Ελληνικά
Some musical comebacks make a lot of noise, while others create new peaks more discreetly. Such was the case with the already classic Survive by the veteran Stratovarius, released on September 23, 2022, which stood proudly alongside the best moments of the Finns’ career while also absorbing modern influences. But can such a recent album really be called “classic”?
The 16th album by the “kings” of European power metal in the ’90s is a lone gem amidst the chaos of countless releases in an era marked by compulsive production and consumption of music. Just like the excellent cover of Survive, where a plant grows in the most unexpected place, the 11 songs found fertile ground in our unsuspecting minds. The first feat is simply to stand out among the endless flood of information.
Although Stratovarius’ entire course after the departure of founder Timo Tolkki in 2008 has been more than respectable, I personally did not expect a flawless, relentless, and ultimately “great” album at such an advanced stage of their career. Survive doesn’t record a single mediocre moment for those who truly love euro power metal. It has nothing to envy from the glories of the past and, most importantly, it competes head-to-head with the modern releases of the genre!
Let’s start —as we should when we talk about metal— with the excellent guitar work. The fifth effort of Matias Kupiainen is the point where he definitively took the wheel of Stratovarius upon his shoulders, leaving his mark on every composition. The guitar themes cut deep with instantly addictive melodies, each track easily distinguishable from the next. The aggressive riffs raise our eyebrows, as in the delightful opening title track, while the purer power-metal moments, such as the Helloween-like Glory Days, take us back in time. But there are also more modern touches, like in Firefly and We Are Not Alone, which show younger europower bands like Beast in Black how to write songs that are both contemporary and profound.
We mustn’t forget, however, that we’re not just talking about metal, but about European power metal. And as everyone knows, there’s no good power metal without catchy choruses! On this front, Stratovarius delivered yet another masterclass on how to write hooks that stick instantly and are sung with passion —just as we witnessed at their phenomenal concert in Thessaloniki a few years ago. Three years later, World on Fire still sounds as if not a single day has passed; delightful in its simplicity. The hidden weapon of Survive is its exceptional flow and consistency, elements that fight off distraction and keep us hooked for all 58 minutes of its duration. Don’t look for filler — it simply doesn’t exist!
But there’s also something else that played a role in the love I have for Survive. It was a time when we were timidly stepping out of our homes after the pandemic, each carrying our own cross. It was a time when yet another war had begun in Europe, shaking our psyche, already fragile from isolation. At that very moment, Survive “wrote itself” into my soul, with all the breath of optimism and inner strength it radiated. For me, heavy metal must give us moments of uplift, make us smile, and touch us deeply when we need it the most.
For all the reasons above, the value of Survive has been firmly validated as a classic release, three years after its release, at least for this writer. After so many years of listening, it’s rare for an album to find a place in my heart and endure over time. Survive, proving it truly lives up to its name, did exactly that!
