Send "Stratovarius " Ringtones to your Cell 
| Sputnikmusic |
 Helloween really couldn't have picked a more appropriate band to support them on their 7 Sinners Tour than Stratovarius. There's more than a few parallels between their respective careers and not just because the two are among the most influential in power metal. While they've each had their fair share of successes, both Helloween and Stratovarius have also faced a great deal of (well documented) adversity. Between all the internal drama, which eventually saw the exit of important band members, as well as poor musical output, future prospects must have looked bleak. But Helloween was able to bounce back; 2010's 7 Sinners was their best record in twenty-two years, and the two that preceded it were worthy listens as well. Stratovarius isn't quite there yet, but with Timo Tolkki gone, and the songwriting reins taken up by pretty much every one else, they seem to be moving in the right direction. Elysium more or less continues where Polaris left off in 2009. Think mid-paced, European power metal they helped popularize years ago alongside groups like Helloween and Sonata Arctica. Hardly revolutionary, to be sure, but that isn't Stratovarius' aim. Unfortunately, this serves to limit the scope of Elysium. As far as middling power metal goes, the album is top notch. But at the end of the day, middling power metal is still middling power metal. Give Stratovarius credit for when they do pull through; Matias Kupiainen's guitar work is consistently excellent, particularly in "Darkest Hours", and keyboardist Jens Johansson is no slouch as well. Problem is, this doesn't happen often enough. In a song like "The Game Never Ends", while the riffing is quite good, the formulaic structure and bland chorus hold it back. This isn't a problem unique to Stratovarius (one might remember Helloween struggling with the same issue ten years ago), but rather comes with the whole melodic power metal shebang. Because of how derivative it is, it's difficult to be very impressed. That isn't to say it can't be done; Sonata Arctica very nearly perfected the style between Elicptica and Reckoning Night. But they were successful because they incorporated a far more spirited dynamic into their music, something that can't be said about Stratovarius consistently enough....full text |
| Angrymetalguy |
| Stratovarius is a name synonymous with European power metal and right up there with Gamma Ray and Helloween. Over the course of their long recording history they’ve created stellar examples of the style and several of their albums reside on my all time power metal playlist (Destiny, Visions, Episodes, Fourth Dimension, Infinite). Along with these past successes, Stratovarius had their share of ups and downs, including their infamous and acrimonious split with founding member/guitarist/chief songwriter Timo Tolkki (Revolution Renaissance). Both before and after this split, Stratovarius released some uneven albums and went through a phase where they indulged in bloated, overly orchestrated symphonic styles and for many long time fans, this was regrettable (Elements Parts I and II). While 2009′s Polaris seemed to right the ship, Elysium shows considerable backsliding toward these past missteps. While still a decent album with some great moments, it fails to rise anywhere near the level of past triumphs and ultimately bogs down amid ponderous pacing and overwrought orchestration. Things start off quite well with “Darkest Hours” which, while mid-paced and laid back, sports enough metallic energy to keep things manly enough. Helping drive the song are the always excellent vocals of Timo Koltipelto (AMG thinks Mr. Koltipelto is somewhat less than excellent [AMG thinks that Mr. Koltipelto sounds like a mouse trapped between the door and a wall. - AMG]) and a huge, catchy chorus that hooks into the cranium immediately. Follow ups “Under Flaming Skies,” “Infernal Maze” and later on, “Event Horizon” all speed things up and it’s like the good old days of hyperspeed Strato-power again and these tracks are winners (check out the nifty guitar/keyboard soloing at 2:55 onward in “Infernal Maze”). Then, trouble rears its symphonic head once again and far too many tracks sink into the same slow paced morass that hurt the Elements albums....full text |
| Thegoldenbird |
| Elysium follows a style quite loyal to the heavy-power metal genre. Such bands as Firewind and those of similar kin have many shared characteristics. The music in this album largely relies on powerful beats and heavy riffing to support the main focus: the vocals. They are sung powerfully and at higher pitches, which is to be expected from a band of this nature. In fact, everything that is to be expected from a band of this nature is given, but little more than that. The sound is already so established, and Stratovarius does not push it any further in this release. Elysium turns out to be somewhat stale and generic. There are a few notable moments throughout the record, but the majority of it is passable. That is not to say it is a bad record, but it does not distinctly exceed standard. It has simply been done before, and at higher levels of creativity and musicality for the most part. As a band, Stratovarius can be quite impressive in both the music and the instrumental end. It is clear even in Elysium. The problem is that more often than not, they shy away from their capabilities. Such songs as “Infernal Maze” display vocal prowess and wonderful phrasing. Other songs, like the opening track “Darkest Hours,” show Stratovarius molding themselves into the genre’s definition without an innovative or technical edge. It seems more frequently the case of the latter than the former with this record. Elysium is not necessarily a bad album, but it is missing much of what is required to achieve greatness. It is rather unidentifiable by style, due to its extreme loyalty to the heavy-power metal genre. But it also does next to nothing on the innovative or instrumental side to become standout. What Elysium gives is a predictable – very possibly meaning boring – listen to music enjoyable by only the most faithful of power metal fans....full text |
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