Stratovarius - Survive (2022)

2022 was a very good year for metal, as we witnessed incredible releases from legendary bands that could have easily stayed in their comfort zone. However, they chose to let their imagination soar to compose works that are truly worthwhile. One such example is Megadeth with their successful 'The Sick, The Dying... And The Dead!' among many others.Stratovarius didn't lag behind and released 'Survive' to showcase their prowess. As one of the pioneering bands in Power Metal, they reaffirmed in 2022 why they are one of the most important groups in the genre. What can we hear? A completely European style of metal, from its composition to its production, where the latter must be highlighted as practically perfect. Often, when dealing with continuous distortions, heavy drums, and high intensity, production work can become disastrous. However, in "Survive," the truth of the matter is that it boasts top-tier musical production: the drums sound impressive and impeccable, intense and filled with details; the guitars are glorious, the solos flawless, the handling of distortion is very clean, the keyboards are perfectly well-mixed, coming in when they need to and doing so consistently, the bass serves as a constant support to make the heavy yet balanced work, and finally, the vocals are beautiful, always delivered prominently without overshadowing the rest of the instrumentation. Simply put, it's a marvel.Musically, the songs may sound "easy," but when you pay attention, you realize the execution is tremendous. Behind them are guitar riffs with great speed and technique, drums with creative proposals, such as the kick drum play in "Broken," and vocals that are very, very intricate. The technique and vocal range of Timo Kotipelto are impressive, showcasing a vocalist who truly knows what he's doing in a highly studied manner.The choruses are memorable, perfect for being sung along in the best metal festivals. This factor makes the album special as it combines the heaviness of metal with sweet yet powerful vocals. From ashes to glory... The band managed to convey the sound of this work very well through its cover; sometimes the visual experience can influence the auditory one, but in this case, it works in favor. We might be listening to very heavy riffs, but they are lightened by well-planned vocal interplay or melodic spaces for solos, as seen in "Firefly."The keyboard plays a special role in "Survive" as it is always present but doesn't overshadow the other instruments. It occasionally fades away to let other instruments shine, but on the contrary, when it needs to stand out, it does so with exceptional quality. It interprets solos with "lead" sounds that make it a standout instrument, as seen in the solo of "Broken", where it engages in a solo battle with the guitar, a technique replicated by many bands, including the Finnish band Children of Bodom.Matias Kuplainen does an incredible job on the guitar, especially in his solos, which are also memorable. His technique is something many guitarists from massive bands would envy. A perfect example is his solo in "Breakaway," where he combines melodies with speed and emotion. High-caliber musicians making high-caliber music "Survive" can be summarized as a highly elevated form of interpretation, composition, and execution. The result reflects years and years of study by all the musicians who brought this amazing talent to life, which, without fear of being mistaken, stands among the top albums of 2022.Typically, Power Metal can become repetitive, but "Survive" is anything but that. At times, we can hear elements of Thrash Metal in the drums, breakdowns, and other techniques that make this work incredibly rich to listen to.And what do you think? Leave us your comments!