Eagleheart (single)

Here comes Eagleheart, the single release announcing the next Stratovarius album. So is it a good omen for the upcoming album Elements Part I ? Most certainly. The song is pure Stratovarius melodic speed metal. Dazzling keyboard work, guitar riffs and solo, and the always amazing Timo Kotipelto singing abilities. No surprise on the rhythm section, heavy and steady like always. But in the end it's not really original, I mean it smells Stratovarius from the first 3 seconds of music and it doesn't smell new for a dime (this could easily have been included in the last album, same sound, same production...). But I think that's how this band works... they deliver constant and excellent quality releases from ages now (from Fourth Dimension)... they add little new things, sometimes not really noticeable here and there but therefore perfecting their style a little bit more with each album. I know some people have grown tired of hearing always similar songs, and some might begin to feel the band isn't evolving. I believe they are, though they are very careful in how they progress from one album to another (maybe playing it a bit safe). But I wouldn't mind an album that really shows another face of the band, a little bit in the vein of Helloween's Dark Ride. Though this album might be an exception in the band's history since the band splitted into 2 bands (Helloween & Masterplan) after that very same album. The second song Runaway is quite different from the usual Strato cliché and it has a welcome change of sound (some strange keys elements sounding almost industrial, echoing vocals,...). That's certainly a nice breath of air compared to Eagleheart. Don't get me wrong, Eagleheart is a killer song (reminding me Hunting High & Low a lot), but it's the kind of hymn Timo Tolkki have used us to expect from Stratovarius these last few years. The single ends with the demo version of Eagleheart, so no surprises there : the vocals a quite low compared to the final version and lyrics are different too... but I must admit I've never been a sucker for demo versions anyway. Now, about the CD itself... I think I must speak since I've got the limited shaped edition and that this damn thing nearly ripped off my CD/DVD player when I've inserted the CD into it... these shapes CD are a BIG mistake and this is unacceptable that a CD could actually destroy your equipment just to look like Stratovarius' symbol, now is it not ? I personally object against the use of shape CDs and furthermore that one's design is so ridiculous that I was really pissed when it nearly blew off my player into pieces !!!! The art cover of this single is also not to my taste, CGI stuff with lots of over-contrasted colors... I sure hope that the full album cover won't bear any resemblance with that one (especially the rounded-up logo...). I don't mind CGI artwork (I actually use quite some CG elements in my art myself) but it's when it looks too much computerized that it starts to bug me. Anyway : tastes are very subjective and maybe it's just me :). Anyway, I'll be impatiently looking forward to the full length album (due early next year) and hope that it, like promised by the band, will be their best offering to date. Let's just hope so. In the meantime, I'll be sure to enjoy Eagleheart.