Stratovarius - Elements Part 2
So anybody can criticize these guys. Love them or hate them, you cannot deny the influence that these guys have on the Metal community, going beyond their days as a quartet, incorporating many other "elements" so to speak, rather than your stick-in-the-mud standardized Euro-Power Metal lash of drum pounding and neo-classical guitar riffs, moving beyond the centrifuge of what got them noticed in the first place, evolving like any band would.

But for the Finnish quintet, the evolution has not gone anywhere out in left field (per say like Queensryche and Metallica have), they have moved beyond the standard of Tollki's Malmsteen influenced guitar alongside the psuedo-classical harpsichord keyboard styling to using more in your face production, adding more than the thrust of guitar and keyboard overtures, incorporating a less frivolous soundscape to keep themselves from becoming redundant within the style that they helped create.

Opening up with a dark transitional "Alpha and Omega," providing the continuation for the second half of Elements, sounding like it could end the record rather than begin this one, complete with strings, making the heavier symphonic element present just the way it is on part one. Now it's back to basics with "I walk to my own song" easily in comparison to "Hunting High and Low" from Infinity or "Save Our Soul" from Destiny, but yet they again go beyond the whole straight ahead double bass and repetitive rhythmic patterns, showcasing more of a stripped down rock drumming style, bass lines that stand out, and more standardized progressive organization than the normal sub avant-garde structure (so what are you saying Hashman, have they have gone pop..? Noooo, stop accusing them of that!!), but yet the Stratovarius sound is still at it's utmost presence.

Cuts like "I'm Still Alive" and "Know the Difference" follow the same path while "Awaken the Giant," with it's Headless Cross-era Sabbath sound and the Queensryche-ish "Dreamweaver" show a more introspective sound for the band (Oh, thank God, that's not the same "Dreamweaver" that most 70's soft rock radio stations play the shit out of). Now what album would this album be without ballads, the emotional, sub-acoustic "Season of Faith's Perfection," the atmospheric "Luminous," and the closing number, "Liberty" round out the second Elements' sound.

Overall it's a great fucking record, not disappointing at all, and perfect to compliment the first one, not to mention easily fulfilling the Stratovarious fan. This hit me right then and there. Great record to end the year with, and proves again that the wait was worth it being that the elements albums were the first "conventional" releases to come from these guys since 2000's Infinity (excluding 2001's Intermission, due to the fact that it was mainly a compilation). A must for all Stratovarus fans.

Written by Hashman
Sunday, January 4, 2004
Show all reviews by Hashman

Ratings

Hashman: 8.5/10

Members: 7/10 - Average of 1 ratings.



Member ratings

Profile pictureTommy

Rating: 7/10
This is indeed a very solid release. The classic Strato stuff is all here, but compared to... · Read more ·

This article has been shown 9388 times. Go to the complete list.



RevelationZ Comments


Comment by wilfredo diaz (Anonymous) - Saturday, January 31, 2004
im guilty, im a stratovarius fan
stratovarius is not a ground breakin band , but rocks in a certain way. the words that come
to my mind and describe it are
very heavy , emotional and persistent . stratofan

greetings from PUERTO RICO!!!!


Comment by wilfredo diaz (Anonymous) - Saturday, January 31, 2004
Favourite Stratovarius albums:
1. VISIONS
2. INFINITE
3. EPISODE
4. DESTINY AND
5. ELEMENTS PART 1

WE THINK ALMOST A LIKE , I AGREE
COMPLETELY WITH YOU.

SPECIALY VISION , INFINITE AND
DESTINY.
IF DON'T HAVE THIS 3 ALBUMS
DON'T CONSIDER YOURSELF A
STRATOVARIUS FAN !!
AND SOMETHING IS VERY WRONG
WITH YOU!!!???!!!???!!!???




Comment by chika_super metal (Anonymous) - Saturday, September 3, 2005
ta de lo mejor esta foto,viva stratovarius x siempre!!!
qe el metal siga creciendo
¡¡VIVA EL METAL!!



Comment by diego (Anonymous) - Wednesday, September 14, 2005
lomejordelpowermetal


Review by Tommy (Member) - Wednesday, November 10, 2004
Profile picture

View Profile


Comments: 74
Ratings: 31
This is indeed a very solid release. The classic Strato stuff is all here, but compared to earlier works this one is more atmospheric, slow and grooving.

Here is a short remark to my favourite songs.

I Walk To My Own Song: One of Tolkki's best creations. A very positive and melodic track that has a firm rocking vibe. Great mid-section solo passage and a catchy keyboard melody.

Alpha & Omega: A very atmospheric track that gains a lot by the use of a real orchestra. A heavy riff, detailed drums and tight bass set a grooving base where Timo's sensitive voice fits in perfectly.

Luminous just has a fantastic calm and reassuring spirit that could light up the darkest room, fantastic vocals and dreaming keys.

Still I miss more melodic "elements" and more than three fantastic songs for this one to reach their best works. In Dreamweaver we find a cool mystic atmosphere; the chorus on the other hand is not very successful and rather tame. Awaken The Giant has a great ingenious solo and cool refinements in the drumming, but something really exciting is clearly missing and the main rhythm becomes a bit tiresome.

Anyway all in all this is well executed, diverse and atmospheric Power Metal.

The album is released in limited edition with a bonus CD; this also goes for Elements Pt. 1, both being highly recommendable.
This one contains some interesting demo versions with quite funny passages and some great live cuts, including a most genius version of the fantastic Soul Of A Vagabond from the slightly better Elements Pt 1.

Favourite Stratovarius albums: Destiny, Visions, Episode and Infinite.

Rating: 7/10

Posted by Tommy
Wednesday, November 10, 2004

Comment by gizmo (Member) - Saturday, April 18, 2009
This profile has not added a picture

View Profile


Comments: 140
Ratings: 4
This was one of the bad Strato albums the journey downwards started with Infinite and peaked their downfall with the selftitled album. Element pt I and II were not among the good strato albums IMO but Pt I way better than this one

Posted by gizmo
Saturday, April 18, 2009

Comment by Brian (Staff) - Saturday, April 18, 2009
RevelationZ Staff

View Profile


Comments: 81
Just been listening to 'Polaris' and it's . . . interesting.

Posted by Brian (Staff)
Saturday, April 18, 2009










Review by Hashman
None

Released by
Nuclear Blast Records - 2003

Tracklisting
1- Alpha & Omega
2- I walk to my own Song
3- I'm Still Alive
4- Season of Faith's Perfection
5- Awaken the Giant
6- Know the Difference
7- Luminous
8- Dreamweaver
9- Liberty


Style
Power Metal

Related links
Visit the band page

Stratovarius - Official Website

Other articles
Infinite - (Tommy)

Visions - (Tommy)

Stratovarius - (Nina)

Polaris - (Alanna)

Dreamspace - (Steen)

Elements Part 1 (Reissue) - (Brian)

Elements Part 2 (Reissue) - (Brian)

Elysium - (Alanna)



Z supported shopping






Ratings
1 - Horrifying
2 - Terrible
3 - Bad
4 - Below average
5 - Average
6 - Good
7 - Very good
8 - Outstanding
9 - Genius
10 - Masterpiece
666 - Unrated

More details...


Daily Spotlight
Guns N' Roses - Chinese Democracy
CoverThis record won't change the world!This record won't be a future classic like "Appetite for Destruction" and "Use your Il....
Read full review















Retro Reviews

(Steen)
Ricochet - Among The Elements
CoverThis album is a small gem that should be snatched up at once if you're lucky enough to find it somewhere. Highly melodic, overflowing with emotion and a technical prowess that is highly impressive are....
Read full review






(Hashman)
King Crimson - In the Court of the Crimson King (30th Anniversary Edition)
CoverFor many of the Metal music world is concerned, there are only a handful of albums that came out of the 1960's that really had an impact on Metal and helped shape it. Of course you have Led Zeppelin a....
Read full review








Archive
 · Albums of the month
 · Retro Reviews
































Back to the top - © 2002-2011 RevelationZ Magazine - Back to the top