Origin: Finland  
Genres: Power Metal
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Last update/review: October 1, 2022

Stratovarius

Stratovarius will go down as one of Finland's most successful metal bands of all time, with a melodic, symphonic power metal style that has served as a blueprint for many a European band. They are often regarded as one of the most influential Euro melodic power metal bands, recogniazed alongside Helloween, Blind Guardian, and Gamma Ray as leaders of the genre. The group was founded by a young trio of guys in 1984, and was jumpstarted a year later when guitarist Timo Tolkki joined the band. Their debut album, Fright Night, was released in 1989, and in the succeeding years they built their fan base, gradually shifting lineups and fine-tuning their sound. By 1996 the band had released its fifth album, Episode, and that album marked the debut of what would become their most solid and well-known debut with the group. For the next several years it was clear sailing for the band, they were clearly on top of their game at this point, culminating in the epic Elements releases in 2003. And then, it started to fall apart, with amidst rampant and sometimes bizarre reports of erratic behavior from leader Timo Tolkki. Eventually the situation settled down (Tolkki admitted to some mental difficulties which he has since overcome) and the former lineup was restored, and the band released the self-titled Stratovarius effort in September 2005. Behind the scenes, though, the spirit was fading, as admitted by Tolkki in 2008 when he finally pulled the plug on the band, citing differences between him and the other members (particularly Kotipelto and Michael) and a lack of drive to continue. He went on to form Revolution Renaissance, attempting to continue his musical vision, though the band only lasted a few years. The remaining members, instead of throwing in the towel, resurrected the Stratovarius name themselves, with a new guitarist recruited to take Tolkki's place. The post-Tolkki version of the band has continued to cement Stratovarius' legacy as one of power metal's all-time greats.

Current Members

Timo Kotipelto

vocals (Cain's Offering)

Matias Kupiainen

guitars

Lauri Porra

bass (ex-Sinergy, ex-Warmen)

Jens Johansson

keyboards (Cain's Offering, ex-Dio, ex-Yngwie Malmsteen, Mastermind, ex-Rainbow, ex-Silver Mountain)

Rolf Pilve

drums (Solution .45, ex-Torchbearer)

Former Members/Guests

Timo Tolkki

guitars (ex-Revolution Renaissance, ex-Symfonia)

Jyrki Lentonen

bass

Jari Kainulainen

bass (ex-Evergrey, Masterplan, ex-Symfonia)

Antti Ikonen

keyboards

Tuomo Lassila

drums

Jörg Michael

drums (ex-Grave Digger, ex-Headhunter, ex-House Of Spirits, ex-Mekong Delta, ex-Axel Rudi Pell, ex-Rage, ex-Running Wild, ex-Saxon, ex-Schwarzarbeit, ex-Unleashed Power)



Discography



Fright Night  
1989 T&T
  1. Future Shock
  2. False Messiah
  3. Black Night
  4. Witch-hunt
  5. Firedance
  6. Fright Night
  7. Night Screamer
  8. Darkness
  9. Goodbye
  • Timo Tolkki
  • Jyrki Lentonen
  • Antti Ikonen
  • Tuomo Lassila



Twilight Time  
1992 T&T
  1. Break The Ice
  2. The Hands Of Time
  3. Madness Strikes At Midnight
  4. Metal Frenzy
  5. Twilight Time
  6. The Hills Have Eyes
  7. Out Of The Shadows
  8. Lead Us Into The Light
  • Timo Tolkki
  • Antti Ikonen
  • Tuomo Lassila



Dreamspace  
1994 T&T
  1. Chasing shadows
  2. 4th Reich
  3. Eyes of the world
  4. Hold on to your dream
  5. Magic carpet ride
  6. We are the future
  7. Tears of ice
  8. Dreamspace
  9. Reign of terror
  10. Thin ice
  11. Atlantis
  12. Abyss
  13. Shattered
  14. Wings of tomorrow
  • Timo Tolkki
  • Antti Ikonen
  • Tuomo Lassila



Fourth Dimension  
1995 T&T
  1. Against the wind
  2. Distant skies
  3. Galaxies
  4. Winter
  5. Stratovarius
  6. Lord of the wasteland
  7. 030366
  8. Nightfall
  9. Twilight symphony
  10. Call of the wilderness
  • Timo Kotipelto
  • Timo Tolkki
  • Jari Kainulainen
  • Antti Ikonen
  • Tuomo Lassila
1995 Readers' Album #15




Episode  
1996 T&T
  1. Father Time
  2. Will The Sun Rise?
  3. Eternity
  4. Episode
  5. Speed Of Light
  6. Uncertainty
  7. Seasons Of Change
  8. Strasphere
  9. Babylon
  10. Tomorrow
  11. Night Time Eclipse
  12. Forever
  • Timo Kotipelto
  • Timo Tolkki
  • Jari Kainulainen
  • Jens Johansson
  • Jörg Michael
1996 Readers' Album #47




Visions  
1997 T&T
  1. The kiss of Judas
  2. Black diamond
  3. Forever free
  4. Before the winter
  5. Legions
  6. The abyss of your eyes
  7. Holy light
  8. Paradise
  9. Coming home
  10. Visions (southern cross)
  • Timo Kotipelto
  • Timo Tolkki
  • Jari Kainulainen
  • Jens Johansson
  • Jörg Michael
1997 Readers' Album #5




Visions Of Europe  LIVE
1998 T&T
  1. Forever Free
  2. Kiss Of Judas
  3. Father Time
  4. Distant Skies
  5. Season Of Change
  6. Speed Of Light
  7. Twilight Symphony
  8. Holy Solos
  9. Visions
  10. Will The Sun Rise?
  11. Forever
  12. Black Diamond
  13. Against The Wind
  14. Paradise
  15. Legions
  • Timo Kotipelto
  • Timo Tolkki
  • Jari Kainulainen
  • Jens Johansson
  • Jörg Michael



Destiny  
1998 T&T
  1. Destiny
  2. S.O.S.
  3. No Turning Back
  4. 4000 Rainy Nights
  5. Rebel
  6. Years Go By
  7. Playing With Fire
  8. Venus In The Morning
  9. Anthem Of The World
  10. Cold Winter Nights
  • Timo Kotipelto
  • Timo Tolkki
  • Jari Kainulainen
  • Jens Johansson
  • Jörg Michael
1998 Readers' Album #11




The Chosen Ones  COMPILATION
1999 Noise
  1. Black Diamond
  2. Twilight Time
  3. Father Time
  4. The Hands Of Time
  5. Dream With Me
  6. Paradise
  7. Out Of The Shadows
  8. Forever
  9. Full Moon
  10. The Kiss Of Judas
  11. S.O.S.
  12. Dreamspace
  13. Against The Wind
  14. Speed Of Light
  15. 4000 Rainy Nights
  16. Will The Sun Rise?



Infinite  
2000 Nuclear Blast
  1. Hunting High and Low
  2. Millennium
  3. Mother Gaia
  4. Phoenix
  5. Glory of the World
  6. A Million Light Years Away
  7. Freedom
  8. Infinity
  9. Celestial Dream
  • Timo Kotipelto
  • Timo Tolkki
  • Jari Kainulainen
  • Jens Johansson
  • Jörg Michael



14 Diamonds  COMPILATION
2000 JVC
  1. The Hands Of Time
  2. Distant Skies
  3. Tomorrow
  4. Coming Home
  5. Destiny
  6. Future Shock
  7. Black Diamond
  8. Why Are We Here?
  9. We Are The Future
  10. Forever
  11. Hunting High And Low
  12. The Kiss Of Judas
  13. Rebel
  14. Mother Gaia



Infinite Visions  VIDEO
2000 Nuclear Blast



Intermission  
2001 Nuclear Blast
  1. Will My Soul Ever Rest In Peace?
  2. Falling Into Fantasy
  3. The Curtains Are Falling
  4. Requiem
  5. Kill The King
  6. I Surrender (Live)
  7. Keep The Flame
  8. Why Are We Here?
  9. What Can I Say
  10. Dream With Me
  11. When The Night Meets The Day
  12. It’s A Mystery
  13. Cold Winter Nights
  14. Hunting High & Low (Live)
  • Timo Kotipelto
  • Timo Tolkki
  • Jari Kainulainen
  • Jens Johansson
  • Jörg Michael



Elements Part 1  
2003 JVC
  1. Eagleheart
  2. Soul Of A Vagabond
  3. Find Your Own Voice
  4. Fantasia
  5. Learning To Fly
  6. Papillon
  7. Stratofortress
  8. Elements
  9. A Drop In The Ocean
  • Timo Kotipelto
  • Timo Tolkki
  • Jari Kainulainen
  • Jens Johansson
  • Jörg Michael
2003 Readers' Album #22




Elements Part 2  
2003 JVC
  • Timo Kotipelto
  • Timo Tolkki
  • Jari Kainulainen
  • Jens Johansson
  • Jörg Michael



Stratovarius  
2005 Mayan
  1. Maniac Dance
  2. Fight!!!
  3. Just Carry On
  4. Back To Madness
  5. Gypsy In Me
  6. Götterdämmerung (Zenith of Power)
  7. The Land of Ice and Snow
  8. Leave The Tribe
  9. United
  • Timo Kotipelto
  • Timo Tolkki
  • Jari Kainulainen
  • Jens Johansson
  • Jörg Michael
2005 Readers' Album #55




Polaris  
2009 Edel
  1. Deep Unknown
  2. Falling Star
  3. King of Nothing
  4. Blind
  5. Winter Skies
  6. Forever Is Today
  7. Higher We Go
  8. Somehow Precious
  9. Emancipation suite: I Dusk
  10. Emancipation suite: II Dawn
  11. When Mountains Fall
  • Timo Kotipelto
  • Matias Kupiainen
  • Lauri Porra
  • Jens Johansson
  • Jörg Michael
2009 Readers' Album #69




Darkest Hours  EP
2010 Edel
  1. Darkest Hours
  2. Infernal Maze
  3. Darkest Hours (Demo)
  4. Against The Wind (Live)
  5. Black Diamond (Live)
  • Timo Kotipelto
  • Matias Kupiainen
  • Lauri Porra
  • Jens Johansson
  • Jörg Michael



Elysium  
2011 Edel
  1. Darkest Hours
  2. Under Flaming Skies
  3. Infernal Maze
  4. Fairness Justified
  5. The Game Never Ends
  6. Lifetime In A Moment
  7. Move The Mountain
  8. Event Horizon
  9. Elysium
  • Timo Kotipelto
  • Matias Kupiainen
  • Lauri Porra
  • Jens Johansson
  • Jörg Michael
2011 Readers' Album #70




Under Flaming Winter Skies - Live In Tampere  LIVE
2012 earMUSIC
  • Timo Kotipelto
  • Matias Kupiainen
  • Lauri Porra
  • Jens Johansson
  • Jörg Michael



Under Flaming Winter Skies - Live In Tampere  VIDEO
2012 earMUSIC



Unbreakable  COMPILATION EP
2013 earMUSIC
  1. Unbreakable
  2. Falling Star
  3. The Game Never Ends
  4. Freedom
  5. Why Are We Here



Nemesis  
2013 earMUSIC
  1. Abandon
  2. Unbreakable
  3. Stand My Ground
  4. Halcyon Days
  5. Fantasy
  6. Out of the Fog
  7. Castles in the Air
  8. Dragons
  9. One Must Fall
  10. If the Story Is Over
  11. Nemesis
  • Timo Kotipelto
  • Matias Kupiainen
  • Lauri Porra
  • Jens Johansson
  • Rolf Pilve
2013 Readers' Album #60




Eternal  
2015 earMUSIC
  1. My Eternal Dream
  2. Shine in the Dark
  3. Rise Above It
  4. Lost Without a Trace
  5. Feeding the Fire
  6. In My Line of Work
  7. Man in the Mirror
  8. Few Are Those
  9. Fire in Your Eyes
  10. Lost Saga
  • Timo Kotipelto
  • Matias Kupiainen
  • Lauri Porra
  • Jens Johansson
  • Rolf Pilve
2015 Readers' Album #40




Enigma: Intermission 2  
2018 earMUSIC
  1. Enigma
  2. Hunter
  3. Hallowed
  4. Burn Me Down
  5. Last Shore
  6. Kill it with Fire
  7. Oblivion
  8. Second Sight
  9. Fireborn
  10. Giants
  11. Castaway
  12. Old Man and the Sea
  13. Fantasy
  14. Shine in the Dark
  15. Unbreakable
  16. Winter Skies



Survive  
2022 earMUSIC
  1. Survive
  2. Demand
  3. Broken
  4. Firefly
  5. We Are Not Alone
  6. Frozen in Time
  7. World on Fire
  8. Glory Days
  9. Breakaway
  10. Before the Fall
  11. Voice of Thunder
  • Timo Kotipelto
  • Matias Kupiainen
  • Lauri Porra
  • Jens Johansson
  • Rolf Pilve




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