Stratovarius – Darkest Hours

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After successfully touring previous album Polaris and overcoming the potential issue of continuing without founding guitarist Timo Tolkki, Stratovarious are due to release their next album, Elysium, in 2011. But first they are issuing this EP, the lead two tracks on which will both appear on the forthcoming album, so there are no non-album studio tracks here. Single Darkest Hours is a short slice of standard power metal, with a catchy chorus, keyboard melodies and a simple, chugging riff. Fairly stock stuff and not nearly as interesting as some of the material on Polaris, but well executed enough to slot neatly into their catalogue without much objection from fans. Infernal Maze hints at a more symphonic direction. Still only 5:34 long, its grander melodies and choruses are an interesting alternative to the title track. Exclusive non-album tracks come in the shape of a demo version of the title track, which isn’t markedly different to the finished recording, just a little rawer (and therefore arguably benefits for less prominent keyboards), and two live tracks from the Polaris tour, Against The Wind and Black Diamond. The recording quality and mix of the live songs is excellent, and neither song has appeared in a live format before, so fans should be happy with these as well. Darkest Hours isn’t the most worthwhile release the band could have come up with, but it might satiate the fans a little until Elysium arrives.

Written by Andy Lye
More: EPs, Power Metal, Quick.Play Reviews, Stratovarius