My favourite band for many years in my youth. Great memories. 1.-visions 2.-episode 3.-destiny 4.-Infinite 5.-4th dimension 6.-polaris 7.-nemesis 8.-twilight time 9.- dreamspace 10.-elysium 11.-eternal 12.-elements 1 13.-elements 2 14.-fright night 15.- stratovarius
Stratovarius is among my top 10 bands of all time. Love their music!! Unbreakable from Nemesis, has become my family's anthem, we love it and play it all the time because it speaks to us on a very personal level. They came to Guatemala on 2012 and it's one of my favorite shows ever. Their music to me is kind of like the music that the Wild Stallyns play in Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure, remember when they go to the future and there is some amazingly cool music playing and it's what saved the world in that movie hahaha I mean they are so melodic, catchy, epic, orchestral, technical, uplifting and dramatic. Awesome music all around. I love all their albums but the only way I can rank them is in regards to what, for me, are the two different eras of the band: I. The classic era, in which they flew the power metal flag in the 90s alongside Hammerfall, Primal Fear, Gamma Ray and Iced Earth, in which I rank the albums as follows: Visions, Destiny, Fourth Dimension, Episode, Infinite and the Elements albums. II. Then there is the modern era in which the production of the albums is on another level and the dexterity with which they play their instruments is mindblowing, even Kotipelto sounds like he has a nuclear throat now... the ranking is: Nemesis, Elysium, Polaris and Eternal. The albums I don't mention is not that I don't like them it's just that I don't have much of a connection to them. The new band seems like are having a lot of fun together and have really gelled pretty well. On another note, check out the albums by the supergroup Cain's Offering, kick ass music with Kotipelto and Johansson. Tolki has also been putting out music but I really have not been able to dig Avalon. A new single by Tolki came out this past days with his new project: Infinite Visions... don't have much to say save that I hope he is ok, but very strange that he doesn't show up much in the video they shot and when he does it's kind of weird. But I digress, really enjoyed the show you guys, thanks for doing such awesome shows on power metal. Rich is a really cool co-captain!!
Great episode Pete of my favorite power metal band !! My ranking 15. Stratovarius 14. Fright Night 13. Eternal 12. Elysium 11. Twilight Time 10. Dreamspace 9. Elements 2 8. Polaris 7. Elements 1 6. Fourth Dimension 5. Nemesis 4. Visions 3. Episode 2. Destiny 1. Infinite
Well done Pete and Rich covering one of the many European bands people here may have missed on. Can't argue with either of your lists, looking forward to the first HVS of 2021.
What a fantastic way to start the year! Stratovarius is definitely my all-time favourite power metal band. Great lists from both of you. There's only two albums I'm not too fond of, everything else is absolutely killer. My list would be something like this (really long comment incoming): 15. Stratovarius - I agree with Rich, I've always thought it's their St. Anger, though not nearly as bad, haha. It's a really weird one for a self-titled album, since it doesn't really sound that much like Strato. It has a couple cool songs resembling classic Strato as mentioned in the video, but then there are these ungodly abominations like Zenith of Power (who the hell thought five minutes of repeating the chorus in a row was a good idea???) that I just can't ever wrap my head around. It's also one of the most ironic things I've ever seen, the closing track being named United and then the band nearly disbanding altogether. 14. Elements 2 - Never really got this one, most songs here felt like they were just more of the same they've done previously. Not nearly as memorable for me as Part 1, although I think Dreamweaver is one of the best they've ever made. 13. Fright Night - Great debut album, really solid 80s horror-themed heavy metal. Completely different from everything else, and definitely the weakest Tolkki vocals, but good stuff nonetheless. Witch Hunt is ridiculously catchy. 12. Infinite - This one's weird for me: it has some of the best Strato tracks ever (Hunting High and Low, A Million Light Years Away), but also some unmemorable fast tracks that felt very samey to previous albums, like Freedom. I'm not too big into Mother Gaia or the closer ballad either. Overall, it's still a fine album. 11. Polaris - An incredible return to form, a couple repetitive fast tracks here too, but otherwise a really cool and varied, proggier album. Which I don't mind at all! Winter Skies is definitely a top-tier ballad (as are all of their newer ballads, I think). 10. Twilight Time - Huge improvement on the vocal front, with some incredibly melodic and proggy tracks. I've always loved the somber melodies in tracks like Twilight Time and Lead Us into the Light. I'd love to put this album higher, but I just think the rest are even better. 9. Elements 1 - A lot of people give shit to the Elements albums for going away from power metal into some much more symphonic territory, but like Pete, I think that was a good change-up. This album has some incredible stuff in it. I love both the Disney-like epic tracks and all of the blazing fast power metal bangers, not to mention the almighty title track. 8. Eternal - Love this album too. It's so majestic, bombastic and powerful. Incredible production here from Kupiainen, and I think the track list is killer from top to bottom. Special mention to Lost Without a Trace, it's so melancholic and powerful. 7. Elysium - It's basically the proggy Polaris on steroids, with a fantastic variety of tracks: the fast, the heavy, the prog, the symphonic. And the incredible balladry is here too. The title track is one of my all-time favorite epics. The whole album from start to finish almost feels like a concept album, even though it isn't. (It was the last album with Jörg on drums, who really gives it his all) 6. Fourth Dimension - Wow, what a powerful introduction to Kotipelto. From the blazing Against the Wind to the anthemic Galaxies, ending with the one-two punch of We Hold the Key and Twilight Symphony: this is where they started to become a really fleshed out band with a specific vision. 5. Dreamspace - An album that I feel is criminally underrated in the discography. You can clearly tell Tolkki was a massive Queensrÿche and Helloween fan while making this one. When I first heard this, I was completely blown away from the sheer variety of this album. It has a bit of everything you could ever want, some of the highlights here being Fourth Reich, Hold On to Your Dream, the title track and Abyss. Tolkki's vocals here are incredible: you can tell that this was a very personal album for him, very dark in tone most of the time. Every track here is jaw-dropping. 4. Nemesis - These guys really know how to switch things up and keep things fresh, holy shit. Another one that's fire from start to finish. It's a lot "poppier" in some tracks, but in all the right ways. And it's counterbalanced by all the crushing heavy tracks and powerful epics, especially If the Story is Over and the title track. 3. Visions - A classic. Nothing much more to say about this album that hasn't already been said by everyone else. Holy Light is my favourite Strato instrumental. 2. Destiny - FIVE legendary albums during this period from '94 to '98? I have no idea how that's even possible, but definitely not complaining. The album both starts and ends with some of my favorite epics ever, and everything in between is killer, too. Three ballads in this album and the fact that they're all so, so good and so different is almost unheard of in power metal. 1. Episode - An easy 10/10. Hands down, my favorite Strato album and probably my all-time favorite power metal album. Kotipelto is at his peak here, and the track listing is so varied and beautiful. The lightning-speed tracks combined with the melancholic progginess of songs like Season of Change and Night Time Eclipse: it all just flows so perfectly. Hope y'all have had a great start to the year!
I started listening to this band a little while ago after watching the Power Metal show you guys did. I really enjoyed the two I bought: Elements Part I and Elysium. Thanks for introducing to such great music!
Great show!. Another band I don't really know too much about, but it's always interesting to hear Pete and Rich discuss bands. I am not always into the bands that Rich talks about but I love how he is always well prepared and has some great reflections, so I have a lot of respect for him and the shows with him are always interesting to watch. 👍
Great show & nice to see Rich Catino back on the show! Fave Song: Season Of Change Fave Albums: 1-) Episode, 2-) Destiny, 3-)Fourth Dimension, 4-) Visions I'd say they were quite popular in the mid-late 90s (except US) . They had a #1 album in Finland & a major deal in Japan & quite popular in Europe as well. I've read that they have sold over 2 million albums worldwide.
I'm on my phone and listening to Stratovarius on my laptop. I never listened to them much. They have tons of albums and sound great. Adding them to my playlists for sure. 👍 TY guys. 🤟
Loving these Power Metal themed videos with Rich, he's very knowledgeable about this stuff. Wish you had him on more. I've been getting into this genre more and more in the last two-three years so these videos are really enjoyable!
I find their melodies on the early-mid 90s period to be the strongest and most captivating in power metal, even though I'm much more into other bands of the subgenre, when it comes to riffs and speed.
Hated the stuff that was popular in the 90s,so looked to europe for my metal.and these guys were one of the first bands i got .visions ,destiny and infinite being my favorites,but they are all good.great show pete
My dad started taking me to Stratovarius gigs when In 98 when Destiny came out, i was 9 at the time. We've seen them 15+ times since, more times than I can remember really. Got Into death and grind and the extreme stuff In my teens but always came back to Strato, their stuff is so iconic to me, a really integral part of my youth/life really when I think about it. KOTIPELTO is a legend. Great video guys.
Wow!! Thank you guys for Ranking the Studio Albums of: STRATOVARIUS!! I love this band so much!! Here’s my favorite STRATOVARIUS picks!! 1. Visions 2. 4th Dimension 3. Destiny 4. Episode 5. Elements 1 6. Elements 2 7. Infinite 8. Twilight Time 9. Nemesis 10. DreamSpace 🎼🎤🎸🥁🎵
Gentlemen, congratulations on the program. As a Stratovarius collector (and according to the band itself, the biggest in Brazil), I have some difficulty ranking the albums... I'll put them together here: 1 - Visions 2 - Destiny 3 - Infinite 4 - Survive 5 - Episode 6 - Nemesis 7 - Elements 1 8 - Dreamspace 9 - Eternal 10 - Forth Dimension 11 - Twilight Time 11 - Elysiun 12 - Polaris 13 - Elements 2 14 - Stratovarius 15 - Fright Night Is it possible to do a live show about my collection? I think it would be interesting.
I'm glad Kotipelto decided to keep the band going after Tolkki left. The whole thing could have folded after losing their founder and main creative force, but Kotipelto changed up the formula a bit and still maintained enough of classic Strat to keep their identity. Good episode! Not too many people out there really digging into a lot of these power metal bands! I suggest: Edguy/Avantasia, Angra, Gamma Ray, Sonata Arctica (if you haven't done them already)
GREAT!!! I was waiting for this one. Thanks Pete for starting off the year with this ranking. ***Pete - Just to let you know, I was at the Stratovarius live show at BB King's in New York back in 2005 as well. I thought it was a good show overall and enjoyed it. If I knew you back then, I would have looked for you and had a beer with ya. CHEERS!!! In all fairness, I will not be including the 4 albums post-Tolki as I was very disappointed he left the band and don't think they were the same after he left. I have those 4 cds and thought they all sounded the same and haven't listened to them much. Here are my rankings for the Timo Tolki era: 1. Visions. This album blew me away when I first heard it and still love it to this day. 2. 4th Dimension. Gotta love that Twilight Symphony! 3. Episode 4. Destiny. The band's best all-time song is the title track. Love that female voice to open the song. 5. Elements 1. This is the first cd I heard from the band and loved it. Made me go back and buy all their previous cds. 6, Elements 2. 7. Infinite. This is a great album. However, the only reason why it ranks lower than the others for me is because it sounds too high-pitched at times and a little too bombastic. 8. Intermission. Got to give this cd credit even though it's a compilation of rare tracks and 3 new songs. 9. Stratovarius. I know this cd got some negative reviews but I like it for what it is. 10. Fright Night. Future Shock alone is worth the price. 11. Twilight Time 12. Dreamspace
Supertalented bass player Lauri Porra is actually great great grandson of composer Jean Sibelius, so you don't have to wonder where he got all the musicality :) And Jens Johansson is son of a legendary Swedish jazz pianist Jan Johansson.
Great show, I rewatched it. Rich, I totally second your top ranking - and I agree, the old logo was way better. But one thing is that Kotipelto wrote quite some lyrics on the classic albums, but hardly any music. Tolkki did 96 % of it himself.
Visions is my favorite by far! Kotipelto is an amazing singer live as well. I saw them at Wacken in 2003 on the Elements Pt. I tour, and they were just fantastic! I’ve also seen his solo band, Kotipelto, a few times. He always deliever the goods!
HAPPY NEW YEAR guys! Kotipelto has a great voice!!! Live he is really good, solo or Stratovarius. 1. Visions 2. Fourth dimension 3. Episode 4. Infinite 5. Destiny
26:31 They should have incorporated "Atlantis" into "Abyss". Somehow, this makes a great pun! Very interesting listen overall, but that one drew a laugh from me, so bonus points!
just the Kotipelto albums (dont know the Tollki fronted that much for some reason): 12. Stratovarius 11. Infinite 10. Destiny 09. Elements pt. 1 08. Fourth Dimension 07. Elements pt. 2 06. Polaris 05. Nemesis 04. Eternal 03. Episode 02. Visions 01. Elysium
I've always wondered where to start with Stratovarius. Now I know. Your comments on Nu-metal cracked me up. Perhaps you could do a Hudson Valley Square "The most hated metal bands."
Pete, I love your guest and his input, I really do enjoy his take on this stream and the other videos he is on! I really enjoy his knowledge but complaining about speedy double bass power metal songs when your talking about a prominent power metal band is just silly 😂 one of the major pillars of power metal is speedy double bass and tight tremolo guitars, myself and most power metal fans probably wish they did more of those tracks since it is a true staple of the genre. If you take those out we are just talking about a symphonic prog/heavy metal band,. Which don't get me wrong is very cool, but Stratovarious is power metal and when you loose those fast songs as we say it in the south, we ain't power metal no more:) love your work and videos, God bless you.
What a fantastic show. You guys are fantastic. Such a change from other so called Metal and Hard Rock shows who just watch a video and talk about that yawn boring 😴 Thanks I think its a shame they never broke the States its tough for European bands even b4 Covid. We love them and thats what matters 🤟🤘🤟🤘🤟🤘🤟🤘
My rank's pretty similar to yours: 1 Visions 2 Episode 3 Destiny 4 Infinite 5 Fourth Dimension 6 Survive 7 Nemesis 8 Elements part 1 9 Elements part 2 10 Dreamspace 11 Polaris 12 Eternal 13 Elysium 14 Twilight Time 15 Fright Night 16 Stratovarius
Hi Pete..Have you ever ranked George Harrisons studio albums? Had a quick look through your playlists but couldnt find one.Would love to hear your views on his albums.
Looking forward to this. 1,Visions 2,Episode 3,Fourth Dimension And don't forget Live Visions especially the 1st side is one of the great live albums. 👍
Interesting to hear Jorg Michael referred to as a lucky rabbit’s foot. He also played on Saxon’s Lionheart album, which kinda kick started their revival🤘🏻
Bands like Strats and Gamma Ray were very popular about 20 years ago but unfortunately europower seems to be dead for a long time. Dragonforce seems like a joke at least to me. Angra was supposed to be the next big name but they made some bad business moves and tragically Andre died. Visions is my number one too. Jorg Michael was a beast in concert, saw him with Saxon. Nice shirt Rich..
@@LuchaLibertaria Sabaton are just a ripoff band for many, I respect them. And the recent Helloween reunion is just nostalgia. That is why I insist on Angra on being the last hope but this ship has sailed a long time ago.
What's everybody's favorite Stratovarius album cover? Mine is Infinite followed by Fourth Dimension & Visions. Favorite album is Visions. Although I agree that the band should have had way more success here in the states we as Americans are programmed to listen to what the media tells us to listen to. And this kind of music just doesn't get much love from the major media. Probably because the material is too intelligent for most Americans.
Has to be Infinite for me! Dolphins jumping into an Infiniti symbol with weird cities in the background …Sepultura Arise and this are my favorites and totally opposite.
Real late to this one, but probably Elements Pt. 2, Destiny (the original one), and Episode. Those are the three best for me, I love the newest one "Survive" and Fourth Dimension as well
1.Visions 2. 4th Dimension 3. Episode 4. Destiny 5. Infinite 6. Elements Pt.1 7. Dreamscape 8. Polaris. Got to see them live at Progpower USA in Atlanta in 2005 and then back in Chicago at HOB on the same tour. Killer, Epic power-metal and prog band with great songwriting and top notch musicians. Never cared for Elements pt.2 or the awful self-titled album. I sort of lost interest after Timo Tolkki left though I do like Polaris. Speaking of Tolkki, his solo record "Classical Variations and Themes" from the mid-nineties is killer. Nice job guys!
I remember the weird twists this band took in the early days of the Internet. I still consider the early 00s as early. I remember when the news came down on the Strat official site that Tolkki had fired most of the band and hired some woman who looked like a vampire or something?!? He was all pumped about the new direction, etc. Then shortly after he checked himself into an asylum for bipolar disorder or something like that. It was so bizarre seeing all this strangeness play out in real time on the website! Elements 1-2 and the self titled album were a band just trying to find their way again and not quite getting there.
IIRC, Tolkki was diagnosed with manic depression (which was mentioned in the song "Dreamweaver"). He had it for quite some time back then, but managed to keep it hidden for a long time. IMO, Elements was when they were trying to outdo themselves and burnt themselves out as a result. I think they pretty much admitted to this on the Intermission album. You can hear that the band was starting to fall apart when you listen to "I'm Still Alive". it ends abruptly, as if someone pulled the plug and you can hear Timo Kotipelto and Jörg Michael argue. And then there is that incident where Jens is drunk as fuck on stage and start pissing on Tolkki's leg. I can't remember if that was before or after Tolkki pulled that whole stabbing stunt that eventually made him check himself into a mental facility, though.
I actually, with time, became liking Tolki's vocals bettet then Kotipelto (which are quiet shrieky and too much the same). My favorite albums used to be Eposode and Vision, but I think now my favorites are Dreamscape (pretty much all songs there are great, including the title track) and that debut album you ranked 14/15. Fright Night is more heavy metal with raw sound and not polished Power metal sound, and the songs are just great. Highly enjoyable album.
Also, strangely none of mentioned "The Abyss Of Your Eyes" as one of the best songs on Visions (and probably the entire catalog). And also the more deep-cuts (I guess) of Episode: "Uncertainty" and "Seasons Of Change", which are both just terrific and with emotion.
My list, least favourite to favourite (in groups): Twilight time Dreamspace Stratovarius Fright night Elements 2 Eternal Polaris Elysium Elements 1 Fourth Dimension Destiny Infinite Nemesis Episode Survive Visions
Visions or Vision.. look at your cd, two different names. also on a side note..030366 Is Timo Tolkki's birthday. great list guys. I'm mostly with you on your list.
As for Primal Fear, I find most of the albums kind of sound the same. Unlike for bands like Symphony X or Evergrey where I find myself playing their best albums over and over.
![NISAMANEE - TADA (ท้าดา) [ OFFICIAL MV ]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/hcQHEPMmJpU/mqdefault.jpg)
My favourite band for many years in my youth. Great memories.
1.-visions
2.-episode
3.-destiny
4.-Infinite
5.-4th dimension
6.-polaris
7.-nemesis
8.-twilight time
9.- dreamspace
10.-elysium
11.-eternal
12.-elements 1
13.-elements 2
14.-fright night
15.- stratovarius
Great to see Stratovarius getting some love and two really great presenters - always love your work Pete but Rich complements you nicely. Cool show.
Thank you. Cheers
Stratovarius is among my top 10 bands of all time. Love their music!! Unbreakable from Nemesis, has become my family's anthem, we love it and play it all the time because it speaks to us on a very personal level. They came to Guatemala on 2012 and it's one of my favorite shows ever. Their music to me is kind of like the music that the Wild Stallyns play in Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure, remember when they go to the future and there is some amazingly cool music playing and it's what saved the world in that movie hahaha I mean they are so melodic, catchy, epic, orchestral, technical, uplifting and dramatic. Awesome music all around. I love all their albums but the only way I can rank them is in regards to what, for me, are the two different eras of the band: I. The classic era, in which they flew the power metal flag in the 90s alongside Hammerfall, Primal Fear, Gamma Ray and Iced Earth, in which I rank the albums as follows: Visions, Destiny, Fourth Dimension, Episode, Infinite and the Elements albums. II. Then there is the modern era in which the production of the albums is on another level and the dexterity with which they play their instruments is mindblowing, even Kotipelto sounds like he has a nuclear throat now... the ranking is: Nemesis, Elysium, Polaris and Eternal. The albums I don't mention is not that I don't like them it's just that I don't have much of a connection to them. The new band seems like are having a lot of fun together and have really gelled pretty well. On another note, check out the albums by the supergroup Cain's Offering, kick ass music with Kotipelto and Johansson. Tolki has also been putting out music but I really have not been able to dig Avalon. A new single by Tolki came out this past days with his new project: Infinite Visions... don't have much to say save that I hope he is ok, but very strange that he doesn't show up much in the video they shot and when he does it's kind of weird. But I digress, really enjoyed the show you guys, thanks for doing such awesome shows on power metal. Rich is a really cool co-captain!!
Great episode Pete of my favorite power metal band !!
My ranking
15. Stratovarius
14. Fright Night
13. Eternal
12. Elysium
11. Twilight Time
10. Dreamspace
9. Elements 2
8. Polaris
7. Elements 1
6. Fourth Dimension
5. Nemesis
4. Visions
3. Episode
2. Destiny
1. Infinite
Thank you for this beautiful ranking!..My favourites albums from them are:
1) Fourth Dimension
2) Visions
3) Dreamspace
4) Episode
Well done Pete and Rich covering one of the many European bands people here may have missed on. Can't argue with either of your lists, looking forward to the first HVS of 2021.
Elysium is their greatest song. One of the best long epic track of prog or power metal. Love it.
What a fantastic way to start the year! Stratovarius is definitely my all-time favourite power metal band. Great lists from both of you. There's only two albums I'm not too fond of, everything else is absolutely killer. My list would be something like this (really long comment incoming):
15. Stratovarius - I agree with Rich, I've always thought it's their St. Anger, though not nearly as bad, haha. It's a really weird one for a self-titled album, since it doesn't really sound that much like Strato. It has a couple cool songs resembling classic Strato as mentioned in the video, but then there are these ungodly abominations like Zenith of Power (who the hell thought five minutes of repeating the chorus in a row was a good idea???) that I just can't ever wrap my head around. It's also one of the most ironic things I've ever seen, the closing track being named United and then the band nearly disbanding altogether.
14. Elements 2 - Never really got this one, most songs here felt like they were just more of the same they've done previously. Not nearly as memorable for me as Part 1, although I think Dreamweaver is one of the best they've ever made.
13. Fright Night - Great debut album, really solid 80s horror-themed heavy metal. Completely different from everything else, and definitely the weakest Tolkki vocals, but good stuff nonetheless. Witch Hunt is ridiculously catchy.
12. Infinite - This one's weird for me: it has some of the best Strato tracks ever (Hunting High and Low, A Million Light Years Away), but also some unmemorable fast tracks that felt very samey to previous albums, like Freedom. I'm not too big into Mother Gaia or the closer ballad either. Overall, it's still a fine album.
11. Polaris - An incredible return to form, a couple repetitive fast tracks here too, but otherwise a really cool and varied, proggier album. Which I don't mind at all! Winter Skies is definitely a top-tier ballad (as are all of their newer ballads, I think).
10. Twilight Time - Huge improvement on the vocal front, with some incredibly melodic and proggy tracks. I've always loved the somber melodies in tracks like Twilight Time and Lead Us into the Light. I'd love to put this album higher, but I just think the rest are even better.
9. Elements 1 - A lot of people give shit to the Elements albums for going away from power metal into some much more symphonic territory, but like Pete, I think that was a good change-up. This album has some incredible stuff in it. I love both the Disney-like epic tracks and all of the blazing fast power metal bangers, not to mention the almighty title track.
8. Eternal - Love this album too. It's so majestic, bombastic and powerful. Incredible production here from Kupiainen, and I think the track list is killer from top to bottom. Special mention to Lost Without a Trace, it's so melancholic and powerful.
7. Elysium - It's basically the proggy Polaris on steroids, with a fantastic variety of tracks: the fast, the heavy, the prog, the symphonic. And the incredible balladry is here too. The title track is one of my all-time favorite epics. The whole album from start to finish almost feels like a concept album, even though it isn't. (It was the last album with Jörg on drums, who really gives it his all)
6. Fourth Dimension - Wow, what a powerful introduction to Kotipelto. From the blazing Against the Wind to the anthemic Galaxies, ending with the one-two punch of We Hold the Key and Twilight Symphony: this is where they started to become a really fleshed out band with a specific vision.
5. Dreamspace - An album that I feel is criminally underrated in the discography. You can clearly tell Tolkki was a massive Queensrÿche and Helloween fan while making this one. When I first heard this, I was completely blown away from the sheer variety of this album. It has a bit of everything you could ever want, some of the highlights here being Fourth Reich, Hold On to Your Dream, the title track and Abyss. Tolkki's vocals here are incredible: you can tell that this was a very personal album for him, very dark in tone most of the time. Every track here is jaw-dropping.
4. Nemesis - These guys really know how to switch things up and keep things fresh, holy shit. Another one that's fire from start to finish. It's a lot "poppier" in some tracks, but in all the right ways. And it's counterbalanced by all the crushing heavy tracks and powerful epics, especially If the Story is Over and the title track.
3. Visions - A classic. Nothing much more to say about this album that hasn't already been said by everyone else. Holy Light is my favourite Strato instrumental.
2. Destiny - FIVE legendary albums during this period from '94 to '98? I have no idea how that's even possible, but definitely not complaining. The album both starts and ends with some of my favorite epics ever, and everything in between is killer, too. Three ballads in this album and the fact that they're all so, so good and so different is almost unheard of in power metal.
1. Episode - An easy 10/10. Hands down, my favorite Strato album and probably my all-time favorite power metal album. Kotipelto is at his peak here, and the track listing is so varied and beautiful. The lightning-speed tracks combined with the melancholic progginess of songs like Season of Change and Night Time Eclipse: it all just flows so perfectly.
Hope y'all have had a great start to the year!
Wow! Really great comment. Rock on!
Intermission?
@@theblindguardian3673 I like all of the new songs on both Intermission albums too! Great compilations.
I am excited to dig further into the catalog. Always entertaining discussions between you both.
Stratovarius, great power metal band, respect.
I started listening to this band a little while ago after watching the Power Metal show you guys did. I really enjoyed the two I bought: Elements Part I and Elysium. Thanks for introducing to such great music!
can we do a blind guardian or Gamma Ray next great stuff love the love for power metal
Great show!. Another band I don't really know too much about, but it's always interesting to hear Pete and Rich discuss bands. I am not always into the bands that Rich talks about but I love how he is always well prepared and has some great reflections, so I have a lot of respect for him and the shows with him are always interesting to watch. 👍
Thank you! Appreciate the compliment
Great show & nice to see Rich Catino back on the show!
Fave Song: Season Of Change
Fave Albums: 1-) Episode, 2-) Destiny, 3-)Fourth Dimension, 4-) Visions
I'd say they were quite popular in the mid-late 90s (except US) . They had a #1 album in Finland & a major deal in Japan & quite popular in Europe as well. I've read that they have sold over 2 million albums worldwide.
My favorite band all times
Top 5
1:Episode
2:Visions
3:Fourth Dimensión
4:Dreamspace
5:Nemesis
Episode number one for sure
'Infinite' is the first album that I heard from them and probably my favorite album, from top to bottom, every song is great.
Excellent way to start “Ranking the Albums” for 2021. Great band!!! Pete how about a ranking the album’s of Bob Seger?
I'm on my phone and listening to Stratovarius on my laptop. I never listened to them much. They have tons of albums and sound great. Adding them to my playlists for sure. 👍 TY guys.
🤟
Agree with Visions being #1. In fact it’s in my top 10 power metal releases of all time.
Loving these Power Metal themed videos with Rich, he's very knowledgeable about this stuff. Wish you had him on more.
I've been getting into this genre more and more in the last two-three years so these videos are really enjoyable!
Thank you for the compliment. I enjoy doing them also
@@MetalAsylumNJ no problem, I hope to see you on here more! Happy New Year to ya!
@@Maximillian200HP you also. Cheers
I still remember the day in 1996 when a walked out utopia metal store in Sydney with a copy of Episode, life changer.
I find their melodies on the early-mid 90s period to be the strongest and most captivating in power metal, even though I'm much more into other bands of the subgenre, when it comes to riffs and speed.
Hated the stuff that was popular in the 90s,so looked to europe for my metal.and these guys were one of the first bands i got .visions ,destiny and infinite being my favorites,but they are all good.great show pete
Great show.one of my favourite bands.rich as ever very knowledgable.should be on the hudson valley squares
Thank you.
My dad started taking me to Stratovarius gigs when In 98 when Destiny came out, i was 9 at the time. We've seen them 15+ times since, more times than I can remember really. Got Into death and grind and the extreme stuff In my teens but always came back to Strato, their stuff is so iconic to me, a really integral part of my youth/life really when I think about it. KOTIPELTO is a legend. Great video guys.
Happy New Year Pete and Sea of Tranquility!
Wow!! Thank you guys for Ranking the Studio Albums of: STRATOVARIUS!! I love this band so much!! Here’s my favorite STRATOVARIUS picks!!
1. Visions
2. 4th Dimension
3. Destiny
4. Episode
5. Elements 1
6. Elements 2
7. Infinite
8. Twilight Time
9. Nemesis
10. DreamSpace
🎼🎤🎸🥁🎵
Wow! You and I were pretty close in our order ranking. Way to go.
@@jimmyc6741 I really love STRATOVARIUS and their music!! 🎼🎤🎸🎵🥁
Gentlemen, congratulations on the program. As a Stratovarius collector (and according to the band itself, the biggest in Brazil), I have some difficulty ranking the albums... I'll put them together here:
1 - Visions
2 - Destiny
3 - Infinite
4 - Survive
5 - Episode
6 - Nemesis
7 - Elements 1
8 - Dreamspace
9 - Eternal
10 - Forth Dimension
11 - Twilight Time
11 - Elysiun
12 - Polaris
13 - Elements 2
14 - Stratovarius
15 - Fright Night
Is it possible to do a live show about my collection? I think it would be interesting.
I'm glad Kotipelto decided to keep the band going after Tolkki left. The whole thing could have folded after losing their founder and main creative force, but Kotipelto changed up the formula a bit and still maintained enough of classic Strat to keep their identity. Good episode! Not too many people out there really digging into a lot of these power metal bands!
I suggest: Edguy/Avantasia, Angra, Gamma Ray, Sonata Arctica (if you haven't done them already)
All albums are great but dreamspace is the one that’s grown on me the most! Thanks for the great videos I love them all
Visions has my favorite album cover of all time
GREAT!!! I was waiting for this one. Thanks Pete for starting off the year with this ranking.
***Pete - Just to let you know, I was at the Stratovarius live show at BB King's in New York back in 2005 as well. I thought it was a good show overall and enjoyed it. If I knew you back then, I would have looked for you and had a beer with ya. CHEERS!!!
In all fairness, I will not be including the 4 albums post-Tolki as I was very disappointed he left the band and don't think they were the same after he left. I have those 4 cds and thought they all sounded the same and haven't listened to them much. Here are my rankings for the Timo Tolki era:
1. Visions. This album blew me away when I first heard it and still love it to this day.
2. 4th Dimension. Gotta love that Twilight Symphony!
3. Episode
4. Destiny. The band's best all-time song is the title track. Love that female voice to open the song.
5. Elements 1. This is the first cd I heard from the band and loved it. Made me go back and buy all their previous cds.
6, Elements 2.
7. Infinite. This is a great album. However, the only reason why it ranks lower than the others for me is because it sounds too high-pitched at times and a little too bombastic.
8. Intermission. Got to give this cd credit even though it's a compilation of rare tracks and 3 new songs.
9. Stratovarius. I know this cd got some negative reviews but I like it for what it is.
10. Fright Night. Future Shock alone is worth the price.
11. Twilight Time
12. Dreamspace
My favorite band of all time
For me Destiny & Fourth Dimension switch places once in a while, so that being said here's my ranking.
1 - Visions.
2 - Destiny.
3 - Fourth Dimension.
4 - Nemesis.
5 - Episode.
6 - Eternal.
7 - Elysium.
8 - Dreamspace.
9 - Twilight Time.
10 - II.
11 - Polaris.
12 - Fright Night.
13 - Infinite.
14 - Elements Pt. 2.
15 - Elements Pt. 1.
16 - Stratovarius.
Supertalented bass player Lauri Porra is actually great great grandson of composer Jean Sibelius, so you don't have to wonder where he got all the musicality :) And Jens Johansson is son of a legendary Swedish jazz pianist Jan Johansson.
My top:
15. Stratovarius
14. Elements Pt. 2
13. Elements Pt. 1
12. Fright Night
11. Infinite
10. Polaris
9. Dreamspace
8. Elysium
7. Eternal
6. Nemesis
5. Twilight Time
4. Destiny
3. Episode
2. Visions
1. Fourth Dimension
Great stuff! You guys should do Blind Guardian next, I think it wasn't covered before. Keep on doing great stuff.
Top 5:
#1 - "Visions" - (1997)
#2 - "Episode" - (1996)
#3 - "Destiny" - (1998)
#4 - "Fourth Dimension" - (1995)
#5 - "Dreamspace" - (1994)
Great show, I rewatched it. Rich, I totally second your top ranking - and I agree, the old logo was way better.
But one thing is that Kotipelto wrote quite some lyrics on the classic albums, but hardly any music. Tolkki did 96 % of it himself.
Visions is my favorite by far! Kotipelto is an amazing singer live as well. I saw them at Wacken in 2003 on the Elements Pt. I tour, and they were just fantastic! I’ve also seen his solo band, Kotipelto, a few times. He always deliever the goods!
Thanks for bringing me a great band,have now got some of there music!!!!
HAPPY NEW YEAR guys!
Kotipelto has a great voice!!! Live he is really good, solo or Stratovarius.
1. Visions
2. Fourth dimension
3. Episode
4. Infinite
5. Destiny
My favorite power metal band.🤘🏻 And Jens Johansson is my all time favorite keyboard player.😁🤩
Awesome! Would love a Ranking the Albums for Overkill. 19 albums deep! So much material!
We are doing a top 10 this weekend
1. Visions
2. Nemesis
3. Destiny
4. Infinite
5. Elements part 1
6. Polaris
7. Elysium
8. Episode
9. Elements part 2
10. Eternal
11. Fourth Dimension
12. Dreamspace
13. Twilight Time
14. Fright Night
15. Stratovarius
Destiny was the first album I heard from them. Great album. Been listening to them ever since. Have the whole catalog
1 - Dreamspace.
2 - Episode.
3 - Destiny.
4 - Visions.
5 - Fourth Dimension.
26:31 They should have incorporated "Atlantis" into "Abyss". Somehow, this makes a great pun! Very interesting listen overall, but that one drew a laugh from me, so bonus points!
I'll have to check these guys out.
Ranking of Royal Hunt albums?
just the Kotipelto albums (dont know the Tollki fronted that much for some reason):
12. Stratovarius
11. Infinite
10. Destiny
09. Elements pt. 1
08. Fourth Dimension
07. Elements pt. 2
06. Polaris
05. Nemesis
04. Eternal
03. Episode
02. Visions
01. Elysium
Why do I feel like you already did this ranking? Love this band.
Timos solo stuff is awesome 👌
When did they last have a little tour of the US? Was it 2009 for Polaris?
I've always wondered where to start with Stratovarius. Now I know. Your comments on Nu-metal cracked me up. Perhaps you could do a Hudson Valley Square "The most hated metal bands."
Then we wouldn't talk about any nu "metal" bands because it's not metal. Lol. It's an abomination
Nu metal just sucks...rich i agree with you....its not metal....its just a big rip off.
As a Crimson Glory/Fates Warning/Old Queensryche fan I’m wondering if their earlier albums might be in that vein.
Pete, I love your guest and his input, I really do enjoy his take on this stream and the other videos he is on! I really enjoy his knowledge but complaining about speedy double bass power metal songs when your talking about a prominent power metal band is just silly 😂 one of the major pillars of power metal is speedy double bass and tight tremolo guitars, myself and most power metal fans probably wish they did more of those tracks since it is a true staple of the genre. If you take those out we are just talking about a symphonic prog/heavy metal band,. Which don't get me wrong is very cool, but Stratovarious is power metal and when you loose those fast songs as we say it in the south, we ain't power metal no more:) love your work and videos, God bless you.
15. Stratovarius
14. Fright Night
13. Twilight Time
12. Dreamspace
11. Eternal
10. Nemesis
9. Elements Pt. 2
8. Elements Pt. 1
7. Elysium
6. Polaris
5. Fourth Dimension
4. Visions
3. Episode
2. Destiny
1. Infinite
Great Episode guys! Pete love the Moosehead beer glass🤘🏻
15- Stratovarius
14-Elysium
13-Nemesis
12-Eternal
11-Dreamspace
10-Fright Night
9- Twilight Time
8- Fourth Dimension
7-Elements part 2
6-Elements part 1
5-Polaris
4-Infinite
3-Visions
2-Episode
1-Destiny
What a fantastic show.
You guys are fantastic.
Such a change from other so called Metal and Hard Rock shows who just watch a video and talk about that yawn boring 😴
Thanks I think its a shame they never broke the States its tough for European bands even b4 Covid.
We love them and thats what matters 🤟🤘🤟🤘🤟🤘🤟🤘
I don't think Symphony X was necessarily listening to these guys, it's more of a shared Yngwie influence
Great show!
Finland mentioned! Torille!
My rank's pretty similar to yours:
1 Visions
2 Episode
3 Destiny
4 Infinite
5 Fourth Dimension
6 Survive
7 Nemesis
8 Elements part 1
9 Elements part 2
10 Dreamspace
11 Polaris
12 Eternal
13 Elysium
14 Twilight Time
15 Fright Night
16 Stratovarius
Hi Pete..Have you ever ranked George Harrisons studio albums? Had a quick look through your playlists but couldnt find one.Would love to hear your views on his albums.
Looking forward to this.
1,Visions
2,Episode
3,Fourth Dimension
And don't forget Live Visions especially the 1st side is one of the great live albums. 👍
Interesting to hear Jorg Michael referred to as a lucky rabbit’s foot. He also played on Saxon’s Lionheart album, which kinda kick started their revival🤘🏻
Don't forget jorg Michael played for saxon too
You really should give Götterdammerung (zenith of power) a new listen. That song is really what stratovarius is all about musically.
Pete what’s your thoughts on Virgin Steele?
Bands like Strats and Gamma Ray were very popular about 20 years ago but unfortunately europower seems to be dead for a long time. Dragonforce seems like a joke at least to me. Angra was supposed to be the next big name but they made some bad business moves and tragically Andre died. Visions is my number one too. Jorg Michael was a beast in concert, saw him with Saxon. Nice shirt Rich..
So True.. I'd say Sabaton and Powerwolf are the last big Euro Power bands and both bands debuted back in 2005.
@@LuchaLibertaria Sabaton are just a ripoff band for many, I respect them. And the recent Helloween reunion is just nostalgia. That is why I insist on Angra on being the last hope but this ship has sailed a long time ago.
You have to do an Edguy or Hammerfall plus I’m free too help happy new year Pete
Speaking of Edguy, how, exactly, is that name pronounced? Is it simply “Ed-guy”?
What's everybody's favorite Stratovarius album cover? Mine is Infinite followed by Fourth Dimension & Visions.
Favorite album is Visions. Although I agree that the band should have had way more success here in the states we as Americans are programmed to listen to what the media tells us to listen to. And this kind of music just doesn't get much love from the major media. Probably because the material is too intelligent for most Americans.
Has to be Infinite for me! Dolphins jumping into an Infiniti symbol with weird cities in the background …Sepultura Arise and this are my favorites and totally opposite.
Real late to this one, but probably Elements Pt. 2, Destiny (the original one), and Episode. Those are the three best for me, I love the newest one "Survive" and Fourth Dimension as well
1.Visions 2. 4th Dimension 3. Episode 4. Destiny 5. Infinite 6. Elements Pt.1 7. Dreamscape 8. Polaris. Got to see them live at Progpower USA in Atlanta in 2005 and then back in Chicago at HOB on the same tour. Killer, Epic power-metal and prog band with great songwriting and top notch musicians. Never cared for Elements pt.2 or the awful self-titled album. I sort of lost interest after Timo Tolkki left though I do like Polaris. Speaking of Tolkki, his solo record "Classical Variations and Themes" from the mid-nineties is killer. Nice job guys!
1) Visions
2) Fourth Dimension
3) Episode
4) Dreamspace
5) Destiny
6) Infinite
7) Twilight Time
8) Fright Night
9) Eternal
10) Nemesis
11) Elysium
12) Polaris
13) Elements pt 1
14) Elements pt 2
15) Stratovarius
I remember the weird twists this band took in the early days of the Internet. I still consider the early 00s as early. I remember when the news came down on the Strat official site that Tolkki had fired most of the band and hired some woman who looked like a vampire or something?!? He was all pumped about the new direction, etc. Then shortly after he checked himself into an asylum for bipolar disorder or something like that. It was so bizarre seeing all this strangeness play out in real time on the website!
Elements 1-2 and the self titled album were a band just trying to find their way again and not quite getting there.
IIRC, Tolkki was diagnosed with manic depression (which was mentioned in the song "Dreamweaver"). He had it for quite some time back then, but managed to keep it hidden for a long time.
IMO, Elements was when they were trying to outdo themselves and burnt themselves out as a result. I think they pretty much admitted to this on the Intermission album. You can hear that the band was starting to fall apart when you listen to "I'm Still Alive". it ends abruptly, as if someone pulled the plug and you can hear Timo Kotipelto and Jörg Michael argue.
And then there is that incident where Jens is drunk as fuck on stage and start pissing on Tolkki's leg. I can't remember if that was before or after Tolkki pulled that whole stabbing stunt that eventually made him check himself into a mental facility, though.
1. Episode
2. Visions
3. 4th Dimension
4. Destiny
5. Infinite
I actually, with time, became liking Tolki's vocals bettet then Kotipelto (which are quiet shrieky and too much the same).
My favorite albums used to be Eposode and Vision, but I think now my favorites are Dreamscape (pretty much all songs there are great, including the title track) and that debut album you ranked 14/15.
Fright Night is more heavy metal with raw sound and not polished Power metal sound, and the songs are just great.
Highly enjoyable album.
Also, strangely none of mentioned "The Abyss Of Your Eyes" as one of the best songs on Visions (and probably the entire catalog).
And also the more deep-cuts (I guess) of Episode: "Uncertainty" and "Seasons Of Change", which are both just terrific and with emotion.
Hey Pete off topic but have you heard that Alexi from Children of Bodom has died at 41 ☹ don't know if you were into them or not
1. Visions (1997)
2. Episode (1996)
3. Infinite (2000)
4. Destiny (1998)
5. Nemesis (2013)
6. Eternal (2015)
7. Elysium (2011)
8. Fourth Dimension (1995)
I listened to the top 5 albums based on All Music Guide and thought they were all Pretty Good
Great choice of band, how about Firewind or Brainstorm or Mystic Prophecy for more excellent Eurometal!
My list, least favourite to favourite (in groups):
Twilight time
Dreamspace
Stratovarius
Fright night
Elements 2
Eternal
Polaris
Elysium
Elements 1
Fourth Dimension
Destiny
Infinite
Nemesis
Episode
Survive
Visions
Although in Visions there is NO “so and so” song, they are all “good” up to “awesome”, my fave album is Episode. It has magic songs
Visions or Vision.. look at your cd, two different names. also on a side note..030366 Is Timo Tolkki's birthday. great list guys. I'm mostly with you on your list.
Before I watch this episode, my favorite Stratovarius album is Destiny.
Infinite and Visions are close 2/3
Please rank the studio albums from Indigo Rampage.
Bad news from Finland. Children Of Bodom Guitars Alex Laiho died last week. Finnish newspapers wrote Laiho's death today.
The Destiny album is perfect from start to finish and everything else in nearly perfect
Dreamspace is my favorite
Isn't a Stratovarius one of those French horns, or something ? 🤔 Thanks for the great video guys I enjoyed it
The name is a portmanteau of "STRATOcaster" (guitar brand) and "StradiVARIUS" (violin maker).
@@AO968 You missed the joke in my comment
First time that I heard them. IMHO. SOUNDS LIKE A COMBO OF Dream Theater and Queensryche.
Are You going to do one on Vandenburg? They still make music! Greetings From a Dutch viewer!
He did a video on them last year.
th-cam.com/video/K51tcjELQvo/w-d-xo.html
As for Primal Fear, I find most of the albums kind of sound the same. Unlike for bands like Symphony X or Evergrey where I find myself playing their best albums over and over.
Agreed. Most PF albums are interchangeable. (And, at times, the vocals can be hard to swallow.)
Going to do a top 5
1. Fright Night
2. Dream space
3. Twighlight Time
4. Infinite
5. Destiny
Without Stratovaroius no Children of Bodom 😕
one of the best tours ever Stratovarius Rhapsody and Sonata Arctica in 2000!
Was lucky to see Jörg Michaels last performance with Stratovarius in Karlsruhe Germany 🇩🇪
My favorite albums are any with him on drums. He was also in Running Wild.
Kotipelto is a great songwriter and Tolkki isn´t? How many songs did Kotipelto compose when Tolkki was in Band?
Can you please answer my question