Origin: Finland
Genres: Power Metal
official site MySpace

Stratovarius  


Stratovarius will go down as one of Finland's most successful metal bands of all time, with a melodic, symphonic power metal style that has served as a blueprint for many a European band. They are often regarded as one of the most influential Euro melodic power metal bands, recogniazed alongside Helloween, Blind Guardian, and Gamma Ray as leaders of the genre. The group was founded by a young trio of guys in 1984, and was jumpstarted a year later when guitarist Timo Tolkki joined the band. Their debut album, Fright Night, was released in 1989, and in the succeeding years they built their fan base, gradually shifting lineups and fine-tuning their sound. By 1996 the band had released its fifth album, Episode, and that album marked the debut of what would become their most solid and well-known lineup, with metal veterans Jörg Michael and Jens Johansson making their debut with the group. For the next several years it was clear sailing for the band, they were clearly on top of their game at this point, culminating in the epic Elements releases in 2003. And then, it started to fall apart, with with Timo Kotipelto and Jörg Michael departing the band amidst rampant and sometimes bizarre reports of erratic behavior from leader Timo Tolkki. Eventually the situation settled down (Tolkki admitted to some mental difficulties which he has since overcome) and the former lineup was restored, with their last album, simply titled Stratovarius, released in September 2005. Behind the scenes, though, the spirit was fading, as admitted by Tolkki in 2008 when he finally pulled the plug on the band, citing differences between him and the other members (particularly Kotipelto and Michael) and a lack of drive to continue. He has since formed a new band, Revolution Renaissance, that will continue his musical vision. Interestingly, the remaining members have decided to continue as Stratovarius, with a new guitarist recruited to take Tolkki's place.

Current Members

Timo Kotipelto

vocals (Cain's Offering)

Matias Kupiainen

guitars

Lauri Porra

bass (Sinergy, Warmen)

Jens Johansson

keyboards (Dio, Yngwie Malmsteen, Mastermind, Silver Mountain)

Rolf Pilve

drums (Solution .45, Torchbearer)

Former Members/Guests

Timo Tolkki

guitars (Revolution Renaissance, Symfonia)

Jyrki Lentonen

bass

Jari Kainulainen

bass (Evergrey, Masterplan, Symfonia)

Antti Ikonen

keyboards

Tuomo Lassila

drums

Jörg Michael

drums (Grave Digger, Headhunter, House Of Spirits, Mekong Delta, Axel Rudi Pell, Rage, Running Wild, Saxon, Schwarzarbeit, Unleashed Power)


Discography


Fright Night 
1989 T&T
  1. Future Shock
  2. False Messiah
  3. Black Night
  4. Witch-hunt
  5. Firedance
  6. Fright Night
  7. Night Screamer
  8. Darkness
  9. Goodbye
  • Timo Tolkki
  • Jyrki Lentonen
  • Antti Ikonen
  • Tuomo Lassila



Twilight Time 
1992 T&T
  1. Break The Ice
  2. The Hands Of Time
  3. Madness Strikes At Midnight
  4. Metal Frenzy
  5. Twilight Time
  6. The Hills Have Eyes
  7. Out Of The Shadows
  8. Lead Us Into The Light
  • Timo Tolkki
  • Antti Ikonen
  • Tuomo Lassila



Dreamspace 
1994 T&T
  1. Chasing shadows
  2. 4th Reich
  3. Eyes of the world
  4. Hold on to your dream
  5. Magic carpet ride
  6. We are the future
  7. Tears of ice
  8. Dreamspace
  9. Reign of terror
  10. Thin ice
  11. Atlantis
  12. Abyss
  13. Shattered
  14. Wings of tomorrow
  • Timo Tolkki
  • Antti Ikonen
  • Tuomo Lassila



Fourth Dimension 
1995 T&T
  1. Against the wind
  2. Distant skies
  3. Galaxies
  4. Winter
  5. Stratovarius
  6. Lord of the wasteland
  7. 030366
  8. Nightfall
  9. Twilight symphony
  10. Call of the wilderness
  • Timo Kotipelto
  • Timo Tolkki
  • Jari Kainulainen
  • Antti Ikonen
  • Tuomo Lassila

Reviews:   Metal Observer 


Episode 
1996 T&T
  1. Father Time
  2. Will The Sun Rise?
  3. Eternity
  4. Episode
  5. Speed Of Light
  6. Uncertainty
  7. Seasons Of Change
  8. Strasphere
  9. Babylon
  10. Tomorrow
  11. Night Time Eclipse
  12. Forever
  • Timo Kotipelto
  • Timo Tolkki
  • Jari Kainulainen
  • Jens Johansson
  • Jörg Michael

Reviews:   Metal Observer 


Visions 
1997 T&T
  1. The kiss of Judas
  2. Black diamond
  3. Forever free
  4. Before the winter
  5. Legions
  6. The abyss of your eyes
  7. Holy light
  8. Paradise
  9. Coming home
  10. Visions (southern cross)
  • Timo Kotipelto
  • Timo Tolkki
  • Jari Kainulainen
  • Jens Johansson
  • Jörg Michael
1997 Internet Top Ten album

Reviews:   Metal Observer 


Visions Of Europe  LIVE
1998 T&T
  1. Forever Free
  2. Kiss Of Judas
  3. Father Time
  4. Distant Skies
  5. Season Of Change
  6. Speed Of Light
  7. Twilight Symphony
  8. Holy Solos
  9. Visions
  10. Will The Sun Rise?
  11. Forever
  12. Black Diamond
  13. Against The Wind
  14. Paradise
  15. Legions
  • Timo Kotipelto
  • Timo Tolkki
  • Jari Kainulainen
  • Jens Johansson
  • Jörg Michael



Destiny 
1998 T&T
  1. Destiny
  2. S.O.S.
  3. No Turning Back
  4. 4000 Rainy Nights
  5. Rebel
  6. Years Go By
  7. Playing With Fire
  8. Venus In The Morning
  9. Anthem Of The World
  10. Cold Winter Nights
  • Timo Kotipelto
  • Timo Tolkki
  • Jari Kainulainen
  • Jens Johansson
  • Jörg Michael

Reviews:   Metal Observer 


The Chosen Ones  COMPILATION
1999 Noise
  1. Black Diamond
  2. Twilight Time
  3. Father Time
  4. The Hands Of Time
  5. Dream With Me
  6. Paradise
  7. Out Of The Shadows
  8. Forever
  9. Full Moon
  10. The Kiss Of Judas
  11. S.O.S.
  12. Dreamspace
  13. Against The Wind
  14. Speed Of Light
  15. 4000 Rainy Nights
  16. Will The Sun Rise?



Infinite 
2000 Nuclear Blast
  1. Hunting High and Low
  2. Millennium
  3. Mother Gaia
  4. Phoenix
  5. Glory of the World
  6. A Million Light Years Away
  7. Freedom
  8. Infinity
  9. Celestial Dream
  • Timo Kotipelto
  • Timo Tolkki
  • Jari Kainulainen
  • Jens Johansson
  • Jörg Michael

Reviews:   Blabbermouth  Chronicles Of Chaos  Metal Observer 


14 Diamonds  COMPILATION
2000 JVC
  1. The Hands Of Time
  2. Distant Skies
  3. Tomorrow
  4. Coming Home
  5. Destiny
  6. Future Shock
  7. Black Diamond
  8. Why Are We Here?
  9. We Are The Future
  10. Forever
  11. Hunting High And Low
  12. The Kiss Of Judas
  13. Rebel
  14. Mother Gaia



Infinite Visions 
2000 Nuclear Blast



Intermission 
2001 Nuclear Blast
  1. Will My Soul Ever Rest In Peace?
  2. Falling Into Fantasy
  3. The Curtains Are Falling
  4. Requiem
  5. Kill The King
  6. I Surrender (Live)
  7. Keep The Flame
  8. Why Are We Here?
  9. What Can I Say
  10. Dream With Me
  11. When The Night Meets The Day
  12. It’s A Mystery
  13. Cold Winter Nights
  14. Hunting High & Low (Live)
  • Timo Kotipelto
  • Timo Tolkki
  • Jari Kainulainen
  • Jens Johansson
  • Jörg Michael

Reviews:   Chronicles Of Chaos  Sea Of Tranquility  Lords Of Metal  Metal Observer 


Elements Part 1 
2003 JVC
  1. Eagleheart
  2. Soul Of A Vagabond
  3. Find Your Own Voice
  4. Fantasia
  5. Learning To Fly
  6. Papillon
  7. Stratofortress
  8. Elements
  9. A Drop In The Ocean
  • Timo Kotipelto
  • Timo Tolkki
  • Jari Kainulainen
  • Jens Johansson
  • Jörg Michael



Elements Part 2 
2003 JVC
  • Timo Kotipelto
  • Timo Tolkki
  • Jari Kainulainen
  • Jens Johansson
  • Jörg Michael



Stratovarius 
2005 Mayan
  1. Maniac Dance
  2. Fight!!!
  3. Just Carry On
  4. Back To Madness
  5. Gypsy In Me
  6. Götterdämmerung (Zenith of Power)
  7. The Land of Ice and Snow
  8. Leave The Tribe
  9. United
  • Timo Kotipelto
  • Timo Tolkki
  • Jari Kainulainen
  • Jens Johansson
  • Jörg Michael

Reviews:   Blabbermouth  Sea Of Tranquility  Lords Of Metal 


Polaris 
2009 Edel
  1. Deep Unknown
  2. Falling Star
  3. King of Nothing
  4. Blind
  5. Winter Skies
  6. Forever Is Today
  7. Higher We Go
  8. Somehow Precious
  9. Emancipation suite: I Dusk
  10. Emancipation suite: II Dawn
  11. When Mountains Fall
  • Timo Kotipelto
  • Matias Kupiainen
  • Lauri Porra
  • Jens Johansson
  • Jörg Michael

Reviews:   Sea Of Tranquility  Lords Of Metal  Metal Observer 


Polaris Live 
2010 Edel
  1. Destiny
  2. Hunting High and Low
  3. Speed of Light
  4. The Kiss of Judas
  5. Deep Unknown
  6. A Million Light Years Away
  7. Bach: Air Suite
  8. Winter Skies
  9. Phoenix
  10. SOS
  11. Forever is Today
  12. King of Nothing
  13. Father Time
  14. Higher We Go



(EP) Darkest Hours 
2010 Edel
  1. Darkest Hours
  2. Infernal Maze
  3. Darkest Hours (Demo)
  4. Against The Wind (Live)
  5. Black Diamond (Live)



Elysium 
2011 Edel
  1. Darkest Hours
  2. Under Flaming Skies
  3. Infernal Maze
  4. Fairness Justified
  5. The Game Never Ends
  6. Lifetime In A Moment
  7. Move The Mountain
  8. Event Horizon
  9. Elysium
  • Timo Kotipelto
  • Matias Kupiainen
  • Lauri Porra
  • Jens Johansson
  • Jörg Michael

Reviews:   Sea Of Tranquility  Lords Of Metal  Metal Underground  Angry Metal Guy 


Under Flaming Winter Skies - Live In Tampere 
2012 earMUSIC
  • Timo Kotipelto
  • Matias Kupiainen
  • Lauri Porra
  • Jens Johansson
  • Jörg Michael



Under Flaming Winter Skies - Live In Tampere 
2012 earMUSIC



(EP) Unbreakable  COMPILATION
2013 earMUSIC
  1. Unbreakable
  2. Falling Star
  3. The Game Never Ends
  4. Freedom
  5. Why Are We Here



Nemesis 
2013 earMUSIC
  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
  • Timo Kotipelto
  • Matias Kupiainen
  • Lauri Porra
  • Jens Johansson
  • Rolf Pilve


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