Stratovarius - Nemesis review
| Band: | Stratovarius |
| Album: | Nemesis |
| Style: | Power metal |
| Release date: | February 22, 2013 |
| A review by: | R'Vannith |
01. Abandon
02. Unbreakable
03. Stand My Ground
04. Halcyon Days
05. Fantasy
06. Out Of The Fog
07. Castles In The Air
08. Dragons
09. One Must Fall
10. If The Story Is Over
11. Nemesis
12. Kill It with Fire [Japanese bonus]
13. Fireborn [Limited edition bonus]
14. Hunter [Limited edition bonus]
15. Old Man And The Sea [Vinyl edition bonus]
What a difference a line-up change can make. An energy is present in Stratovarius's camp which can only be pinned down to a fresh chemistry. New gun Rolf Pilve has quite the role to fill and expectations are high as he replaces Jorg Michael who provided the drums for many of the band's classic records. Perseverance is key and even after all their previous dramas Stratovarius have made Nemesis their most expressive return to form.
The album reaches a high point of consistency from which it never falls and the single "Unbreakable" is just that. Unbreakable. In fact the entire album might be described as unbreakable as the songwriting is resolute and unrelinquishing in its provision of seductive hooks. Jens Johansson's keys characteristically dance in expected fashion among the saturated layering of effects. Saturated it may sound, see tracks like "Halcyon Days" with its abundance of symphonics and electronic padding, but it is nevertheless supremely catchy with bass and guitar shining through in an equitable union.
Kotipelto has no trouble in finding his way through the throng of backing vocals and bombastic atmosphere. Yet despite some stunningly conceived choruses his delivery sounds somewhat constrained at times. This all comes down to the new guy, the band's new source of rhythm. Pilve offers a bracing precision which aids considerably in establishing the album's consistency. The drums are exceptionally well accounted for throughout the album and serve as an axis point for the band's performance as a whole.
However, Nemesis isn't particularly inventive. While moments like the cascading keys in the initial bridge of "Castles In The Air" might conjure up images of a more inspired Stratovarius, the album isn't as creative as it is consistent. Much of its variance depends heavily upon the padding of layered effects rather than an abundance of fresh ideas. The less interesting track here is the ballad "If The Story Is Over"; yet it isn't throwaway material as it offers Kotipelto a chance to take precedence, and is the most differing track from Nemesis as a whole.
An equilibrium seems to have been established from which there is considerable potential to draw and take up a more diverse approach to composition. The band has made a return to form which just might inspire more creative processes in the future.
Rating breakdown
| Performance: | 8 |
| Songwriting: | 8 |
| Originality: | 7 |
| Production: | 8 |
 | Written on 14.03.2013 by R'Vannith enjoys music, he's hoping you do too. |
Comments
| Mariocalin Posts: 77  |
Good Reveiw, I agree with it!
---- We are the priest of the temple of Synix
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| mariano Posts: 372 |
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| Lonniehaskel Posts: 91 |
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| Hordaland Posts: 3  |
I think it's their best since Infinite.
---- On what day did God invent Glam, and could he not have rested on that day?
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| Hordaland Posts: 3 |
Written by Irritable Ted on 14.03.2013 at 16:39 Indeed.
---- On what day did God invent Glam, and could he not have rested on that day?
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| R'Vannith ghedengi Elite Posts: 3099  |
Written by [user id=111774] on 18.03.2013 at 05:11 I prefer this to most albums I've heard from them as well. Generally speaking they're not a band I've been overly impressed by but I do really like "Visions" and "Destiny." I think this one is on that level of consistency for sure. So far it's my favourite power metal release this year.
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| Sir Thrashalot Posts: 55  |
Written by R'Vannith on 18.03.2013 at 10:22
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| R'Vannith ghedengi Elite Posts: 3099 |
Written by Sir Thrashalot on 21.11.2013 at 00:04 This one had me hooked from the first spin as well, something which hasn't happened with any of Strato's other albums. This one's a simpler album than some of their classic material perhaps, but it's just so damn catchy! Power metal played the way it's supposed to be with an impressionable heaviness. And yeah they still work in those tasty, sugary keys!  If this one's anything to go by they've got some gusto left in them yet, my expectations for the next one have been very much raised.
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| Sir Thrashalot Posts: 55 |
Written by R'Vannith on 21.11.2013 at 02:47
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| Beckari Posts: 23  |
This album is fudging perfect. I love all the songs, including the bonus tracks. It's pretty darn hard to find an album I like where I can actually say I enjoy all the songs!! The album cover is also beautiful, I use it as my desktop picture. If you've not listened to it yet and enjoy some power metal, go buy it! 
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| FinnRommi Posts: 14 |
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| Sword_Chant Posts: 717 |
Best album of 2013 in my opinion! Possibly the biggest Power Metal comeback for that year too, album wise. Disagree with the rating slightly though... i'd have given it an 8.5 
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| R'Vannith ghedengi Elite Posts: 3099 |
Written by Sword_Chant on 20.05.2014 at 01:30 I thought so too, this one really renewed my interest in their music, and it ranks as one of their top releases from my perspective.
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