Review: Stratovarius, "Polaris"

After taking a more mainstream approach to their last record (and catching some grief from fans), Finnish prog/power titans Stratovarius return to their old ways a bit on "Polaris."

There have been a few shakeups within the band in the years since their last record, with the revolving door of musicians spinning once again and rumors of a break-up swirling at one point. Original guitarist and creative force Timo Tolkki is now gone, replaced by Matias Kupiainen, who joins long-time members Timo Kotipelto (vocals), Jens Johansson (keyboards) and Jorg Michael (drums). Kupiainen's chops are solid, and he fills Tolkki's shoes well, though I'm sure many long-time fans will be disappointed in the lineup change.

The sets a good tone early with the opener and first single "Deep Unknown," a brooding prog piece with all the usual flourishes of keyboard and guitar. That's followed by the catchy "Falling Star" and the spacey opening of "King of Nothing," which also features a nice marching guitar riff by Kupiainen. On the fourth track, "Blind," we finally get the blast of energy that I've been waiting for -- the blazing power metal influence that has made for some of the band's better moments over the years. "Higher We Go," which blends the faster pace on the chorus with a more restrained verse, is also a solid offering.

Perhaps the crowning moment of the record, though, is the second high-speed track, "Forever is Today," where Kupiainen really gets to show his stuff. It's impossible not to crank this one up and hum along with the soaring chorus. It's just too upbeat and catchy to ignore, and it really serves as the climax of "Polaris." "Winter Skies" is another signature moment on the record, a slower tune that also manages to be sweeping and bombastic.

The album builds well toward the two-part epic "Emancipation Suite," designed, it would seem, as a centerpiece of the record. The first part, subtitled "Dusk," opens with a nice heavy riff, but then turns very somber -- perhaps too somber, as I find myself waiting for that big exotic-sounding riff again during the verses. Part two, "Dawn" continues in that mood, and despite some solid lead work from Kupiainen, really drains a bit of the energy that has been built up. The record is capped off with the folk ballad "When Mountains Fall," which, as a fan of traditional instruments and music, I appreciate. I still find it an odd choice to close the record. After building to the crescendo of "Forever is Today," the album almost seems to run out of steam with the last four tracks, spiraling down into a more mellow and somber mood with each one, almost sapping the energy out of the listener. Perhaps that was the design, but it really leaves me wanting another big blast of power.

Still, "Polaris" sees Stratovarius moving back toward their progressive roots, and there are some very strong performances here. As expected, the musicianship is top-notch and the songs are polished and perfected. While the album won't surpass the band's early work, it's a solid addition to the catalog and fans should be pleased.

Get "Polaris."

Review: Kamelot, "The Black Halo"

In the power metal genre, there are few bands that have been as consistent as Kamelot over the course of the past 10 years. They entered the scene with a solid debut, "Eternity," in 1995, but they became one of the top bands on the scene with the addition of vocalist Roy Khan for 1998’s "Siege Perilous." Since then, each album has been better than the one before it, and that’s something I don’t say about too many bands.

"The Black Halo" continues their adaptation of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s "Faustus," which began on their last release, 2003’s "Epica." On this album, the story takes a darker turn, and so does Kamelot’s music. The mood hits immediately on the opening track “March of Mephisto,” which features the snarls of Dimmu Borgir vocalist Shagrath, who appropriately provides the voice of Mephisto. Stratovarius keyboard player Jens Johansson also lends his talents to the track in the form of some ethereal Rush-like synth work. Other guests on the album include Simone Simons of Epica and Mari of Masqueraid.

Unlike so many power metal bands, Kamelot is not obsessed with speed. If they need the speed, it’s there, as you can hear on tracks like “When the Lights are Down” and “Nothing Ever Dies,” but those are really the only two tracks on the album that you’d consider traditional power metal. The rest are a combination of more traditional melodic metal and prog stylings. In fact, the middle portion of the album rarely gets above mid-tempo, beginning with the moody “The Haunting (Somewhere in Time)” and continuing through the eighth track “Moonlight.” Most striking in this stretch is perhaps the piano ballad “Abandoned,” with its soft orchestration. It’s a very understated performance for a genre known for its bombast.

The album returns to the power metal realms with a huge riff on the title track. But the centerpiece of the album is the epic “Memento Mori,” which finishes the concept, though it’s not the last song on the album. Clocking in at just under nine minutes, it’s the longest song in the history of the band. The track takes the listener on an emotional journey from the bleak, melancholy passages through angry thrashing riffs and finally into resigned acceptance.

The most impressive thing about the album, though, is not the incredible guitar work, the atmospheric keys or the amazing vocals. It’s the sound quality. So often, power metal albums sound thin and reedy, with too much focus on the guitar and vocals and not enough on the music as a whole. Kamelot draws heavily on classical and symphonic sounds, and it shows in the production of "The Black Halo." The album sounds just like a well-mixed and produced symphony with the emphasis all in the right places. Even if you’re not a fan of power metal, this album sounds so damned good it might make you one.

Kamelot may not be one of the most recognized names in the metal world, but when it comes to melodic metal, there are few bands out there right now that do it better.

Get "The Black Halo."