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Stratovarius - Under Flaming Winter Skies: Live In Tampere

Published June 28 2012


*
=Staff's pick

CD 1:
Under Flaming Skies
I Walk To My Own Song
Speed Of Light
The Kiss Of Judas
Deep Unknown
Guitar Solo
Eagleheart
Paradise
Visions (Southern Cross)
Bass Solo
Coming Home*

CD 2:
Legions*
Darkest Hours
Burn
Behind Blue Eyes
Winter Skies*
Keyboard Solo
Black Diamond*
Father Time
Hunting High And Low

Genre Neoclassic/Power Metal
Timo Kotipelto
Vocals
Tracks 20
Matias Kupiainen
Guitar
Running time 102 Min.
-
Guitar
Label Ear Music
Lauri Porra
Bass
Release 27 June 2012
Jörg Michael
Drums
Country Finland
Jens Johansson
Keyboard
Producer Matias Kupiainen
Similar artists Nocturnal Rites, Thunderstone

Recorded last November in Tampere, Finland on drummer Jörg Michael's farewell tour. With sixteen years behind the drum kit in this band, he will not leave unnoticed, even if the band announced a replacement the other day in young finn Rolf Pilve. Later this year the band have plans for a new studio record and we'll see how things will turn out. This effort is also released on DVD and Blu-ray, both with bonus contents.

So what does a new Stratovarius live album has to offer? Well, songs from the new era, without former mainman and guitarist Timo Tolkki, who in fact are much better when performed live. Also their most well known songs, as well as two cover songs in Deep Purple's Burn and The Who's Behind Blue Eyes.

The sound quality is what it should be on a live album. Not too well polished, but still listenable and with a good live feeling. The keyboards are loud from time to another and lead vocalist Timo Kotipelto is starting to struggle just a tiny bit, even if his voice still is very good. You can hear that he has to fill his lungs with more air and really put his vocal cords to the test.

This is a rather good album, but nothing you must buy if you're not a fan of Stratovarius. If you're not familiar with the band, I would strongly recommend starting with the studio album Visions, even if there are a total of six tracks off that album on this recording. Even if it has nothing to do with the actual musical quality of this release, I also must say that it feels kind of low budget when a couple of songs on the backcover are misspelled and not correct.

See also review of: Eternal , Nemesis Days , Nemesis , Unbreakable , Elysium , Stratovarius , Elements Pt.2 , Elements Pt.1

Performance
Originality
Production
Vocals
Songwriting

6

4

7

7

7

 
Summary



6 chalices of 10 - Tobbe


Related links:

www.stratovarius.com
www.facebook.com/stratovarius