Jens Johansson - Keyboards (Mastermind, Russell Allen's Atomic Soul (live), ex-Johansson, ex-Jens Johansson, ex-The Johansson Brothers, ex-Silver Mountain, ex-Yngwie J. Malmsteen, ex-Kotipelto (live), ex-Dio)
Rolf Pilve - Drums (Amoth, Code for Silence, Full Scale Conflict, Megiddon, Random Eyes, Reversion, Solution .45, Status Minor, The Magnificent, Samuli Federley (live), Division of the Spoils, ex-Essence of Sorrow, ex-Beyond the Dream, ex-Dreamtale, ex-Miseration, ex-Sightless, ex-Astral Sleep (live))
Jens Johansson - Keyboards (Mastermind, Russell Allen's Atomic Soul (live), ex-Johansson, ex-Jens Johansson, ex-The Johansson Brothers, ex-Silver Mountain, ex-Yngwie J. Malmsteen, ex-Kotipelto (live), ex-Dio)
Rolf Pilve - Drums (Amoth, Code for Silence, Full Scale Conflict, Megiddon, Random Eyes, Reversion, Solution .45, Status Minor, The Magnificent, Samuli Federley (live), Division of the Spoils, ex-Essence of Sorrow, ex-Beyond the Dream, ex-Dreamtale, ex-Miseration, ex-Sightless, ex-Astral Sleep (live))
Finnish / Swedish melodic metallers STRATOVARIUS released their new full-length album entitled"Nemesis", on February 22nd, 2013 via earMUSIC. The CD will be made available as a standard 11-track edition as well as 13 track special edition. A taste of the new studio album can be enjoyed with the limited-edition EP "Unbreakable", wich will be released on January 25th, 2013.
"Nemesis", unites all the best traits of the band's melodic, powerful, fresh and technically elaborated metal, all spiced up with an incredible sense for melody. The album was produced and mixed by Matias Kupiainen and mastered by Mika Jussila from Finnvox studios, who has a long history with the band.
"Nemesis" has a dark and more modern sound compared to the band's last album, "Elysium". It clearly shows how much the band has matured and grown as songwriters. At the same time, the band focused all their attention and work into creating and recording "Nemesis". Singer Timo Kotipelto spent three weeks recording the vocals in a cottage in the Finnish countryside.
States STRATOVARIUS guitarist Matias Kupiainen: "I have more or less lived in the studio for four months, obsessing over every detail. I feel very relieved that we are done and I am very happy with the material and the sound."
Kotipelto agrees: "Making the album this time was easier because we gave it as much time as it needed. We have worked our asses off to make this and we hope the fans will like it."
"Nemesis" has it all. From the typical melodic and powerful STRATOVARIUS sound in "Abandon", to the aggressive and energetic "Stand My Ground", the album represents the new style of the band mixed with good old melodic power metal.
STRATOVARIUS' musical approach is today wider and richer than ever. The song "Fantasy" sounds almost ABBA-esque with its catchy pop flavor, but it's powered by the famous STRATOVARIUS metal sound, louder than ever.
"Out Of The Fog" integrates some folk music elements, with lyrics telling the story of a young person forced to march blindly into battle.
The only ballad on the album, "If The Story Is Over", is a very emotional song with a grand arrangement that builds up to using the full band and ends with a small female choir.
The title track "Nemesis" is a typical STRATOVARIUS song, with echoes of medieval melodies with powerful double bass drumming and the catchy pop melodies from this side of the millennium.
Says Kotipelto: "The title track of the album; with its modern twist on the myth of Nemesis, it tells a story of a preacher who gives each one what they deserve, good or bad. The song has a very nice riff, cool melodies and a great good old STRATOVARIUS-style chorus."
All songs revolve around the leading track "Unbreakable", a very melodic cut with a soft piano intro in contrast to the heavy riffing that the album would display later on.
The official music video for the songs "Halcyon Days" and "Unbreakable" fromSTRATOVARIUS, can be streamed in the YouTube clips below.
1. Abandon 2. Unbreakable 3. Stand My Ground 4. Halcyon Days 5. Fantasy 6. Out Of The Fog 7. Castles In The Air 8. Dragons 9. One Must Fall 10. If The Story Is Over 11. Nemesis
Jens Johansson - Keyboards (Mastermind, Russell Allen's Atomic Soul (live), ex-Johansson, ex-Jens Johansson, ex-The Johansson Brothers, ex-Silver Mountain, ex-Yngwie J. Malmsteen, ex-Kotipelto (live), ex-Dio)
Rolf Pilve - Drums (Amoth, Code for Silence, Full Scale Conflict, Megiddon, Random Eyes, Reversion, Solution .45, Status Minor, The Magnificent, Samuli Federley (live), Division of the Spoils, ex-Essence of Sorrow, ex-Beyond the Dream, ex-Dreamtale, ex-Miseration, ex-Sightless, ex-Astral Sleep (live))
Finnish / Swedish melodic metallers STRATOVARIUS released their new EP entitled "Unbreakable", on January 25th, 2013 via earMUSIC. This EP is a little taste of what will be their upcoming studio album.
earMUSIC has set February 22nd, 2013 as the release date for "Nemesis", the new studio album by STRATOVARIUS. The CD will be made available as a standard 11-track edition as well as 13 track special edition.
"Nemesis", unites all the best traits of the band's melodic, powerful, fresh and technically elaborated metal, all spiced up with an incredible sense for melody. The album was produced and mixed by Matias Kupiainen and mastered by Mika Jussila from Finnvox studios, who has a long history with the band.
"Unbreakable" features five songs: the title track and a selection of four songs from previous albums, remastered by Mika Jussila. Songs like "Falling Star" (taken from "Polaris") and "Freedom" (taken from "Infinite") show a different, catchy side of STRATOVARIUS and guide the way to the new masterpiece, "Nemesis".
Commented guitarist Matias Kupiainen: "'Unbreakable' is a very important song to me and the lyrics have a lot of personal meaning. Sometimes you can snap out of your day to day fog and see what is important. And when you are in that special moment, when you have that special feeling, you are invincible, unbreakable; you should really stop and enjoy the feeling. Even, if the whole world falls apart tomorrow."
Added singer Timo Kotipelto: "This album has a darker and more modern sound. We, as a band, have gone through a lot and we have matured as songwriters. The making of this album was easier than before, because we could give it as much time as needed".
The song "Unbreakable" can be streamed in the YouTube clip below.
The news of drummer Jörg Michael's departure from the Finnish melodic metallers STRATOVARIUS in September 2011 was a shock for all of the band's fans.
To say goodbye to a friend, hero and member who characterized STRATOVARIUS' sound for over a decade, the group embarked on a five-show farewell tour of Finland in November of last year.
"The rest of us just has to accept Jörg's decision with a lot of sadness and wish him all the best for the future. But we can also assure that the band will still go on", says STRATOVARIUS singer Timo Kotipelto.
Before coming back with a brand new studio album in 2013, STRATOVARIUS released a two-hour DVD filmed and recorded in Tampere, Finland on November 19, 2011. This is one of the very last shows the band played with Michael.
Due on June 29 via earMUSIC, "Under Flaming Winter Skies - Live In Tampere" marks the end of an era as well as a new beginning. Hits and classics like "Under Flaming Skies", "Speed Of Light" and "Hunting High And Low" as well as exclusive bonus material (30-minute documentary about the band's history, exclusive interviews with each member as well as a special comment from Jörg Michael about the reasons to leave the band) makes it a must-have for every fan and a real collector's item not to be missed.
2. Under Flaming Skies 3. I Walk To My Own Song 4. Speed Of Light 5. Kiss Of Judas 6. Deep Unknown 7. Guitar Solo 8. Eagleheart 9. Paradise 10. Visions 11. Bass Solo 12. Coming Home 13. Legions Of The Twillight 14. Darkest Hours 15. Jörg Michael’s Speech 16. Burn 17. Behind Blue Eyes 18. Winter Skies 19. Keyboard Solo 20. Black Diamond (incl. Drum Solo) 21. Father Time 22. Hunting High And Low
