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Having started his own revolution post-Stratovarious,
guitarist Timo Tolkki still keeps the melodic power metal
tradition alive with his new project incorporating intelligent
compositions with a massive melodic approach; but at first
glance it almost would appear that this might be a big symphonic
piece with all the vocalists involved. Not true, this and
the elaborate conceptual piece Saana – Warrior of Light are
like the separation of Church and State. With New Era, an
appropriate title after he would leave Stratovarius, he concedes
to use a trio of vocalists, Michael Kiske (Helloween, Place
Vendome), Tobias Sammet (Edguy), and Pasi Rantanan (Thunderstone)
to create an album that was originally intended for his past
musical endeavor – and it works (think of Stratovarius crossed
with Dio and Europe).
The sound of Revolution Renaissance purveys the vibe of
the self-titled ‘Varius record, hearkening melodic power metal
before things got too out of hand with symphonic elements
overtaking melody (the 4/4 is in tow at times and there isn’t
much harpsichord here either). Each vocalist adds their own
flair to their own track, where you’ve got full-blown metal
in focus with “Last Night on Earth,” the up-tempo double-bass
heavy “Glorious and Divine,” and the dark, emotive “I Did
it My Way;” yet there is an eased back/moodier side which
is exposed in the cuts “Keep the Flame Alive,” “Born Upon
the Cross,” and the ballad “Angel, where we have all sides
of the melodic spectrum executed here.
The melodies play around Tolkki’s axework and the vocal
lines of Kiske, Sammet, and Rantanan are commanding; where
there was no holding back Tolkki’s vision when it came to
executing the musical monstrosity that inhibits the record
– for which he doesn’t go overboard or anything like that;
with the exception of the guitar playing, it’s a record that
keeps a grip on the songs and not some mass of arrangements,
and that’s a good thing.
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