Review Summary: Not really innovative, but most power metal fans will rejoice with this super group's debut album
Symfonia is the name of the ex-Stratovarius Timo Tolkki's new power metal super group, and "In Paradisum" is their debut album. With a line up full of talents like Uli Kusch (ex-Helloween) on drums, Jari Kainulainen (ex-Stratovarius) on bass, Mikko Harkin (ex-Sonata Arctica) on keyboards and the great Andre Matos (ex-Angra) on vocals, it was really worth listening to...
The album starts with two very Stratovarius-like songs: "Fields of Avalon", which brings to mind classics like "The Kiss of Judas" and "Come by the hills", with the keyboards as the main instrument, which we found again in "I walk in neon", which is more like album filler, really.
"Santiago" is pure power metal magic, where Matos's influence starts to show up, sounding more like the first records of Angra. "Pilgrim Road" and "Rhapsody in Black" are entertaining melodic power metal songs, but not particularly great . The almost 10 minute-track "In Paradisum" follows the line of Stratovarius long songs like "Destiny" with an epic intro, some choruses...you know how's that, don't you? Some ballads complete the package: "Alayna", an unsuccessful attempt, really, and the more acoustic "Don't let me go".
Matos does a good job on vocals, but he seems to be limited by Tolkki's songs…either that or he can't archieve those high notes anymore...
In summary: If you like the classic Stratovarius (Visions, Infinite...), early Angra albums and power metal in general, you have to check this out. As long as you’re not expecting anything innovative, you’ll probably like "In Paradisum"
