2009 marks a period of transition for prog metallists Stratovarius, as longtime guitarist Timo Tolkki has bid the band sweet adieu, while two new members -- guitarist Matias Kupianen and bassist Lauri Porra -- have signed on. But with vocalist Timo Kotipelto at the helm (are Stratovarius the only rock band in the universe to ever have two chaps named "Timo" in the same band?), the signature Stratovarius sound and approach are very much still intact, as evidenced by their 12th studio album overall, Polaris. In other words, there are oodles of tricky musical bits, Geoff Tate-meets-Bruce Dickinson-like vocals, bombastic production, and all the elements that longtime Stratovarius connoisseurs demand in a new album by their Finnish heroes. This approach is exemplified on such tracks as the album opening "Deep Unknown," while tracks such as "King of Nothing" combine the aforementioned musical approach with some pretty darn fierce metal (especially the song's opening).

On May 21, 2010 Polaris has been reissued packaged together with a live disc recorded during the 2009 tour for the Polaris album. The disc contains 5 tracks from Polaris and a collection from the significant Stratovarius catalog. Recorded during 12.4-9.2.2010 in Europe. Edited by Matias Kupiainen and Perttu Wänskä at 5 by 5 Studio. Mixed by Mikko Karmila at Finnvox Studios. Mastered by Mika Jussila at Finnvox Studios.

CD1

01. Deep Unknown
02. Falling Star
03. King Of Nothing
04. Blind
05. Winter Skies
06. Forever Is Today
07. Higher We Go
08. Somehow Precious
09. Emancipation Suite: I Dusk
10. Emancipation Suite: II Dawn
11. When Mountains Fall


CD2 (All tracks are live)

01. Destiny
02. Hunting High And Low
03. Speed Of Light
04. Kiss Of Judas
05. Deep Unknown
06. A Million Light Years Away
07. Bach: Air Suite
08. Winter Skies
09. Phoenix
10. S.O.S.
11. Forever Is Today
12. King Of Nothing
13. Father Time
14. Higher We Go


All albums have been tagged, MP3 GAINed, and optimized with MP3packer.
 
http://www.stratovarius.com/
http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:gbfwxq8hldje
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stratovarius