Stratovarius continue maturing their new sound that began after longtime songwriter Timo Tolkki’s departure. It’s only gotten better and better with each release, so what can be said about their new album ‘Eternal‘?
[tracklist]
01. My Eternal Dream
02. Shine In The Dark
03. Rise Above It
04. Lost Without A Trace
05. Feeding The Fire
06. In My Line Of Work
07. Man In The Mirror
08. Few Are Those
09. Fire In Your Eyes
10. Lost Saga
[/tracklist]
[details]
[length]54:19[/length]
[record_label]Edel[/record_label]
[release_date]September 11th, 2015[/release_date]
[/details]
From 1989 to 2008 Stratovarius‘ mainman Timo Tolkki produced the sound for the band that would define the band. The power metal formula of catchy hooks to open the song with open ringing choruses and sing-along vocal lines, sprinkled with guitar and keyboard solo battles would be the instantly recognisable sound. After Tolkki’s departure from the band, Stratovarius decided to do something very different with that sound, and enhance it to demonstrate the full musical capabilities of each of it’s members creating a more progressive sound on top of what already existed. It is fair to say it was met with considerable success with the 3 post-Tolkki albums receiving high acclaim worldwide. Now the band are starting to own their new sound, and we look at their new album ‘Eternal‘ to see if they have put their stamp and signed off on the renewed Stratovarius.
Some could argue that sound that shot the band to fame is gone, but that is not at all the case with the opening track ‘My Eternal Dream‘, as it revisit’s the years of double-bass running and blaring opening hooks. While Stratovarius have attempted to bring back the old school a little bit, the sheer complexity of the riffing in the verses on both the guitars and keyboards have shown that they are not looking back too far.
The album moves to the next track ‘Shine in the Dark‘, one of the highlights with some stunning songwriting and production. With preceding post-Tolkki efforts the band have often produced tracks to demonstrate what each musician can do, and while technically brilliant it could send the sound into a bit of a mess with no flow. This track proves that this issue is absolutely fixed clashing the progressive and the power methods of the band into perfect harmony.
That is the sound that is used as the watermark as the album progresses, a sound that is now fully defined. Choruses of powerful vocal lines, verses of technical riffing, all fully coated with atmospheric keyboards with neo-classical interludes of shredding guitars. Tracks such as ‘Rise Above It‘ and ‘Feeding The Fire‘ are standout in the sense of proving that feat.
As the album closes out with the cinematic epic ‘The Lost Saga‘, Stratovarius have made a stand to the world that this is their sound. They have mastered and perfected it, and made something of their own that stands away from the Tolkki era. While many would question the band from stepping away from that classic sound, it is undeniable the band have created a brilliant album with ‘Eternal‘.
[verdict]Yes[/verdict]
[why]While some may miss the simplicity and hooks of old school Stratovarius, there is no denying that the band continue to break boundaries with their sound, and ‘Eternal’ is another fantastic product.[/why]
