I'm not sure how many of you follow European flavored metal bands but the Finnish band Stratovarius has broken up... again. Originally, there was a major falling out between two members (Timo Tolkki and Timo Kotipelto) in 2004 and things almost ended there but despite all drama they reunited and released an album in 2005. A new album was in the works but...

The remaining four member’s side:
http://strato.jens.org/stratovarius-sta … 008-05.php

Tolkki's side:
http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fusea … =391258144

Okay, so basically this is just a bunch of BS. The thing is, when my friends and I "discovered" Stratovarius' music in 2000-2001 it was very important to us and lead to the discovery of numerous other bands. The problem is I honestly don't care if the band breaks up... my opinion of some their albums have faded with time (I no longer have that desire to own all of them) and I didn't have any intention of checking anything new out either but feel I should have "A Tinge of Regret."

I think a lot of this has to do with all the stuff that happened during the first break up in 2004:

* Tolkki's drunken interview
* Tolkki being committed due to him being bi-polar and drinking to much
* Tolkki attacking fans on message boards asking rather innocent questions
* Tolkki finding god when a book fell to the ground in his house and the quick removal of that post from the band's site to "minimize damage"
* Tolkki being stabbed by an angry fan with a box cutter (there are pictures of this but some dispute it actually occurring)
* Tolkki bashing Kotipelto's solo work when his own solo work wasn't so hot
* Tolkki underminding the importance of lyrics because Kotipelto help write some of the lyrics in the more well known songs and claimed the music was the more important aspect of those songs.
* The hiring of the questionable "Miss K" as singer
* The miscommunication of whether or not Anders Johansson was to be the permanent drummer after Jorg left and bought his "castle"
* The miraculous make up that only happened after Sanctuary threatened to sue for the 3 million Euros the band received for signing with the label before the break up.

So, as you can see after the last three ring circus anything goes. Anyway, I guess you just had to be there when my friends Brad, Chris, Matt and I would sit around listening to these albums. Of course, those times weren't as great as I remember but I just wish I cared more about the fate of the band and music that brought us together.

Tis a shame. Band politics are always the worst. Oh well theres a lot of other Finlander metal to dive into. I currently am really into the folky stuff. Check out Finntroll if you havent already.

Too bad...Stratovarius (along with Helloween and Dragonforce) were one of the first bands to get me interested in Euro-style power metal last year. Still, compared to some of my favorites, their ratio of hits-to-misses was pretty lousy. But when they were on, they were awesome. Eagleheart, United, Cold Winter Nights, Twilight Symphony, Maniac Dance (lol) and SOS, among others, have been pretty constant plays for the past year.

Okay, despite the fact I said I wasn't going to check out any knew material I checked out Revolution Renaissance: New Era that was originally going to be the new Stratovarius record Stratovarius: Revolution Renaissance.

Well, for one, even if it's the band's name or an album title there is nothing here that is either revolutionary or a renaissance. It's no new era to boot, just a Stratovarius album with guest singers but I actually got angry at the first song "Heroes" because Tolkki practically lifted the solo in that song from another one. I'm sure it's got to be hard to be creative after 11 freakin albums but come on.

The album is ok, the fact that Tobais Sammet and Michael Kiske sing boosts it up a bit yet the album feels like it's stuck in neutral until the last song, the self titled epic that actually brings back fond memories of songs like Visions and Destiny.

Tolkki sounds like a tried and true douche bag. I don't care how good his music is.

Maybe, but I absolutely love this new album he's got. Right up there with Death Magnetic as one of my favorite releases this year. Hopefully this "full time" singer he's got listed has something on Sammet and Kiske.

You know, I've warmed up to this album as well. "Heroes" is pretty good as is "Last Night on Earth" Still like the title track the most.