When Timo Tolkki (guitars, main songwriter) left Stratovarius for the second and last time in 2008, many fans thought the band was done. Little did he know the remaining members weren’t ready to throw in the towel yet. In 2009, Strato forged on with long time singer Timo Kotipelto, Jens Johansson (keyboards), drummer Jorg Michael, and relatively new bass player Lauri Porra. The new album, "Polaris", was solid, but also obviously an adjustment period to gel as songwriters and a band, and you can hear it in some of the arrangements. Brand new guitarist Matias Kupiainen stepped up filling Tolkki’s shoes very well, but now with "Elysium" they have recaptured more of the magic found on albums like "Infinite", "Destiny", and "Visions".

"Elysium" kicks off 2011 with a bang! First single "Darkest Hours" shows the Finns have not lost a (Tolkki) talent for fusing up beat riffs and beats with a memorable chorus. Does it describe the rest of the album? No, not really. Middle Eastern flavored ‘Under Flaming Skies’ is influenced a bit by Kamelot, acoustic guitars and Timo’s vocals provide a graceful vehicle to ‘Move The Mountain’, and Matias puts emotion in the solo for ballad ‘Fairness Justified’.

The speed and double bass are still the basis to several songs but not over done in ‘Infernal Maze’ or ‘The Game Never Ends’. ‘Event Horizon’ which begins with an older style ("Fourth Dimension")riff is propelled by classic double bass and riff/keyboard dual and Jens proves why he is a grandmaster of the keys composing some of the most mind blowing complex solos/passages you ever heard. Matias is no slacker either in the solo department coming up some brilliant work of his own. The 18 minute title track is where the whole band unite on an epic scale!

If you liked "Polaris" then you will love "Elysium". A nice return to form. Good job guys.