DESTINY ALBUM
Stratovarius, with now sixteen full-length albums released, are easily one of the most recognizable bands when you talk about power metal. Their golden era was in the late 90's starting with Episode and ending with Infinite. Following the highly acclaimed Visions, Destiny, an album with a legendary line up featuring the monster Jörg Michael of Axel Rudi Pell on the drums and Jens Joanhsson, a well-known virtuoso from Ygnie Malmsteen, behind the keyboard, has everything to be an unforgettable album. It is just that: an impressive mix of power, symphonic elements, choruses and melodies that will make you revisit the release with frequency as it is the best album of the golden era.
The album, not considering the bonus song, starts and ends with the same type of song: an epic, full of melodies and tempo changes. "Destiny", the title track is the first one and the best of the album. The track starts off slowly with a chant but it rapidly turns into shredding of guitars and keys. At about three-quarters of the song you will find what it is probably one of the best solos ever played by Timo Tolkki. As for the second epic, "Anthem of the World," the praise goes to the lyrics, made by Tolkki.
Stratovarius have been generally consistent regarding the lyric themes: world issues and personal or emotional issues are two of the most used ones. Both of them are present in this album. An example of the first one is "SOS" being like a continuation of "Paradise", from Visions:
"Why don't we see what is going on?
There are not so many years to be wasted
Until the damage is done and the beauty is gone"
As for the latter we have "No Turning Back" or "Years Go By" as examples.
Furthermore, a type of song that Stratovarius does incredibly well: ballads. The Finnish band wrote a high number of memorable ballads in the past being the most acclaimed the ballad from Episode, "Forever", a ballad that is present in most of their shows until this day. There are three ballads on the album: "4000 Rainy Nights", "Years Go By" and "Venus in the Morning". Both "Years Go By" and "Venus In the Morning" have a heavily usage of Kotipelto's falsettos making possible to show in plentiful his range and technique. The gold medal goes to "4000 Rainy Nights", its atmosphere and the lyrics quality steals the show being one of the best ballads Stratovarius have made.
Regarding the other songs, all of them are fast and melodic, representing what power metal should sound like. "Playing With Fire" has a "rocker" feeling to it mainly because of the drums, where you will inevitably headbang, and "SOS" and "Rebel" both have strong riffage while still maintaining the power metal melody, allied to a tremendous work by Jörg Michael, as he accustomed us while a member of Axel Rudi Pell and Running Wild. "No Turning Back" is one of the best songs Stratovarius have released. The combination of speed with melodies, resembling "Speed of Light", and the amazing Kotipelto's vocal range makes the song a benchmark for power metal.
The bonus song "Cold Winter Nights", for the European version, it is a wondrous addition to the album to compensate the unusually high number of ballads. In spite of adding nothing new to the album, it is fits well on the album, being on par, regarding the quality, with "Playing With Fire" or "Rebel".
To sum up, if you are new to power metal this is one of the best places to start listening to this genre. If you are a fan of the genre and you don't have this album, it is highly recommended for you to get it, it is a must-have for any collection and an album that is going to stay on your CD player for a long time there is "No Turning Back" on that.
Daftar lagu
1. Destiny 10:15
The times are changing so fast
I wonder how long it lasts
The clock is ticking time is running out
The hatred fills this Earth
And for what is worth,
We're in the end before we know.
Throughout the years I have struggled to find
The answer that I never knew.
It strucked me like a million lightnings
And here I am telling to you.
Every second of day it is coming your way,
Future unknown is here to stay.
Got to open your mind or you will be led to astray.
There's a time to live,
There's a time to die.
But no one can't escape the Destiny.
Look all the things we've done,
Under the burning sun.
Is this the way to carry on?
So take a look at yourself
And tell me what do you see.
A wolf in clothes of the lamb?
Throughout the years I have struggled to find
The answer that I never knew.
It strucked me like a million lightnings
And here I am telling to you.
Every second of day it is coming your way,
Future unknown is here to stay.
Got to open your mind or you will be led to astray.
There's a time to live,
There's a time to die.
But no one can't escape the Destiny.
Let your spirit free, through window of your mind.
Unchain your soul from hate, all you need is faith.
I control my Life, I am the One.
You control your Life but don't forget Your Destiny...
It's time to say goodbye,
I know it will make you cry.
You make your destiny.
I know you'll find the way.
And outside the Sun is bright.
The things will be allright.
I will be back one day to you.
So please wait for ME
2. S.O.S. 04:15
I'm waiting for the rain now,
To settle the dusty air.
Clearing up my emotions.
Facing it all if I dare.
I've been thinking,
I've been trying but I've always been denying.
Wasted days are still inside of me,
It's time to set them free.
Why can't we see what is going on?
There are not so many years to be wasted
Until the damage is done and the beauty is gone.
Save Our Souls.
What is the price that we pay?
Save Our Souls.
Do we have nothing to say?
Why can't we see what is going on?
There are not so many years to be wasted
Until the damage is done and the beauty is gone.
Why can't we see what is going on?
There are not so many years to be wasted
Until the damage is done and the beauty is gone.
Save Our Souls.
3. No Turning Back 04:22
So long I have been accepting what I've seen,
never really speaking my mind.
Now the heat's leaking out. I'd like to scream and shout.
I want to leave it all behind.
There's no one else to turn the wheel,
I've got my own life to steer.
No Turning Back,
coz I wanna know who I am and I want to live my life.
No Turning Back,
tomorrow's awaiting, I'm on the way.
Hard to find the right words and not to make it worse.
A choice that has to be done
It is just my life. Can't make no compromise
And to stop what has begun.
There's no one else to turn the wheel,
I've got my own life to steer.
No Turning Back,
coz I wanna know who I am and I want to live my life.
No Turning Back,
tomorrow's awaiting, I'm on the way.
I have all the strings in my hands.
The choices that's been laid for me.
I am not taking more commands,
coz now finally I'm free.
No Turning Back,
coz I wanna know who I am and I want to live my life.
No Turning Back,
tomorrow's awaiting, I'm on the way.
4. 4000 Rainy Nights 06:00
These empty days are filling me with pain
After I left it seems my life is only rain
My heart is longing to the better times
When everything was still so fine.
I wonder why it happens so fast
You give your heart away knowing it might not last.
I'm still here waiting for the rain to fall
And to see you once again.
4000 Rainy nights,
4000 nights I'd be with you,
4000 Rainy nights with you
With you.
I keep your memory in my heart,
You give me hope when everything is so dark.
That thing nobody can take away, forever in me.
4000 Rainy nights,
4000 nights I'd be with you,
4000 Rainy nights with you.
5. Rebel 04:16
You found the truth again, I showed the way
The Path of Wisdom is the only way to reality
You learned to live your life, the hard way
Your tears put out the fire from your soul.
Lost behind the lies,
I can hear your cries,
Now is the time to rise again so strong.
Learn from your past, but better make it fast
The time is running out for you to change your life
You must learn to live, there's so much more to give
Set fire to your soul again and be...
The Rebel
Hold your head up proud.
6. Years Go By 05:14
Look around do you see,
So many things have changed.
And you should know by now,
I never meant to hurt you at all.
In my life I have been an outcast
But now I've been reborn
And now I see things so clear.
Open your eyes and realize,
Hard times are over if you want.
Open your mind, reach for the stars
Answer is there for us to find.
Years go by, never know when it's too late.
Years go by, yourself you seal your fate.
Don't look the answer from horizon.
It's closer than you think.
Years go by, oh how they go by.
7. Playing with Fire 04:15
Hunger grows stronger
I feel it day by day.
I need I desire
Her passion now.
I see that look the shine in her eyes,
Can't let her go she's so divine.
There's no on who could stop me now,
She'll be mine.
She's teasing
I'm unfreezing wanting more and more.
I'm dreaming
Just like streaming through the door
I see that look the shine in her eyes,
Can't let her go she's so divine.
There's no on who could stop me now,
She'll be mine.
Playing with fire (fire)
Hiding inside the flames
Playing with fire (fire)
It's a dangerous game.
8. Venus in the Morning 05:35
It's 4 in the morning
I'm gazing the sky with Millions of stars.
A moment before the dawn
The endless universe fills me all.
Where are you now?
Alone just like me and Venus in the Morning?
I touch your face that's filled with pain,
I kiss away the tears from your eyes.
I've waited for you 8000 days
Now I've come here to set you free.
But where are you now?
Alone just like me and Venus in the Morning?
And Venus in the Morning...
Forget the future don't live the past
Live for today because life goes too fast.
Go find the key to your divine mind,
Open the door so many answers you'll find.
Like Venus in the Morning.
9. Anthem of the World 09:31
The setting sun creates another world
The shadows fall another day is in the end.
The paradise is sleeping peacefully
And one more day is again history.
Tell me can we go on like this?
Everybody is living in a bliss.
Are these the last times of our Mother Earth?
Or is it just beginning of new Birth?
Don't be afraid we must wise,
Patient and peaceful and strong.
Maybe it's like you would throw the dice
Then hope that nothing goes wrong.
Remember that you have the right to say
All things that you feel inside.
Open your mind and you open your eyes
Together now is the time.
Sing the Anthem of the World but will we ever learn
To control our hate and to forgive.
We must learn to find the way to just live another day
And be free like an Eagle in the sky.
How about if God just let us down?
If he just is polishing his crown?
What's the key to the Universe?
Is life down here just one big endless curse?
Don't be afraid we must wise,
Patient and peaceful and strong.
Maybe it's like you would throw the dice
Then hope that nothing goes wrong.
Remember that you have the right to say
All things that you feel inside.
Open your mind and you open your eyes
Together now is the time.
Sing the Anthem of the World but will we ever learn
To control our hate and to forgive.
We must learn to find the way to just live another day
And be free like an Eagle in the sky.
Anthem of the World... Ohh...
10. Cold Winter Nights 05:13
Summer's gone a while ago
The daylight dims away
I'm watching here how the snow begins to fall
Yesterday's like a dream
A memory in my head
Like all the life's gone behind the winter wall
I'm lighting up the candles and lock the door
Sitting by the fire
It's time to dream some more
I have to find a way how to survive
I am surrounded by the starlight
I have to find the path
How to escape from the Cold Winter Nights
Winter Nights
And in the morning there's no trace of the sun
Just gray fog hanging above my head
All the birds are quiet hiding in the woods
Can't see no movement are they all dead?
I'm lighting up the candles and lock the door
Sitting by the fire
It's time to dream some more
I have to find a way how to survive
I am surrounded by the starlight
I have to find the path
How to escape from the Cold Winter Nights
Winter Nights
Track Name
Track Artist
0 Komentar