Stratovarius - Elysium

Rating

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RIYL

Evergry
Firewind
Blind Guardian
Rhapsody of Fire

Release Date

01/18/2011

Label

Edel Music

Tracklist

1.Darkest Hours
2.Under Flaming Skies
3.Infernal Maze
4.Fairness Justified
5.The Game Never Ends
6.Lifetime In A Moment
7.Move The Mountain
8.Event Horizon
9.Elysium

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Stratovarius play a brand of over the top power metal that harkens back to days of Judas Priest. But in no way am I comparing this band to the elite Priest. Elysium, as you will easily hear, relies heavily on big drums and bigger guitars nestled in with high pitch vocals... the staples of power metal. The sound found on this album has been established long ago and, Stratovarius really doesn’t push the envelope with this effort. Elysium comes off as overwhelmingly stale and basic. There are a few moments of interesting songwriting, but almost every song is simply passable. The band is talented at composing their music, but they tend to ignore their capabilities and technical edge when performing. You can tell from listening to them that they possess technical prowess, but they often fail to use it. Unfortunately, the album is also heartily cheesy, albeit “rocking,” but still nonetheless very cheesy.

I also have a real issue with the pacing of this record. One minute you are going full force towards power metal excellence and then you're halted by a selection of meandering metal noodling. Tracks like “Fairness Justified,” “Lifetime in a Moment” and “Move the Mountain” go nowhere and really hurt the overall flow of the album. It is apparent that Stratovarius have a handle on the genre of power metal, but it’s a shame that it comes off as overwrought with clichés. There is one such offense that has to be called out, which is the 18+ minute title track that is found at the end of the record. It is a risk creating a song of such length since it has be engaging and create an emotional bond to the listener. This track doesn't engage or create any bonds, but instead suffers from the same dragging feeling that is found throughout the rest of the record. There are some moments that create interest, such as the synth and guitar duals being an example, but overall the album is bloated and all over the place.

This effort is truly for those that are deep into the power metal scene. For others you will find a plodding record with some minor flourishes of skill muddled with notions of the band trying to hold onto something that hasn’t been interesting in years.

--Corey Mack

Author

pantsmeetshit
Last updated: 02/17/2011 10:57AM

Comments

ZeroDown
02/19/2011
04:34AM
Age: 30
Location
Bronx, New York City

i can listen to any given song by a band like this, especially Iced Earth, Blind Guardian, Hammerfall or Gamma Ray and absolutely love it and wonder why i don't listen to power metal exclusively. then, halfway through the next song i'm bored out of my skull and find some skatepunk to listen to... which i haven't gotten bored of after 16 years now.

--FTTW--

Rick Gebhardt
02/19/2011
06:21AM
Age: 31
Location
Minnesota

I'm really picky about the power metal I listen to... and this is definitely not a band I want to listen to. 

Find me EVERYWHERE:

ZeroDown
03/07/2011
09:32PM
Age: 30
Location
Bronx, New York City

yea, upon actually listening to this i realized why this is a band i never listen to... what the hell is up with his voice? i have to assume these guys are German (too lazy to look it up), fucking Germans...

--FTTW--