Year: 2022
Total Time: 58:04
Label: earMUSIC
Sixteenth full length album for the pioneers of the Power Metal scene STRATOVARIUS, after the mediocre in my opinion “Eternal” of 2015. Never before have we had to deal with a wait of so many years from the Finns, so holding in my hands the beautiful digipak edition of “Survive”, I have high expectations for their new album. Masterminds of the scene that were moving in mediocrity came out even stronger after the “dead” period of COVID 19, I hope the same happens with the “restless” quintet of Timo Kotipelto, Jens Johansson, Lauri Porra, Matias Kupiainen and Rolf Pilve.
First of all, many credits for the great artwork and the whole visual approach of the album. The environment and humanity have always been central motifs in the lyrical orientation of the group, here we have a concept album type of thing, and the lyrics blend harmoniously with the layout. Well done!
As far as its music concerns, the new album of STRATOVARIUS doesn’t claim in any part of its laurels of great originality, nevertheless it is absolutely convincing and in my opinion it is among the few very good releases of the post-“Infinite” era, in other words the last 20 years era (before 2000 we only talk about top albums…). The whole is perfectly tight, homogeneous and solid, of course, in an hour-long album needs effort and a good mark in detail in order not to get tired or bored.
STRATOVARIUS sound fresh after many years and there are many moments on “Survive” that made me nostalgic and reminiscent of wonderful tracks from “Fourth Dimension”, “Episode” and “Visons”, albums with which I was in sync not only with the Finns, but with a musical genre that once was at the forefront in Europe.
Therefore, great moments are “Frozen In Time” (could easily be a track on “Destiny”album), “World On Fire”, “Glory Days”, “Breakaway” (the best composition in my opinion) and “Voice Of Thunder”, quite refreshing sounds, with Timo Kotipelto having a very high performance, the guitars “stinging” and Jens being subtle but essential throughout the album.
In conclusion, “Survive” surprises us very pleasantly. It almost felt unexpected, not that I had written off the band, but such a nice comeback I admittedly didn’t expect. Invest fearlessly in listening to it, and you will surely find in it some of the glamour of the Finns’ past.
Rating: 7,5/10
Editor: Kostas Kafritsas
Related Link: STRATOVARIUS – Official Page
