Stratovarius / Elysium
Album: | Elysium | Collection: | General | |
Artist: | Stratovarius | Added: | Jan 2011 | |
Label: | Armoury |
A-File Activity
Add Date: | 2011-01-30 | Pull Date: | 2011-04-03 | Charts: | Loud |
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Album Review
D. Cannibal
Reviewed 2011-01-28
Reviewed 2011-01-28
Fans of power metal will be pleased by this newest offering from Finland’s premier power metal band. I am not one, but I consulted a friend, and he said he was impressed particularly by the guitar-work, and that it is not quite as generic as most of the dreck that falls under this subgenre nowadays. There is enough variation in the songs, in terms of tempo, mood, and style, to make this a fairly interesting listen. The riffs are not in a league of their own, but turn out to be quite listenable most of the time; on occasion, the keyboards actually add something to the music rather than just ambiance or annoying arpeggios—which is very rare in metal. (Note track 3 especially.)This is definitely a hit-or-miss record though, as there are some deceptively catchy tunes mixed up with some boring, forgettable numbers mostly in the power-ballad vein. Strattovarius successfully avoids being as pretentious as Iced Earth or as unlistenably flamboyant as Dragonfeces (LOL), but fail to be as enduring or unique as, say, early Helloween. It’s a catchy, epic guilty pleasure that is head-and-shoulders above the dime-a-dozen shit one comes across nowadays.
1. Not the best album opener; the riffs tend to be more chugging groove-ish riffs, and the keyboards are rather cheesy.
2. This is where the technicality really kicks off, with the keyboards adding subtle harmonies. Fast, partially palm-muted riffs, a strong, emphatic chorus.
3. ALBUM HIGHLIGHT. Slow, melodic intro builds up to a speedy, intricate, epic track, with complex guitar lines interacting intriguingly with the keyboards. Watch for those scorching solos!
4. Soft, ambient intro leads into a dark, lumbering track.
5. Fast and almost thrashy, guitars almost remind one of “Painkiller,” except the keyboards have to ruin the good riffs.
6. Wind, keyboards, and whispering open this track—then you have a slow, chugging, churning track with low, rumbling guitars and echoing vocals. Keyboards and bass sometimes relieve rhythm guitar of its duties.
7. Power ballad—nuff said. Piano and acoustic intro.
8. Another thrashy number, this one immediate and threating, with double-bass in the drums.
9. Eighteen minutes, really? Not bad for an epic, you get all the musical elements that are present in the other tracks, but it drags on a bit. DJs, play this track if you think you might be in the bathroom for a while.
1. Not the best album opener; the riffs tend to be more chugging groove-ish riffs, and the keyboards are rather cheesy.
2. This is where the technicality really kicks off, with the keyboards adding subtle harmonies. Fast, partially palm-muted riffs, a strong, emphatic chorus.
3. ALBUM HIGHLIGHT. Slow, melodic intro builds up to a speedy, intricate, epic track, with complex guitar lines interacting intriguingly with the keyboards. Watch for those scorching solos!
4. Soft, ambient intro leads into a dark, lumbering track.
5. Fast and almost thrashy, guitars almost remind one of “Painkiller,” except the keyboards have to ruin the good riffs.
6. Wind, keyboards, and whispering open this track—then you have a slow, chugging, churning track with low, rumbling guitars and echoing vocals. Keyboards and bass sometimes relieve rhythm guitar of its duties.
7. Power ballad—nuff said. Piano and acoustic intro.
8. Another thrashy number, this one immediate and threating, with double-bass in the drums.
9. Eighteen minutes, really? Not bad for an epic, you get all the musical elements that are present in the other tracks, but it drags on a bit. DJs, play this track if you think you might be in the bathroom for a while.
Track Listing
1. | Darkest Hours | 5. | The Game Never Ends | |||
2. | Under Flaming Skies | 6. | Lifetime In A Moment | |||
3. | Infernal Maze | 7. | Move The Mountain | |||
4. | Fairness Justified | 8. | Event Horizon | |||
9. | Elysium |