VISIONS ALBUM
It is a shame that this album hasn't had the treatment that a masterpiece like this deserves (at least in this page).
Power metal is a subgenre full of great bands, but for me, Stratovarius occupy a special place in my catalogue. Maybe not all their albums are such amazing as Visions, but this album shows us the pinnacle of a band full of virtuosism, talent, soul and magic.
Visions has some of the best and most iconic Stratovarius songs. Black Diamond, The Kiss of Judas and the same Visions are already absolute classics of the band, but we don't have to forget the most speed-oriented songs like Forever Free, Legions and the mighty Holy Light (my favourite instrumental song of Stratovarius, even more than Stratosphere). Also, one of my favourite things is the addition of two marvellous ballads (Before the Winter and Coming Home). This album works perfectly as a whole or by separate tracks, and this shows the majesty of it. The only thing that I personally don't like very much is the song The Abyss of Your Eyes. This is merely personal as I'm not a fan of these so slow tracks. However, it doesn't demean the album as a whole.
The instrumentation is simply amazing. Visions contains probably the best work of Stratovarius as performers of their respective instruments. Timo Tolkki stands out because of his powerful riffs and his delightful solos (so perfectly performed that embellish the songs), showing his mastery in his instrument; Jens Johansson is, as well, an excellent musician, adding many ornaments throughout the album (like those choirs heard at the beginning of Visions), in addition that he is an excellent shredder, along with Tolkki, so be prepared for a good battle of solos between these guys; Jari Kainulainen is there at the very precise moment adding some bass fills that become instantaneously memorable (who can just forget the very intro of the album or the transition of the very last part of Holy Light?); Timo Kotipelto is an angel, and this album consolidated him as the definitive Stratovarius voice; to finish, Jörg Michael is a very unique drummer as his style is very recognisable, overall because of his style using the snare drum. In general, Visions is the marvel that it is because of the prodigious line-up that integrated this band.
The album is a lucid power metal record with a lot of neoclassical influence, something that somehow was already part of the DNA of the band (this is notorious even since the band's debut album). From Episode, the band had already taken this influence to the next level, but there is a better version of this in Visions, as several riffs and most of the solos are very influenced by all this neoclassical tendency present from the early Yngwie Malmsteen albums (I'm not sure if he is the pioneer of this movement, but he is the most popular reference of this, so don't judge me because of that), and Visions is the result of the evolution of this particular style, and it is very important and remarkable because Stratovarius consolidated this neoclassical-influenced power metal sound that later would be the influence of other bands as Sonata Arctica and Galneryus (just to mention some examples). This album was the definitive setter of Stratovarius' classical sound, the one for which is more recognised.
What else can I say about this album? If you are looking for a top-notch composition, instrumentation and powerful songs that are basically hymns of the genre, Visions is the right choice. It's, undoubtedly, a masterpiece of the genre and an album that left its mark in the power metal history. Legendary.
Long live Stratovarius.
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1. The Kiss of Judas 05:49
I hear the footsteps closing in
I recognize them from my early days
The times are different, the image remains the same
Repeating backflashes remembering the name
Approaching visions of things I can't recall
A familiar smile awakes the pain
Unkept promises
The night awaits
The act of confidence
The kiss of Judas
I feel the lips on my cheek
The kiss of Judas
Haunts me once again
In your private chamber you're all alone
The well earned silver pieces falling to the Floor
The flame of the candle casting movement to the wall
Your eyes filled with guilt keep staring at the door
Approaching visions of things I can't recall
A familiar smile awakes the pain
Unkept promises
The night awaits
The act of confidence
The kiss of Judas
I feel the lips on my cheek
The kiss of Judas
Haunts me once again
(x3)
2. Black Diamond 05:39
Again I see you standing there watching me
Your gaze, those eyes are tantalizing openly
Inviting me to get close to you
Can't help myself
There's fascination in the air
I try to fight this strong sensation,
but there's no chance to escape from this temptation
Feels like I've known you before
Repeating phrases
But I yearn for something more
I know I can't stay by your side forever
But I know I won't forget your beauty
My black diamond
(x3)
Black diamond
3. Forever Free 06:00
They try to give me answers
to questions I've never asked
I'll have no part in their conspiracy
I guess I am the kind of
guy that will never stray
The thing I need is privacy
Some guiding, depriving
Misleading and combining
They're watching our every move
They can try to bind our arms,
but they can't chain our minds or hearts
We will keep our faith inside our souls and never let it go
We are forever free
Forever free
You see them making headlines
New pictures tell old stories
Explaining what they have said and done
Media's new illusion
Creating more confusion
But I know that they'll soon be gone
Some guiding, depriving
Misleading and combining
They're watching our every move
They can try to bind our arms,
but they can't chain our minds or hearts
We will keep our faith inside our souls and never let it go
We are forever free
Forever free
(x3)
Forever free
Forever free
Forever free
We are forever free
4. Before the Winter 06:07
Before the summer turns to winter
Before the dreams will turn to snow
I see the yellow leaves are falling
And soon I know I have to go
But I'll be back before the summer
Next year you're in my arms again
The winter breeze will send my message
It will keep you warm until then
The path to home is long and winding
I'll keep the flame alive for you until I am back
You and I will walk that road together
I'll show that all the dreams are true
if you only let them be before the winter
Before the summer turns to winter
Before the dreams will turn to snow
I see the yellow leaves are falling
And soon I know I have to go
The path to home is long and winding
I'll keep the flame alive for you until I am back
You and I will walk that road together
I'll show that all the dreams are true
if you only let them be before the winter
(x2)
5. Legions 05:43
Far in the core of the earth
First it was given birth
We heard the call, the message was so clear
The tracks were laid for the future to come
Sons and daughters of the Rising Sun
The armies in Europe here we come
We run like the wind, we play from the heart
Now we are here together we sing
Faster than light, higher than the sky
Tonight we're together again
Never give up and never give in
Stronger than steel, we're the legions of the Twilight
We survived the hard times
Never accepted the lies
You run like the wind you sing from the heart
Now that we're here together we'll sing
Faster than light, higher than the sky
Tonight we're together again
Never give up and never give in
Stronger than steel, we're the legions of the Twilight
When we have to go back home again,
we'll keep the memories we gained inside our hearts
Faster than light, higher than the sky
Tonight we're together again
Never give up and never give in
Stronger than steel, we're the legions of the Twilight
Raise your hands for us!
6. The Abyss of Your Eyes 05:38
I feel like I'm drowning
Trying to catch my breath
Don't know what is happening
There's no sense of time
Deep underneath my skin
Feeling the pain within
Hear my cry
I feel drawn towards you
Can't resist
I don't know why
My life is changing
I cannot recall
Where I've been before
The abyss of your eyes
Meaning so much more
Am I losing my mind?
The sun isn't shining,
but your eyes light my way
I've found what I've been searching for
My love won't go astray
Deep underneath my skin
Feeling the pain within
Hear my cry
I feel drawn towards you
Can't resist
I don't know why
My life is changing
I cannot recall
Where I've been before
The abyss of your eyes
Meaning so much more
Am I lost?
So many years
my drifting heart has wandered around
Don't turn on me
Won't you stay by my side?
Where I've been before
The abyss of your eyes
Meaning so much more
Am I losing my mind?
(x3)
7. Holy Light 05:45 instrumental
8. Paradise 04:27
Late at night I find myself again
Wondering and watching TV
I can't believe what is on the screen
Something that I wouldn't care to see
Many rare species will perish soon
and we will be short on food
Why do we have to be so selfish?
We've got to change our attitude
I know that I am not
the only one that's worried
Why don't we all
wake up and realize?
Like the birds in the sky,
we are flying so high
without making any kind of sacrifice
We've got so little time
to undo this crime,
or we'll lose our paradise
It seems to me that there's no sense at all
Nobody cares, it's always the same
Mother Nature's crying out in pain
I know we're the ones to blame
I know that I am not
the only one that's worried
Why don't we all
wake up and realize?
Like the birds in the sky,
we are flying so high
without making any kind of sacrifice
We've got so little time
to undo this crime,
or we'll lose our paradise
(x3)
Like the birds in the sky,
we are flying so high
We've got so little time
to undo this crime,
or we'll lose our paradise
9. Coming Home 05:36
I wake up in the morning
so far away from home
Trying to make it through the day
Many miles are between us
I'm sending my love
from this payphone
Through the storms we've wandered
Many mountains we have climbed
But all the bad times are behind
The road is free
I'm coming home
Without you I am like
a ship without its sails
Calling the wind to save me
I'd climb the highest mountain
I'd cross the seven seas
Just to see your smile again
All the trust that was built along the years
is coming back to stay, I know
Just look ahead
The road is free
I'm coming home
With every step I'm closer to home
When I'm back you won't be alone
Soon I see the familiar door before my eyes, and you
Through the storms we've wandered
Many mountains we have climbed
All the bad times are behind
The road is free
I'm coming home
I'm coming home
Through the storms we've wandered
Many mountains we have climbed
The road is free
And I'm coming home
10. Visions (Southern Cross) 10:15
I have seen the future of mankind
The wisdom of my prophecies you'll find
Follow the truth and be careful
Are we the last?
Hundred years has passed what have we done
Inconceivable damage under the sun
I think it's too late to change the man
We are the last
The world keeps turning while people yearn for more
Mother Nature is crying for change
Time will come when we all must pay for what we have done
Are you prepared for that?
As we are reaching the end of the century,
there's messages we can send
Be strong and bold and never lose your mind
'cause we are the last
The world keeps turning while people yearn for more
Mother Nature is crying for change
Time will come when we all must pay for what we have done
Are you prepared for that?
The signs of the end I see
Let them hear my voice in every corner of the world
Take heed of the warnings that I give
I have seen the Southern Cross forming in the sky
"There shall be heard in the air the noise of weapons,
and in the same year the divines shall be enemies.
They shall unjustly put down the holy laws,
and by thunder and war, true believers shall die"
(Nostradamus: Century IV:43)
"For forty years the rainbow shall not appear
For forty years it shall be seen every day
The parched earth shall wax drier every day
and a great flood when it shall appear"
(Nostradamus: Century I:17)
After us the road goes on forever
Many changes lie along the path
That's the price we pay for our selfishness
We are headed for the end
"From the skies shall come the powerful king
Before and after the Mars reigns at will
Not far from the great age of Millennium
Buried ones shall come out of their graves"
(Nostradamus: Century X:72,74)
When the comet tears out the sky,
you and I must die
After all this, the time will come for the chosen ones
to rise from their graves to be free again
The beast is gone forever, there's no more pain
Instead so many things for us to attain
The sun is shining brightly after the rain
The land is green and full of life again
The sorrows wiped away now
It's time to smile
and learn from the past
Together we will try
"Twenty years of reign of the moon having past
Seven thousand years another shall hold his monarchy
When the sun shall resume his days past,
then is fulfilled and ends my prophecy"
(Nostradamus: Century I:48)
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