ELEMENT'S PT 1 ALBUM
Elements Pt. 1 is definitely a subjective and controversial album. Tolkki loved it, Kotipelto hated it. Many say it's underrated and deserves more mentioning, many others say it's a mark in the decline of the Tolkki era.
The rating of this review should be able to tell you which side I'm on.
Elements Pt. 1 is the perfection of the ideas in its predecessor Infinite. The structure of the album is very similar, but there's a lot more variation in this album than there was in the previous one. You have songs as short as three minutes, you have songs as long as 10-12. From heavy to light, from ecstatic to... mildly happy? This was actually a very positive album; there isn't too much darkness in any of the songs. Compared to the night-aura of the Episode-Destiny era, maybe this is where the problems emerge.
Next up is structure. There's a lot of dichotomy in this album and linked with the second Elements album. The two elements portrayed here are fire and water - both are dynamic and flowing, giving the album a generally more progressive and moving sound than Elements, Pt. 2. This can be broken up even more or more, but that gets semantical as you go along.
The "fiery" tracks here are "Eagleheart", "Find Your Own Voice", "Learning to Fly" and "Stratofortress". Each one is fast, aggressive, proud and contains soaring vocals (except for Stratofotress, the instrumental, but the other elements are all in this song). "Find Your Own Voice" and "Learning to Fly" are the two fastest songs in both Elements albums and have the highest vocals Timo Kotipelto has ever done for this band. At times it can get a bit strained, but this is backed by Tolkki's shredding and Jens's keyboards which feature prominently.
"Eagleheart" and "Stratofortress" are slightly slower and shorter than the other two, and both are very streamlined songs. Eagleheart, although a catchy opener without the progressiveness seen in most of the other songs, does define how happy this album sounds overall. "Stratofortress" really exemplifies Jorg's drumming and brings back the Bach-rock feel of Black Diamond, but much more streamlined and succinct than that single. It's also a good prelude to the title track.
The "water" tracks are "Soul of a Vagabond", "Fantasia", "Papillon" and "A Drop in the Ocean". These are mid-to-slow tempo songs, much more flowing and progressive, and generally the songs people think about when they have this album in mind (also the title track but we'll get to that later). Each of the four gets progressively lighter and happier, from the darkest track on the album, which sounds a lot like a song from the Destiny-Visions era when you strip the orchestration and chorals, to "A Drop in the Ocean", a philosophical ballad with a calm chorus and some crashing waves.
The highlight of the water tracks have to be "Fantasia", a 10-minute progressive epic that mirrors John Lennon's Imagine word-for-word, and ends in a sing-along chorus that jars you into "Learning to Fly". "Papillon" isn't as great, but is still a very solid, pensive song with a dramatic build-up.
Uniting the fire and water is "Elements". This is the longest Stratovarius song of the Tolkki era and has virtually everything - driving guitar parts, shredding, two choruses, orchestral instruments, Kotipelto making sounds unimaginable (in the good way), and even a quiet hidden trumpet solo underneath a motif taken from Mother Gaia. It's very nebulous, yet the last 10 minutes of its length is very driving and anticipating, making the whole listening experience a huge adventure.
The album cover pretty much explains all there is. Fire, water, sunshine, Tolkki, and Infinite. If you liked Infinite, definitely buy this album. If you liked Polaris or Elysium, definitely buy this album. If you like Episode thru Destiny but not Infinite or the first two albums with Matias, tread carefully when you listen to this album. Find your own voice.
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1. Eagleheart 03:50
All through the night he is lying awake
Wond'ring how much more can he take
Watching the walls where the shadows dance
Drifting away into a trance
And his eyes are blazing with fire
Dreams burnt to ashes so many times
Highest of mountains, still he climbs
Ready to fly, cause he just can't stay
Flame burning brighter with every day
And his eyes are blazing with fire
Longing for the deepest desire
Heart of an eagle
He flies through the rainbow
Into a new world and finds the sun
Spreading his wings
Above all the sorrows
The glory of Eagleheart
Fever is burning in his veins
Determined with courage, breaking the chains
Back against the wall under blood red skies
Prepared to fight until he dies
And his eyes are blazing with fire
Longing for the deepest desire
Heart of an eagle
He flies through the rainbow
Into a new world and finds the sun
Spreading his wings
Above all the sorrows
The glory of Eagleheart
Heart of an eagle
He flies through the rainbow
Into a new world and finds the sun
Spreading his wings
Above all the sorrows
The glory of Eagleheart
2. Soul of a Vagabond 07:22
Pack on my back I wander
Over mountains across the seas
My yearning soul keeps roaming
In the endless search for peace
sky is my roof, my shelter
Stars shine and light my way
Earth is my bed, my altar
On this road that leads to nowhere
In silence I scream but no one listens to me
Absolution, salvation, my sins won't leave me be
The first cry, the last breath
We are born to die
This madness neverending
Don't know the reason why
Soul of a vagabond
Illusion, delusion, we are born to live
Temptation, damnation, starvation, deformation
The road goes on forever
It's an old and trustworthy friend
I have tasted its dust and treasures
By my twisted mind won't mend
My burden is heavy to carry
My destiny lies ahead
My spirit is always leaving
For this road that leads to nowhere...
In silence I scream but no one listens to me
Absolution, salvation, my sins won't leave me be
The first cry, the last breath
We are born to die
This madness neverending
Don't know the reason why
Soul of a vagabond
Illusion, delusion, we are born to live
Temptation, damnation, starvation, deformation
In silence I scream but no one listens to me
Absolution, salvation, my sins won't leave me be
The first cry, the last breath
We are born to die
This madness neverending
Don't know the reason why
Illusion, delusion, we are born to live
Temptation, damnation, starvation, deformation
In silence I scream but no one listens to me
(Soul of a vagabond)
Absolution, salvation, my sins won't leave me be
The first cry...
3. Find Your Own Voice 05:13
No Christ, God nor religion
Gave me the answers I was looking for
Arrogant hypocrites
Selling the key to heaven's door
I've got my own way
I don't care what you say
You speak your truth and I speak mine
Find your own voice
Unleash the power within
Go find your own truth and let (the) others be
Let your own light guide your way through life
Find your own way
Make your own paradise
Find your own voice
It's your own choice
Find your own voice
Unleash the power within
Go find your own truth and let (the) others be
Let your own light guide your way through life
Find your own way
Make your own paradise
Find your own voice
It's your own choice
Find your own voice
It's your own choice
4. Fantasia 09:56
Welcome to my world
Close the gates
You've come from far away
I've been expecting you
You are the holders of the key
To the story that never ends
Fantasia
Resides deep in your heart
Leave your worries far behind
Fantasia
Let the freedom ring the bell
Let us all unite
Borders made of hate are gone
Nations singing the song of peace
In Fantasia
How would it be? A world without hate
Without heaven, without hell
No wars, no arms, no religion, no God
Just your own truth
(Fantasia can arise in you)
Fear and darkness prevail
But finally they will fail
Fantasia
Resides deep in your heart
Leave your worries far behind
Fantasia
Let the freedom ring the bell
Let us all unite
Borders made of hate are gone
Nations singing the song of peace
Fantasia
Fantasia
One day when love conquers all
Mankind will prevail
No more jealousy
Fantasia
No more envy no deceit
The nothing is gone
Future's bright and glorious
We are all victorous
We are kings in Fantasia
5. Learning to Fly 06:22
Life will go on
Soon it is gone
It's bigger that we can conceive
Wink of an eye
A thousand years
Into eternity we shed our tears
I'm changing,
Rearranging my destiny
Learning to fly
Touching sky on my way
Learning to fly
High above the sorrows
To a new day I fly
Not where you stand
Nor where you are
It matters only where you look
To take the good
With (all that's) bad
It is the only way to go
The minutes
The hours
The years
Run fast
Learning to fly
Touching sky on my way
Learning to fly
High above the sorrows
To a new day I fly
Learning to fly
Touching sky on my way
Learning to fly
High above the sorrows I fly
Learning to fly
Touching sky on my way
Learning to fly
High above the sorrows
To a new day I fly
6. Papillon 07:01
Flying to the day
One day to play
With eyes open wide
I am Papillon
I watch the world
Curiously
World is my home
I am Papillon
I have no God
Life is in me
I am in life
I am Papillon
Brightest of days
Holds me in embrace
I am free
I am Papillon
In my dreams
In my life
In my soul
In my eyes
In my heart
I am real
Ah, I am Papillon
In my dreams
In my life
In my soul
In my eyes
In my heart
I am real
Ah, I am Papillon
I watch the world
Curiously
World is my home
I am Papillon
7. Stratofortress 03:26 instrumental
8. Elements 12:01
Elements -- Wind, Fire, Water, Earth
Elements -- Fear, Anger, Sorrow, Joy
Pools of sounds fill my mind
A universe of shapes
Kaleidoscope of colours
Stargardens blossom in their solitude
Spiral architecture
Here I'm standing
Here I'm wondering
Curiosity, thirst for knowledge
Eye for an eye and the whole world will be blind
Oceans of madness drowning the hope of mankind
What kind of man kills because of ideology?
What kind of god justifies violence?
I am begging for comprehension
While agression tears the world apart
Elements -- Wind, Fire, Water, Earth -- Elements
(We are star children)
Elements -- Fear, Anger, Sorrow, Joy -- Elements
(That's what we are made of)
Elements -- Wind, Fire, Water, Earth -- Elements
(That's what life's made of)
Elements -- Fear, Anger, Sorrow, Joy -- Elements
(That's what I'm made of)
Wind -- Bringer of fright
Fire -- Protector
Water -- Cleanse my soul
Earth -- Be my guide
And in the darkest night
I won't give up the fight
I won't be losing hope
I hold on to what is true
Elements -- Wind, Fire, Water, Earth -- Elements
(We are star children)
Elements -- Fear, Anger, Sorrow, Joy -- Elements
(That's what we are made of)
Elements -- Wind, Fire, Water, Earth -- Elements
(That's what life's made of)
Elements -- Fear, Anger, Sorrow, Joy -- Elements
(That's what I'm made of)
Elements -- Wind, Fire, Water, Earth -- Elements
(That's what life's made of)
Elements -- Wind, Fire, Water, Earth -- Elements
(That's what life's made of)
Elements -- Fear, Anger, Sorrow, Joy -- Elements
(That's what I'm made of)
Elements -- Fear, Anger, Sorrow, Joy -- Elements
(That's what I'm made of)
Elements -- Fear, Anger, Sorrow, Joy -- Elements
Elements -- Fear, Anger, Sorrow, Joy -- Elements
9. A Drop in the Ocean 06:50
Seasons of madness fill my mind
A lunar poet trying to find
A conception of what life is all about
Seconds pass me by I greet the minutes
A the hours roll them over
And years will drown the days and months
We are one, we are strangers in the night
Searching for our way to the light
Like an echo of unseen fantasies
That you'll never be able to catch
A drop in the ocean we're sailing upon
The angels of heaven are singing this song
Just souls in the corner of our universe
It seems that it's all we are
A drop in the ocean
Planet caravans sail on and on
In cosmic harmony they go
Within embrace of universal womb
Is it cosmic madness, harmony?
I ask you in my agony
As time won't heal my wounds it makes me numb
We are one, we are strangers in the night
Searching for our way to the light
Like an echo of unseen fantasies
That you'll never be able to catch
A drop in the ocean we're sailing upon
The angels of heaven are singing this song
Just souls in the corner of our universe
It seems that it's all we are
A drop in the ocean we're sailing upon
The angels of heaven are singing this song
Just souls in the corner of our universe
It seems that it's all we are
A drop in the ocean
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