Stratovarius is a Finnish power metal band that's been around since 1984, and they're one of the most popular and influencial bands in the power metal genre. I can honestly say I was greatly looking forward to this album, but I can't help feeling disappointed with it. It's not completely a loss though, as I'll explain in a bit.
1. Darkest Hours [4:10]
2. Under Flaming Skies [3:51]
3. Infernal Maze [5:32]
4. Fairness Justified [4:20]
5. The Game Never Ends [3:53]
6. Lifetime In A Moment [6:38]
7. Move The Mountain [5:33]
8. Event Horizon [4:23]
9. Elysium [18:06]
Elysium as an album is a treat to the ears on some tracks, but for some reason I always take a while to adjust to Timo Kotipelto's vocals. Some of the tracks on this album just sound too generic for me to enjoy thoroughly, but luckily Stratovarius still has some tricks up their sleeves, like the 18 minute album namesake, Elysium. Being the longest song Stratovarius has put on a studio album yet, this song is a strong mix of power and progressive metal, and easily the highlight of the album. So many great solos to be found here, and the vocals really stand out here compared to the rest of the album.
That being said, there are some catchy riffs and vocals to be found in Lifetime In A Moment, as well as Fairness Justified. Like I mentioned above however, there are some tracks that are simply too generic to enjoy throughly, like Under Flaming Skies, or too laid back, like Move The Mountain. Now, I almost universally enjoy variety in my metal albums, but it has to be done right - Timo Kotipelto's vocals just don't go well with a slow tempo song, and the solos don't fit well in there either. I'm looking at you synthesizer.
Overall, a sturdy album by Stratovarius - not solid, but 'sturdy'. I highly recommend the track Elysium, while Lifetime In A Moment and Event Horizon are worth a listen. If you like what you're hearing, I'd say give Fairness Justified and The Game Never Ends a try too, but I would avoid the rest of the album personally.
Final Score:
73/100
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