FRIGHT NIGHT ALBUM
If you are a fan of power metal and its many sub genres, I’d assume that many would be familiar with Stratovarius because of albums such as “Visions” or “Destiny”. But what many may overlook is Stratovarius' early material, namely the first three with Timo Tolkki on both vocals and guitar. Those first three records act more as a stepping stone for the band, only getting better with each release. “Fright Night” though, is more of the black sheep in the bands discography as it is an album that isn’t as well known nor as memorable as later releases. It also is a lot more similar to a speed metal / heavy metal record than it is power metal so that could be another reason some don’t care to venture this far back.
“Fright Night” starts off with probably one of the best songs on the album, “Future Shock”, as it has a really nice, catchy hook and the chorus is pretty catchy as well. Honestly the best thing going for this album is how catchy the riffing and solos are though the songs as a whole feel more like the extras off a Helloween or an early Blind Guardian album. That isn’t a negative per say, it’s just the band doesn’t really get their own identity here and find their stride. The solos are extremely tasty, especially in “Black Night” and “Witch Hunter”, as Timo fingers around with neoclassical influences with their compositions. For the most part, all the songs follow a similar pattern, opting for fast simple rhythms and the occasional neoclassic solo. That isn’t entirely the case as there are some songs that do something a little different such as “False Messiah” which opts for a slower crawl as if it’s influenced by some doom metal with a ton of abrupt stops and “Goodbye” being a slow emotional instrumental acting as the closer that has Timo performing solo on the guitar. I guess one thing I could note is the darker nature and atmosphere that “Fright Night” and the next two albums have compared to the rest of Stratovariuses discography. The instruments are much more heavy and the use of the keyboard as a background sound than another key player in the instrumentation creates an eerie feeling, something that I feel that I could find out of a King Diamond or Mercyful Fate album.
If there is a standout here then is had to be Timo Tolkki on the guitar. He is a skillful guitar player here, being able to weave speed and rhythm very well and his soloing is top tier. I find though, even with his skill, that he doesn’t really create his sound or identity here as his influences take center stage than he really does. I believe once he moves away from the more progressive playing style in his early career into the more traditional power metal speed and melodic sound with the abundance of neoclassical phrasing that he would finally have a sound of his own. Timo is also the singer here and he does a decent job. He is no where a great singer, as he does have some strains and cracks in places, but he’s decent at best. Jyrki Lentonen is fairly good on the bass guitar here as he is very on point and able to follow Timos shredding leads even though the bass lines aren’t that complicated in the first place. I really like how noticeable the bass is on this release; as if he’s rhythm guitarist, especially in songs like “Night Screamer”, “Darkness”, and “Witch Hunter” where I find it to be the most noticeable.
Founding member Tuomo Lassila gives a varied performance here on the drums which I feel at times goes a little out of rhythm with some of the songs. I don’t know if he was majorly influenced by thrash metal at the time but his use of speed and double kick feels like it would perfectly fit in a progressive thrash metal band of the late 80s. I like in “Fire Dance” where he’s just kinda left to his own devices and experiments with his sound a little. Finally we have Antti Ikonen on the keyboard and he is definitely in the back of the album and isn’t given the time to shine. His performance is regulated to background sounds and doesn’t really offer much out of that sadly.
If there’s a big disservice here it has to be the production found on “Fright Night”. The guitars may be heavy in the sense of tuning but as a whole with the rest of the album, it lacks any substantial power. I guess it all just sounds weak, as the guitars are thin, the drums being fairly quite, and Timo’s vocals not having much impact on the sound. The one thing I really do like is that the bass is loud in the mix but maybe that’s because everything else is so weak and quite. It sucks that this album sounds so cheaply produced as I feel some songs like “Future Shock”, “False Messiah”, and “Fright Night” (funny the best songs all start with F) could really shine more with some kick to the overall sound.
In the end, “Fright Night” is fun a fair, nothing more, nothing less. It’s not an album I’d say anyone should have to seek out and hear but it’s not a bad listen. There’s plenty to enjoy here as it is full or catchy melodies, shredding, and some great solo work but it’s nothing groundbreaking or that hasn’t been done before. So if you want to have a fun listening experience that is fairly short, good ahead and listen to “Fright Night”, but if you want to really listen to something great done by Stratovarius, you’d probably would want to skip this release and go to one of their later albums.
1. Future Shock 04:35
I saw it in a dream
the day that changed our history
I still can hear the screams
swear it was no mystery
In the heat of the blast
Houses fell down into the ground
This happened so fast
Mankind disappeared without sound
Now the world lives in shadow of atomic fear
Can we win the fight for peace or will we disappear?
Future Shock
I saw it on the screen
The day that changed our lives and history
There goes our dream
Nuked into the sky don't know why
In the heat of the blast
Watch the beauty of the mushroom cast
It won't take long
You won't live till the end of this song
now the ...
2. False Messiah 05:20
Come to me my disciples
Said the stranger who came
Healed the sick fed the poor
Spread the joy and the cure
He will rule our land
With his leading hand
We´ll achieve our deliverance
Is it just an illusion
Or the mass confusion
Is it just the work of the False Messiah?
Victims of mass confusion
Fools will follow this man
He leads us to destruction
Tending us to damnation
He will rule...
3. Black Night 03:43
Over the sea
Moon´s shining bright on it's way
To clear the black night
Witness of the fight
You got the power on me
I'll be fighting forever
You cast the spell on me
Why don´t you let me go ?
No!!
New day will dawnn
For me and for you carry on
Black night is gone
Look what we have done
I got the power on you
We'll be fighting forever
I cast the spell on you
Never let you go
No !!
I got the...
4. Witch-Hunt 03:23
The witch is worried
Which is bitch?
Take both of them in
And do a spin
Experimenting with fingers spreading
Lips concealing the secrets of the joy
The witch-hunt is coming to town
You better look around
The witch-hunt is coming to town
They´ll see that you will get found
The witch is clever
Forgets never
She take her revenge
All in the end
Two at the time
Bell tolls inside
Casting joy all over you
Oh boy
The witch-hunt is coming to town
You better look around
The witch-hunt is coming to town
They´ll see that you will get found
The whip is ready
Standing steady
In between the hands
By your command
Do what you have to do
And she´s glad to
Take your little life
And ride away
5. Fire Dance 02:21 instrumental
6. Fright Night 08:13
Feel the night, conceal your fright
It came from your right
Look what you found lying on the ground
Shiny ball you don´t know anything at all
Look through yourself there´s a mystery full of you
Always condemn though you never understand
Why you resist never knew how to fight
You touch the light
It´s Fright Night
It´s Fright Night
In the dark the shining spark
Follow this mystery ball
But don´t look back there´s force of evil so black
Ready to take you away
Look trough...
Look around is this the end you see?
Wrapped inside the pain and misery
Is it true when you say that you never would give up
Memories fill my mind I can see childhood again
Look I´ve found my old toys
They bring mem´ries in my head
And now we are big boys and that feeling
Is dead and it´s gone
Glimpse of the childhood appears to me so clear
Tales from Sherwood they fade away disappear
Where am I going I can´t see a solution
I´m here alone inthe heart of the darkest night
It´s Fright Night
7. Night Screamer 04:48
Scream at nights
But you won´t be heard
It´s deep inside
The pain within your head
You cry for help
The torture won´t let you go
Your mind is aching
And you can´t go on
Reaching for window
Your execution
The only solution
Night Screamer
Afraid at nights
There´s nothing to be afraid of
Your nightmares
Won´t leave you alone
Try and think hard
What´s wrong in your life
Try and stay cool
You´ll find peace of mind
Reaching for...
8. Darkness 06:58
Living on the edge of falling down
Like each day would be your last one
Reaching for the stars that shine so far
Take my hand it will be alright
For you and me to go
Look into my eyes they are black as night now
You can see your reflections I tell you no lies
You are the prisoner of your own feelings it´s true
There´s something inside you but you just won´t
let it come out
When the night comes you won´t be alone
´Cause I will be there I will be there
When the darkness enters into your room
Don´t be afrain ´cause I´ll be there
When the darkness enters into your room
They will put you down with their minds of steel
Despise and scorn you just because they cannot feel
Hell is eternity hell is your destiny
I can see it in your eyes that you want to say
But you can´t
When the night comes...
Listen to me, hear what I say
You´re playing a dangerous game
There is no time to waste anymore
Because it is getting so late
Get what you got give what you can
Leave all the mem´ries behind
They´ll be haunting you forever
9. Goodbye 01:12 instrumental
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