Stratovarius was founded in Finland in 1984 from former members of the band Black Water. They went through a number of personnel and musical changes before the band found its own voice. In 1984, the name was changed to Stratovarius (a portmanteau of Stratocaster and Stradivarius), an idea of Stråhlman's. By 1984, Timo Tolkki entered the band, replacing Stråhlman in the guitar. He took up the vocal duties as well. Tolkki became the driving force and mastermind of the band assuming almost complete control of the song writing. He brought along not only strong rock influences but also a neo-classical tinge. The band released a demo to various record companies by 1987, finally being picked up by CBS Finland. In 1989, their debut album Fright Night was released followed by two singles.
After being dropped by CBS the band went through several member changes but they managed to release on another label and they also toured a bit. In 1994 they released their third album, Dreamspace, featuring new bass player Jari Kainulainen, (who joined the band when 70% of the new material was already recorded) which was a great success. Tolkki decided to stop singing for the band and they hired a new full-time singer, Timo Kotipelto. The release of Fourth Dimension in 1995 was a great success, but internal differences in the band particularly about the style the band was going for, prompted the departure of long-time drummer Tuomo Lassila and keyboardist Antti Ikonen. Two new non-Finnish members were recruited: Swedish keyboardist Jens Johansson of Yngwie Malmsteen fame; and German drummer Jörg Michael. With the fifth release Episode, Stratovarius had finally found its sound and had a strong, diverse line-up. Episode was a grand project featuring a large choir and a string orchestra. It spawned some of the all-time greatest Stratovarius hits, such as "Father Time" and "Will The Sun Rise".
This line-up released three hugely successful albums over the years: Visions in 1997, Destiny in 1998, and Infinite in 2000. With every album their fame and fan-base expanded and they started gaining a stronger following outside the Nordic countries particularly in Japan.
In 2003 the band released its most epic project yet, the two album suite named Elements. With these albums they reached a peak in their progressive and symphonic style of power-metal. The first album, Elements pt. 1, was released in early 2003 followed by a world tour. Elements pt. 1 was naturally followed by Elements pt. 2, also released on Nuclear Blast records in the same year with the hit single "I Walk To My Own Song".
In late 2003 the band broke up with Timo Kotipelto and Jörg Michael leaving after a very vaguely explained conflict. Tolkki hired a new singer, Katriina ''Miss K'' Wiiala, and Anders Johansson of Hammerfall (Jens's brother) temporarily on drums. Tolkki's behaviour rapidly began to become extremely strange. He published a long news article on the band's website, detailing how he had converted to Kabbalah after reading Madonna's autobiography and being contacted by Jesus himself. He wrote extensively on the principles of Kabbalah but according to some Jewish forum members, this has nothing to do with any actually practised form of it. The webmaster removed the news article from the site. Then Tolkki even stabbed himself in the shoulder first claiming that a crazy Spanish fan had done it because of band had broken up. Tolkki also phoned Anders Johansson, speaking nonsense about Adolf Hitler – Anders freaked out and left the band. Nobody really understood the situation and fans were worried about Timo's mental condition. In April 2004 he was hospitalised with chronic depression and a nervous breakdown and, after being released from the mental hospital, negotiations and attempts at reconciliation with the rest of the band began. The rest of 2004 was virtually complete silence from the band.
In January 2005 an announcement was released that Stratovarius had reunited with the old line-up. Tolkki seemed to have recovered from his strange illness. In June 2005 Timo Tolkki announced that the band's bassist, Jari Kainulainen, had left the band due to personal reasons. He was later replaced by Lauri Porra.
Stratovarius then released the self-titled album Stratovarius in September 2005 featuring the popular single "Maniac Dance". During this time Stratovarius began a world tour starting in Argentina. It also included a North American leg where they toured the United States and Canada for the first time in the band's history. They played at such events as Atlanta's "Prog Power", and in well-known venues such as "B.B. King's House Of Blues" in New York and Philadelphia's "Trocadero Theatre". The tour also included some European and Japanese cities.
On April 2 2008 Timo Tolkki announced on his official website that the band has officially stopped due to various issues between the band members.
Timo Tolkki has formed a new band, Revolution Renaissance. He released his first album on june 6, 2008 and it featured guest appearences by Michael Kiske (ex-Helloween) and Tobias Sammet (Edguy, Avantasia)
The band has since made an announcement on the Stratovarius website stating that the band will continue without Timo Tolkki.
After the announcement, the band began to search for a new guitar player, making the announcement on the band's official forum and in soundi magazine that Matias Kupiainen would replace Timo Tolkki and that 15 songs had already been demoed for the new album.
On May 13 2009 Stratovarius released their 12th studio album, Polaris, now with the new members Lauri Porra and Matias Kupiainen playing bass and guitar respectively.
Early 2011 saw the release of their new album, Elysium, containing the songs that were written during the Polaris tour. Also during 2012 saw the departure of long-time drummer Jörg Michael for personal reasons and his replacement Rolf Pilve.
2013 saw the release of their newest album "Nemesis".
Studio albums:
- Fright Night (1989)
- Twilight Time (1992)
- Dreamspace (1994)
- Fourth Dimension (1995)
- Episode (1996)
- Visions (1997)
- Destiny (1998)
- Infinite (2000)
- Intermission (2001)
- Elements, Pt. 1 (2003)
- Elements, Pt. 2 (2003)
- Stratovarius (2005)
- Polaris (2009)
- Elysium (2011)
- Nemesis (2013)
S.O.S.
Stratovarius Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Facing it all if I dare.
I've been thinking, I've been trying but I've always been denying.
Wasted days are still inside of me, it's time to set them free.
Why don't we see what is going on?
There are not so many years to be wasted until the damage is done and the beauty is gone.
Save Our Souls.
What is the price that we pay?
Save Our Souls.
Do we have nothing to say?
The lyrics to “S.O.S.” by Stratovarius express the need to acknowledge and face one’s internal struggles in order to find resolution and move forward. The singer is waiting for the rain to come and “settle the dusty air”, a metaphor for the clearing of one’s emotions. They admit to having wasted time denying their problems, but are now ready to confront them and be free of them. The chorus urges listeners to take action, to recognize the damage being done, and to save their souls by speaking out and finding solutions.
The song also touches on the theme of the cost of inaction or denial. The second verse asks the question, “What is the price that we pay?” suggesting that there is a consequence for ignoring problems. The repetition of “Save Our Souls” in the chorus emphasizes the urgency of the situation and the need to take action before it’s too late.
Overall, “S.O.S.” encourages listeners to be honest with themselves and to take control of their inner conflicts, rather than letting them fester and grow. The lyrics suggest that admitting to and addressing one’s problems is the key to finding peace and happiness.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm waiting for the rain now, to settle the dusty air. Clearing up my emotions.
I am waiting for a cleansing rainfall to settle the dusty air around me and remove the emotional turmoil within me.
Facing it all if I dare.
I am confronting all of my problems, even if it requires courage.
I've been thinking, I've been trying but I've always been denying.
I have been contemplating and attempting to address my issues, but constantly refusing to confront them.
Wasted days are still inside of me, it's time to set them free.
I have squandered significant time, and it is necessary for me to release them and move forward.
Why don't we see what is going on?
Why are we not aware of the events that are happening around us?
There are not so many years to be wasted until the damage is done and the beauty is gone.
There is limited time before irreparable damage is done and before the world becomes stripped of its natural beauty.
Save Our Souls.
We need to save ourselves from destruction or harm.
What is the price that we pay?
What will be the cost of not taking action and allowing destruction to continue?
Do we have nothing to say?
Do we not have a voice or the opportunity to take action and make a difference?
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: TIMO KOTIPELTO, TIMO TAPIO TOLKKI
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Joachim Ruud
I think my first contact with this band was when a friend of mine, lent me his MP3-player during a school trip to Poland, an obligatory trip for students in the ninth grade, we visited the nazi concentration camps and stuff like that.
I have a lot to thank him for many of the great artists/bands I listen to today!
Among them:
Stratovarius
Running Wild
Sonata Arctica
Metallica
Iron Maiden
And many more...
Thank you, Nils :)
Jéssica Melo
Stratovarius não é minha banda favorita, mas tem tanto impacto na minha vida que nem sei dizer. Indescritíveis os sentimentos que essa música desperta.
Vanderson Alves
Uma das melhores e pioneira do Powermetal. Minha segunda banda favorita.
Melina Briñon723
Conocí Stratovarius por esta canción con los años me fue gustando cada vez más al punto de llevarlos en mi piel 💜⚜️
Mauricio Silva da Costa
Stratovarios e helloween são as melhores banda de power metal do mundo e essa música é espetacular.
Master RBX Longplay
nunca escutei helloween mas eu concordo com vc
Finch
@Master RBX Longplay Tá perdendo tempo então rs, depois escuta I Want Out do Helloween impossível não gostar dessa.
Javier Colunge
Love the pace of this power metal song. Great band Stratovarius.
Ignacio Escalante
Finns have allways shown some intrest for this kind of metal music. Ever since Metallica and many of the 80´s bands gained some footsteps in Finland - all this started to roll like an avalanche! It fits so well in Finns state of minds and yet there has been a few guys like Timo Tolkki from Strato and Tuomas Holopainen from Nightwish who dared and still dare to put their dreams into form of a song. Skillful playing, orchestral solutions and touching lyrics. Treatment to a soul! This kicks!!
anidemolimacnauj
I think this is a lesson on how to develop a song in any genre. Each section flows naturally into the next one yet providing contrast. Through this process you are driven into the chorus in which all the tension is released and then... silence. Timo might have butchered his career but his legacy is strong.
Kalle Saarinen
mental problems can be a double edged sword, sometimes they give great talent, and on the other hand make a person unstable... hopefully timo can return to form someday