Stratovarius - Elysium [Collector's Edition] (2011)

Stratovarius’ second album since the departure of last “founder” Timo Tolkki, Elysium represents a creative spirit that shows they can function just fine without Madman Tolkki. Elysium is a comeback of sorts, not because the band has shifted away dramatically since the departure of Tolkki, but because it features track after track of music that isn’t mediocre. Now, I’m sure that Stratovarius fans will be in up in arms over this statement, but Stratovarius has been known to release very mediocre albums mainly due to a lack of originality, or just creative songwriting within their framed style. Elysium represents a return to what made Stratovarius an innovator within the power metal genre, with grandiose solos and melodies, a soaring, epic vocal performance by Timo Kotipelto, and a particularly powerful opus known as “Elysium.” In particular, the opening two songs “Darkest Hours” and “Under Flaming Skies” are really stand out songs, the first with some really great melodies, and the second with some inclusion of groove which is completely unexpected and a welcome follow up to “Darkest Hours.” “Infernal Maze” is a song that is a combination of Kamelot’s sultry vocal style as a lead in, which delivers us to a pleasant, Stratovarious style speedy neo-classical number that doesn’t drag, or sound like a stagnant carbon copy of any number of the band’s other tunes.

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