Stratovarius
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Finland (1982 – present)
Stratovarius is a power metal band from Finland. They became popular in the ’90s, and throughout their career have inspired upcoming power metal bands with their baroque arranged keyboard solos & Ritchie Blackmore-like guitar portions.
Stratovarius was founded in Finland in 1982 from former members of the band Black Water. They went through a number of personnel and musical changes before the band found its own voice. The founding members were Tuomo Lassila, Staffan Stråhlman and John Vihervä. In 1983, the name was changed to Stratovarius (a portmanteau of Stratocaster and Stradivarius), an idea of Stråhlman’s. By 1984, Timo Tolkki entered the band, replacing Stråhlman in the guitar. He took up the vocal duties as well. Tolkki became the driving force and mastermind of the band assuming almost complete control of the song writing. He brought along not only strong rock influences but also a neo-classical tinge. The band released a demo to various record companies by 1987, finally being picked up by CBS Finland. In 1989, their debut album Fright Night was released followed by two singles.
After being dropped by CBS the band went through several member changes but they managed to release on another label and they also toured a bit. In 1994 they released their third album, Dreamspace, featuring new bass player Jari Kainulainen, (who joined the band when 70% of the new material was already recorded) which was a great success. Tolkki decided to stop singing for the band and they hired a new full-time singer, Timo Kotipelto.
Stratovarius was founded in Finland in 1982 from former members of the band Black Water. They went through a number of personnel and musical changes before the band found its own voice. The founding members were Tuomo Lassila, Staffan Stråhlman and John Vihervä. In 1983, the name was changed to Stratovarius (a portmanteau of Stratocaster and Stradivarius), an idea of Stråhlman’s. By 1984, Timo Tolkki entered the band, replacing Stråhlman in the guitar. He took up the vocal duties as well. Tolkki became the driving force and mastermind of the band assuming almost complete control of the song writing. He brought along not only strong rock influences but also a neo-classical tinge. The band released a demo to various record companies by 1987, finally being picked up by CBS Finland. In 1989, their debut album Fright Night was released followed by two singles.
After being dropped by CBS the band went through several member changes but they managed to release on another label and they also toured a bit. In 1994 they released their third album, Dreamspace, featuring new bass player Jari Kainulainen, (who joined the band when 70% of the new material was already recorded) which was a great success. Tolkki decided to stop singing for the band and they hired a new full-time singer, Timo Kotipelto.
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Visions
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Destiny
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Infinite
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Shoutbox
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OMG_Madgista wrote:
Their ballads are awesome and the name of band is attractive!
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TheMukeyMu wrote:
ooooh cool name
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achujwie wrote:
4000 rainy nights!
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achujwie wrote:
The only one power metal band I can accept.
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Steelbound wrote:
Piske81 Yes, Tolkki is talking some unbelievable shit there, it's sad to see how deep he has fallen.
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Dark_Althor wrote:
Neue_regel_ +1 !
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Neue_regel_ wrote:
In 1998, almost all metalheads I used to know in high school, bashed HARD on the 'softness' of the new album Destiny (1998).(influenced by bad Metal Hammer reviews!!) It's nice to see here that Destiny is now inside the top-3 most played of the 13 Strato studio albums !! Time definitely did some justice to that underrated LP.
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Piske81 wrote:
http://rockoverdose.gr/news_details.php?id=9333 Tolkki says Stratovarius won't exist anymore in 5 years... Yeah Timo, you would like that, wouldn't you?
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Bolthorn79 wrote:
Stratovarius made our MSRcast 121: 2011 Rewind Part 2 http://www.metalinjection.net/podcasts/msrcast/msrcast-121-2011-rewind-part-2
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millarddj wrote:
Black Wind Metal reviews "Polaris": http://blackwindmetal.com/?p=2351
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BeIieve wrote:
Theres a Time to Live!
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daggor wrote:
http://blackwindmetal.com/?page_id=1697 BlackWind presents Stratovarius, check it out here
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pablojca wrote:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTI64mBFN0I
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Kruzfixion wrote:
Anyone interested in Early music and Metal, join my facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/289986227711649/
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headgear56 wrote:
Becoming one of my favorite power metal bands.
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ma-theus wrote:
Das melhores!
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Jewrusalem wrote:
Man, you take the best tracks from Trinity and Polaris or In Paradisum and Elysium, and you have two of the best Stratovarius albums ever put together. Such good shit churned out in the past ten years, regardless of power metal dramas.
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RafaelSlayer93 wrote:
Episode and Fright Night <3
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BeIieve wrote:
I'm still there everywhere
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Lionheartattack wrote:
It's unbelievable Tolkki has said that Elements Pt. II was just built from some scraps and that he didn't really put time and thought into it... If he could compose an album even near as good someday again, he'd have my full respect. How come an album with genius songs like Alpha & Omega, I'm Still Alive, Season of Faith's Perfection, Luminous and Liberty be quickly composed? He was a genius back then! And what's happened to Tolkki's composing ability after that? :I
Videos
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Play
Deep Unknown
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Play
Elysium [HQ]
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Play
Lifetime In A Moment ¡¡¡New…
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Play
02. Stratovarius - 'Under…
Events
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Jul
12
Masters of Rock 2012
Areál likérky R. Jelínek, Vizovice, Czech Republic
323 going
327 shouts
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Aug
17
Leyendas del Rock 2012
Colegio Público Río Segura, Beniel, Murcia, Alicante, Spain
31 going
12 shouts
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Aug
25
Summersend Festival 2012
JUZ Live Club, Andernach, Germany
6 going
1 shout
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Recent Activity
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MeliMsNightmare, exe444, Eileen_Ruska and 30 other people added Stratovarius to their libraries. 2 hours ago
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IDante87 tagged Stratovarius with heavy metal and power metal. Thursday afternoon
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IDante87, sanchezik24, EmiMontesco and 9 other people added Stratovarius to their libraries. Thursday afternoon
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Bobarob tagged Stratovarius with ‘power metal’. Wednesday evening
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xLicht tagged Stratovarius with finnish, melodic metal, metal and one other tag. Wednesday evening
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lucas_37-, CustomLimited, Vaelanor and 19 other people added Stratovarius to their libraries. Wednesday evening
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Gabriel-Souza tagged Stratovarius with ‘power metal’. Tuesday afternoon
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LucasPeixooto, gazorninflex, Thorfinn85 and 2 other people added Stratovarius to their libraries. Tuesday afternoon
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cgern tagged Stratovarius with ‘finnish metal’. Tuesday morning
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rsbastos added Stratovarius to rsbastos’s library. Tuesday morning
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