Stratovarius (album)
| Stratovarius | ||||
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| Studio album by Stratovarius | ||||
| Released | 5 September 2005 | |||
| Recorded | April 2004 – March 2005 at Soundtrack Studios and Sonic Pump Studios in Helsinki; Goldenworks; Timo Tolkki's home studio; New York City | |||
| Genre | Heavy metal, progressive metal | |||
| Length | 49:17 | |||
| Label | Sanctuary | |||
| Producer | Timo Tolkki | |||
| Stratovarius chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Stratovarius | ||||
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| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   |
Stratovarius is the self-titled eleventh studio album by power metal band Stratovarius, released on 5 September 2005 through Sanctuary Records. The album reached No. 4 on the Finnish albums chart as well as the top 100 in six other countries. "Maniac Dance" was released as a single, reaching No. 4 on the Finnish singles chart and the top 100 in three other countries.
It is the last album to feature the band's longest-standing line-up which had been consistent since Episode (1996), as bassist Jari Kainulainen would leave Stratovarius later in the year, followed by guitarist and bandleader Timo Tolkki in 2008.
The release of Stratovarius came after a highly troubled period for the band in 2004, during which they temporarily split up following a nervous breakdown suffered by Tolkki. After a year-long hiatus, they reunited in 2005 and embarked upon a worldwide tour for the album, playing for the first time in the United States and Canada.
Stylistically the album displays a dramatically noticeable shift from the symphonic power metal sound of previous albums: the songs are more hard-edged and slower, with Tolkki's signature neo-classical shred soloing almost completely absent. Keyboardist Jens Johansson's role is particularly restricted, as well as Jörg Michael's drumming, which features hardly any of his signature double bass playing. Singer Timo Kotipelto also attempts a different vocal approach, mostly avoiding his usual high vocal range. Tolkki has since stated in interviews that he was unsatisfied with the end result of the album due to it being too far removed from the band's true style.
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