Artist: STRATOVARIUS
Album: "STRATOVARIUS LTD. EDIT. (DIGI)"

Year: 2005
Media type: CD

Undeniably led by erstwhile ROAD BLOCK and THUNDER guitarist Timo Tolkki, STRATOVARIUS - the undisputed kings of Finnish Hard Rock, originally formed as far back as 1979. Their grandiose style of elaborately polished Metal has not only brought enormous rewards internationally for the Finns but has inspired a whole new genre of Rock Music known as Symphonic Metal. The first incarnation of the group included Staffan Strahlmann on guitar and drummer Tuomo Lassila. Subsequently, Strahlmann was replaced by Timo Tolkki, previously with ROADBLOCK, in 1983. STRATOVARIUS would sign to CBS Records in the late 80's and debut with 'Fright Night' during 1989.

'Fright Night' was a straight-ahead heavy metal album that had very few of the neo-classical stylings to be present on later works. The whole albums theme and look was dark and the lyrics dealt with themes of horror and darkness with three of the songs having the word 'night' in the title. The artwork used for the album was a piece done by reknowned British fantasy artist, Patrick Woodroofe, perhaps his most famous piece was the cover of JUDAS PRIEST's 'Sad Wings Of Destiny'.

STRATOVARIUS now stood in the rare position of having no original members left. Having been dropped from Sony/Columbia the band signed to the tiny Finnish label Blue Light Records who released their second album simply titled 'II' in 1991. Written entirely by Tolkki, the sophmore effort demonstrated some early examples of his evolving, neo-classical style became evident in his playing and composition. Lyrically the band still worked predominantly within the refined horror genre. Although bass player Jari Behm appeared in the line-up photos, in fact all bass parts were performed by Tolkki. The band mentor also handled lead vocals and all the guitar parts with Antti Ikonen on keyboards and Tuomo Lassila on drums. The 'II' album was released by Blue Light in two versions, the first with cover art depicting a pair of feet, the second simply a band photograph.

In 1993 things started to pick up for the band with the album being reissued in Europe on Shark Records and on JVC/Victor in Japan. Both versions had new cover art, the now familiar 'outer-space' scene, and changed the title to 'Twilight Time'. The original Finnish pressing of the second album, which featured a simple photo of the four members on the front, is now a rare and sought after collectable.

A new deal was negotiated with Shark Records for 1993's 'Twilight Time', actually a re-issue of the 1991 recordings, but Noise Records were quick to move in to sign the Finns for 1994's 'Dream Space', although the album marked the debut of yet another bassist - Jari Kainulainen, previously a member of late eighties Hair bands HEAT and CHRISTINE, having joined the group prior to recording. At this point Timo Tolkki decided to concentrate solely on guitar playing, necessitating the recruitment of vocalist Timo Kotipelto to the fold for 1995's 'The Fourth Dimension'.

Following a European tour with label mates ENOLA GAY keyboard player Antti Ikonen and drummer Tuomo Lassila both quit. In order to record the 'Episode' album ex YNGWIE MALMSTEEN and DIO keyboardist Jens Johansson and drummer Jorg Michael were added. Michael's credits read like a who's who of German Metal having racked up credits with AVENGER, RAGE, MEKONG DELTA, HEADHUNTER, LAOS, GRAVE DIGGER, AXEL RUDI PELL and RUNNING WILD amongst others.

A proposed tour in 1996 with VIRGIN STEELE to coincide with the new album's release was cancelled after the American band's vocalist David DeFeis was injured in a car accident. In the autumn STRATOVARIUS hit the road with RAGE before preparing to lay down the new 'Visions' record, again enlisting Jens Johansson and Jorg Michael. A 1998 live album 'Visions Of Europe' followed.

1998's studio record 'Destiny' gave STRATOVARIUS a prestigious number 1 in their homeland and opened up a whole new international market to the band. As STRATOVARIUS switched labels to Nuclear Blast previous label Noise issued an obligatory "best of" titled 'The Chosen Ones' that included tracks previously only available in Japan.

2000 found Michael sessioning for HOUSE OF SPIRITS on their 'Psychosphere' album. Jari Kainulainen too would be employed on outside activities, guesting on the WARMEN 'Unknown Soldier' opus.

Tolkki released a solo album ('Classical Variations And Themes') through Shark in 1994 and made a guest appearance on the 1998 EDGUY album 'Vain Glory Opera'. Tolkki also busies himself with production handling the 1997 album from fellow Finns THE 69 EYES amongst others.

The band announced a period of self imposed exile during 2001 predicting a new studio album for 2003. In the interim Nuclear Blast would issue the 'Intermission' collection which combined foreign rarities with cover versions of JUDAS PRIEST's 'Bloodstone' and RAINBOW's 'I Surrender' and 'Kill The King', the latter with lead vocals by Timo Tolkki.

Timo Kotipelto would record his debut solo album, the KOTIPELTO credited 'Waiting For The Dawn' for the Century Media label. A conceptual piece rooted in Egyptian mythology it would prove a much harder edged affair than expected. STRATOVARIUS would break their silence in late November with the single 'Eagleheart'. The album, 'Elements Part I', would see a January 2003 release, Japanese variants on JVC Victor label hosting the traditional extra track 'Into Deep Blue'. The album duly debuted on the Finnish national charts at no. 2. Meantime Johansson made his mark on four tracks as guest contributor to SONATA ARCTICA's February 2003 album 'Winterheart's Guild'.

STRATOVARIUS announced Far Eastern dates in Japan, Taiwan and Hong Kong during June. However, these dates were curtailed when the Finnish foreign office advised the band of the threat from the S.A.R.S. virus. Following delivery of the October 'Elements Part 2' album STRATOVARIUS switched labels to Sanctuary Records with a bizarre press release claiming the three album deal was to be signed in elk's blood! Indeed, the band did make their marks upon the contract with the unfortunate animal's blood in a deal purportedly to be worth over $3.5 million dollars, apparently the biggest ever for a Finnish artist.

The band's fan base would be dismayed to learn from a post by guitarist Timo Tolkki on the STRATOVARIUS message board that the band was "in a severe crisis". Intriguingly Tolkki suggested that, although he was in discussion with individuals, he was "95% sure that 3 bandmembers have to leave". In late December it was indeed revealed that STRATOVARIUS had trimmed down to a trio of Tolkki, Kainulainen and Johansson and rumours of the induction of a new female singer were proved true when AURORA K's Katriina Wiiala stepped into the fold. This latest recruit not only boasted a three octave vocal range but had also been crowned Finnish gymnastics champion twice over. Anders Johansson, the YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, BLUE MURDER and HAMMERFALL credited brother of Jens, was to man the drums for an album with the provisional working title of 'Popkiller'. However, as STRATOVARIUS vendured a huge backlash in the media regarding its new line up, Anders Johansson quit within a week of joining. Rumours, sparked by Tolkki's admission he had his eyes on a female percussionist, then focussed on Simona Bressi (a.k.a. Jill Ward) from the Los Angeles based BALLISTIK and the BLACK SABBATH cover band MISTRESS OF REALITY. Bressi swiftly denied the speculation.

Tolkki's re-shaping of the band had business ramifications behind the scenes as the guitarist revealed Sanctuary Records had asked for a return of a one million euro advance, claiming this was based upon a contract with the previous roster of members. The label also issued a statement maintaing that the ex-members were still under contract.

The classic STRATOVARIUS was scheduled to make their last live appearance on 28th February 2004 at the Piorno Rock festival in Spain. Ousted sticksman Jorg Michael's first port of call would be a guest appearance on a solo project of FEUERENGEL frontman Boris entitled DER BOTE. Matters became increasingly strange with Timo Tolkii in February though when, after his official website administrator publiclly distanced himself from the guitarist, Tolkki posted a "statement" stating he had heard voices in his head, going on to describe it as "Kabbalah, Kabbalah, Kabbalah. I believe it was the voice of Jesus Christ". Accompanying the verbage was a picture of Tolkki smeared with blood.

Despite all of this the Piorno Rock festival went ahead, the band's last with its 'classic' line up. Local reports suggested Tolkki, brandishing a bottle of vodka onstage, was obviously drunk. Quite incredibly the show included Jens Johansson urinating on Timo Tolkki during the opening notes of the song 'Forever'. Matters got much worse for the guitarist the following day. Whilst taking a walk in the Granada cental plaza he was assaulted by an unknown assailant, punched in the face and stabbed twice in the arm with what was believed to be a box cutter knife. He would be admitted to emergency care in the local hospital but released that same night. Tolkii later commented "I do not want to end up like John Lennon. I don't know if I want to continue STRATOVARIUS anymore".

However, the guitarist did manage to cut some new material during this period, travelling to Dortmund in late March to rehearse with drummer Jorg Michael, then recording at Soundtrack studios in Pitajanmaki in early April before these sessions were curtailed. The culmination of these recent bizarre set of events led to Tolkki's hospitalisation on 10th April, the guitarist entering the Mehilainen private hospital in Helsinki to treat what his official webmaster described as "suicidal feelings and chronic depression." Upon his release in early May Tolkki, revealing he had released Katriina Wiiala from her contract, issued a statement about the band's status declaring "STRATOVARIUS is Timo Kotipelto, Jens Johansson, Jorg Michael, Jari Kainulainen and Timo Tolkki. If this line up is not possible, then there cannot be any band called STRATOVARIUS."

Reconciling their differences, the band unit, including Kotipelto, stuck to their obligations to perform at the European festivals, 'Gods Of Metal' in Italy (although delayed due to a severe electrical storm), 'Dauwpop' in Holland and the 'Rock Hard' event in Germany. Jorg Michael then joined veteran British Hard Rockers SAXON for their 'Lionheart' album. The drummer also found time to guest on Italian symphonic Power Metal band KALEDON's 'The Way Of The Light' opus. Making a surprise appearance, Jens Johansson joined NIGHTWISH for a cover of MEGADETH's 'Symphony Of Destruction' during the band's appearance at the B.B. King's Blues Club in New York City on 22nd August.

Steelborn Records collated a STRATOVARIUS tribute album in 2004, entitled 'Within Infinity - Tribute to Stratovarius'. Meantime, in a rather unique event, Timo Kotipelto, alongside female vocalist Maija Vilkkumaa, performed several classic heavy metal covers with Finland's HEAVY LILJA ORCHESTRA on 26th August at the Manala bar in Helsinki. Kotipelto vocalised on renditions of DEEP PURPLE's 'Highway Star' and BLACK SABBATH's 'Heaven And Hell' before encoring on a medley of 'Paranoid/Smoke On The Water'.

With the events of a turbulent year behind them, STRATOVARIUS members Timo Tolkki, Jorg Michael, Timo Kotipelto, Jari Kainulainen and Jens Johansson met in Helsinki during early December to discuss prospects for the band's future. As 2005 dawned the group released an official staement declaring that "after much talk, soul-searching and reflection" the quintet were set to forge ahead with a new album.

By February the STRATOVARIUS camp was once more embroiled in controversy. A song intended for the new record, entitled 'Hitler' (subsequently re-branded 'Gotterdammerung (Zenith Of Power)'), including an intro made up of a genuine Hitler speech, was to be strongly objected against by record label Sanctuary. Timo Tolkki announced he had submitted the anti-Hitler song to the German Interior Ministry for clearance.

With recordings for the album complete, a promotional video for the album's first single, 'Maniac Dance', was shot in mid April by director Antti Jokinen. Despite the album being given a September release dates leaked tracks would be available on the internet as early as May. Japanese editions added an extra DVD featuring 'Stratovarius Rockumentary' and a live version of 'Break The Ice'.

Meantime, Timo Tolkki gained production credits for the Italian band VISION DIVINE's album 'The Perfect Machine'. STRATOVARIUS parted ways with bassist Jari Kainulainen, a longstanding member with over a decade's service to his credit, in June. The KOTIPELTO, WARMEN, GASHOUSE GARDEN, TUNNELVISION and SINERGY credited Lauri Porra soon stepped in as substitute. Meantime, Jens Johansson also made time to guest on NOCTURNAL RITES album 'Grand Illusion'.

A lengthy European tour in October through to early December had the band sharing stages with HAMMERFALL taking in Finland, Norway, Belgium, Germany, Holland, France, UK, Spain, Switzerland, Italy, Slovenia, Austria and Hungary.

TRACKLIST:

1. Maniac Dance
2. Fight!!!
3. Just Carry On
4. Back To Madness
5. Gypsy In Me
6. Gotterdammerung (Zenith Of Power)
7. The Land Of Ice And Snow
8. Leave The Tribe
9. United

LINE-UP:

Timo Kotipelto (vocals)
Timo Tolkki (guitar)
Jaru Kainulainen (bass)
Jens Johansson (keyboards)
Anders Johansson (drums)

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