Stratovarius broke up like last October but didn't make the official announcement until like March. I personally feel that they are the "best" power metal band. As in, they do it best, put the most feeling into it and are the most innovative. Not my favorite, but the best. What I thought was that Kotipelto (singer) had tension with Timo Tolkki (guitarist/composer), which is true, but I figured the rest of the band would go with T, and K would go back to his solo albums. I was content with that.
But today I looked into it more, and Found out that instead, Tolkki is finding new, permanent members. Ok, so Stratovarius recorded the entire album with Kotipelto on vocals (which has recently leaked under the name Revolution Renaissance - New Era, which I feel should be changed to Stratovarius as they are the ones that recorded it).
Then they broke up, I read an interview with Tolkki and it seems it was mainly his decision, citing poor live performance and lack of cohesion within the band. I don't know about that, as the "Last Night on Earth" live in 2007 I thought was great. But listening to this unreleased album I do understand the move, K seems uninspired and weak even though the music is great. So T quickly pulled the most popular power metal singers to re-record vocals and throw the record out the door.
Now here's what I found today.
http://www.timotolkki.com/WAVE%20OF%20RIGHTS.jpg
Tolkki gave the name "Stratovarius" to the three other band members, and cited that he will not accept any money from any past or future albums. I found this a bit extreme, but honestly I still think he's crazy. (he had some kind of mental break down a few years ago)
Or maybe not? He is auditioning and getting new members for RR. I nearly shat myself when I read.
http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog&FriendID=85129540 (scroll down to May 8/12/13/27)
The singer from Adagio and the drummer from Aquaria? Now he is auditioning bassists, who is he going to get, Billy Sheehan? This band could be so epic.
Meanwhile as the 3 remaining Stratovarius members have rights to the name, they could release new albums, and as they are still very popular would profit. Plus it would feel completely fresh as (obviously) they will have a new composer.
AMIRITE?
1 Play Angra
622
2 Play Mago de Oz
457
3 DJ Mystik
451
4 Play Kamelot
425
5 Play Metallica
421
6 Play Black Sabbath
401
7 Freedom Call
311
8 Play Mr. Big
280
9 Play Red Hot Chili Peppers
267
10 Play Helloween
255
11 Play Emerson, Lake & Palmer
248
12 Play Arch Enemy
247
13 Play King Diamond
230
14 Play Rush
227
15 Play Sonata Arctica
218
16 Play Stratovarius
212
17 Play Rhapsody
191
18 Play Nightwish
184
19 Play Rapture
183
20 Play Bob Marley & The Wailers
175
21 Play Dethklok
169
21 Play Down
169
21 Play The Click Five
169
24 Play Scorpions
168
25 Play Alice Cooper
166
26 Play Yngwie Malmsteen
164
26 Play Dio
164
28 Play Eternal Tears of Sorrow
163
29 Play Elvenking
162
30 Play Megadeth
158
31 Play Blind Guardian
154
31 Play System of a Down
154
33 Play Bruce Dickinson
150
34 Play The Beatles
149
35 Play Moby
147
36 Play Dark Tranquillity
142
36 Play Iced Earth
142
38 Play Avantasia
141
39 Play Ozzy Osbourne
140
40 Play Eric Martin
137
41 Play Bee Gees
134
42 Play All Time Low
132
43 Play Symphony X
129
44 Play Primal Fear
127
45 Play Sofa Surfers
125
46 Play Chumbawamba
123
47 Play Dark Moor
122
48 Play Dschinghis Khan
120
49 Luca Turilli
115
50 Play At Vance