, Back To Madness and United have a special place on the album, because they deal with the band situation. In Maniac Dance Kotipelto sings that Tolkki has realized that he can continue the band only in the old cast. In Back To Madness, that is with a touch of progressive, Tolkki describes his experiences in the clinic, and United is a kind of hymn of thanksgiving to the fans, with great live potential.
Track Listing
The Japanese edition contains a bonus track the live song Break The Ice from 1993.
Singles
Maniac Dance
On 8 August 2005, the single release Maniac Dance appeared together video, in which Antti Jokinen sat in the director's chair. Antti Jokinen is known for his music videos for Shania Twain, Celine Dion and grain.
Track Listing
- Album ( Power Metal )
- 2005 album
- Stratovarius