Tag Archives: symphonic

87. Stratovarius – Destiny

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Stratovarius is the epitome of symphonic power metal. Howling hair metal vocals, crazy fast guitar work, five minute guitar solos, choirs, and simplistic power metal speed drumming.  I love Destiny because it all comes so easy.  The melodies are awesome, the solos are pure, the attitude is fun, and it’s simplicity is endearing.  This isn’t a band that you need to listen to for interlaced music with complexity that is lost on most people.  You can hear everything this band has to offer on your first listen, because they wear their sound on their sleeve.  Need an example?  The name of the track is almost always the words you can expect to be belted out in the chorus.  Now that can be a great thing or a terrible thing depending on how you feel about power metal.

The thing I like most about Destiny is that it’s the album that made me really understand the POWER in power metal.  I always thought really high-pitched, hair metal singers were pansies; like, “that voice sounds like a girl, how is that powerful in any way?” (please excuse my 12 year old brain’s sexism).  Then I got into Destiny, and if you can even try to picture this without laughing, I tried to sing along.  Let me tell you, singing like that feels SO EMPOWERING!  I realized that playing, or singing, power metal makes you feel like the most powerful being on earth.  And that’s why it’s called power metal.  I also listened to this album A LOT while I was reading Tad William’s MST (if you have no idea what I’m talking about, just insert Lord of the Rings here) for the first time, and so I totally associate this whole album with an epic struggle in a fantasy universe.  Which leads me to my next point:

How does it make me feel?

Like I’m part of an Epic struggle in a fantasy universe.

What to Listen for Track by Track?

♦  The first two minutes of Destiny.  Seriously is there a better way to start a power metal album??  Also what happens at 4:54.

♦  The glass breaking at 0:45 on SOS.

♦  The power metal riff at the center of No Turning Back, and the simple speed guitar solo near the three minute mark.

♦  The way the guitar whines at the opening of 4000 Rainy Nights.

♦  The minor guitar riff that’s placed underneath Playing with Fire gives me chills every single time.  And when the vocals come in for the first verse and the drums drop out.

♦  The opening to Anthem of the World always reminds me of the Kefka music from FFVI.  To non-Final Fantasy fans, I love the way it sounds like someone dancing mad.

Example Track

Song of the Day 02/13/11: Nightwish – Kuolema Tekee Taiteilija

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No it’s not your imagination, that is not in English.  It’s actually in Finish, as is the rest of the song.  “Kuolema Tekee Taiteilija” means Death Makes an Artist.  The lyrics are really existential and I have to be honest, I think they’re a bit lost in translation.  For the longest time though, I listened to this song without ever knowing what she was saying.  I think it’s just a really beautiful piece of music and Tarja’s voice is totally awesome.  Plus, Finish sounds a lot like Elvish to me and it’s a very soothing language.  Just close your eyes and listen deeply.

Song of the Day 11/29/10: Nightwish – Ghost Love Score

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If there has ever been an album that single handedly makes the case for operatic metal, it is Nightwish’s Once.  To be honest, I don’t think a better operatic metal album will ever be created since Nightwish and their singer Tarja are no longer together.  To say that “Ghost Love Score” is epic, doesn’t even come close to a good description of its breadth.  The song is never too heavy, and often feels drawn out, but it’s all in the interest of creating that tension that begs for the orchestra and choir to roll back in and command the second half of the song.  The second half of the track has this feeling of snowball effect where layers just keep getting added one after the other, in perfect succession making this crazy awesome sound.  The breakdown, at about 4 minutes, to this awesome string piece, adds woodwinds, choir and eventually horns and metal into this ultimate metal force that cannot be stopped.  Listen to this loud and in one sitting, and then over and over.  Tell me you don’t start to get chills around 5 and a half minutes!!  I remember the first time I heard this song I just started laughing, because it was so ridiculous.  Enjoy.  And check out the rest of the album too. : )

Song of the Day 11/17/10: Stratovarius – Eternity

Posted by Doctor Iz Music Remedies on

Ah… Stratovarius, always welcome when you need to feel a bit more powerful.  The major riff in this song is so good.  For a long time I thought high pitched male vocalists were wusses, but one day I was listening to Strat and thought… you know how powerful it must feel to sing those notes!?!?  lol.  Yeah just enjoy it’s awesome electrical power, and walk the walk, instead of just talkin the talk.