Review Summary: The strong will survive
I remember the hype when Stratovarius released Nemesis in 2013. After the decent but not quite excellent Polaris and Elysium, it sounded like a band reborn and rejuvenated. The urgency and power were fully back in the band’s sound, but there was a new heft and even some adventurous choices as well that put the majority of the record on par with some of the band’s best. Eternal came along as well and, despite being less immediate and taking fewer risks, was still assurance that Stratovarius’s new lineup had a lot more to give. Now, after a pandemic and a 7-year gap between records, Survive is finally here and makes even more of a statement.
It’s better than Nemesis.
Hell, it might even be better than Visions.
Survive has a heavier, more immediate tone than its predecessor, as advertised by the title track’s heavy opening riff, though it utilizes a more dense atmosphere and a proggier take on the group’s power metal sound. It sounds closer to Devin Townsend or latter-day Soilwork, in the sense that it’s heavy (probably the bands’ heaviest yet), but overall brighter, layered, and thoughtful. Many of the lyrics gravitate on issues of the times, with the occasional dip into fantasy, which keeps the album feeling grounded and current. Kotipelto mentions in interviews how the songwriting is now more collaborative, and it really feels like a tightly-knit band playing and composing these songs rather than one member.
Despite the focus remaining on guitar and vocal melodies, Survive sees the band experimenting more within their comfort zone, creating something that sounds distinctly Stratovarius, but still remaining brisk and concise. Tempos and song lengths vary throughout the run, from the darker tone of Broken, to the clear single-bait (but somehow addictive and excellent) Firefly, and the cold atmosphere-building on Frozen In Time. Better yet, and what puts Survive truly over the top, is the lack of filler: the album is spotless and keeps the energy up for its entire runtime. Even the lesser songs like We Are not Alone and Breakaway have moments of excellence, such as the former's melodic, chug-heavy pre-chorus and the latter’s dense string arrangements. I’m always surprised, when listening to the album in full, when I get to Glory Days: it’s written like a vintage Stratovarius song, with a lightning fast tempo and a huge chorus, but there’s so many excellent tracks before and after it always comes along as a pleasant surprise.
The seven preceding years must have been good for the band chemistry as well because they play like a unit here. The rhythm section is solid, with newer drummer Rolf Pilve holding down the overall heavier sound. Johansson is still a virtuoso on the keys, knowing both when to solo or hang back and add texture; he’s also fully comfortable with the choral synth he used on Eternal and uses it to great effect throughout the record. Matias proves once and for all that, while he may not be the shredder Tolkki is, he is absolutely perfect for this incarnation of Stratovarius. Since Nemesis he’s stopped trying to sound like Tolkki and is now comfortable with his own heavy riffing style; his solos don’t stand out as much, but the more interesting songwriting and stronger harmonies make up for it. And of course, Kotipelto sounds excellent in his mid-50s, with an impressive vibrato and soaring voice that still remains full of vigor at this stage in his career.
It would have been difficult to think that Stratovarius could ever achieve their early highs after their main songwriter and last founding member left the band, but it’s nothing short of astounding how they’ve been able to find that new momentum and ride it out to a new career-high. Survive is a new peak: a tactful merging of past and present with a heavy new sound, a ton of energy, and a testament to the band’s resilience and resourcefulness. It stands tall above anything they’ve done this century, and on par with just about anything before it.
