My dearest reader, let’s cut the bullshit and go straight to the point so you can understand why life is full of ironies, even more into the metal/hard scene.
I was very sure Ripper Owens’ concert was about to be perfect, heavy, loads of pressure, great set list, not to mention the killing songs at once right upon our heads.
Right before Judas’ ex-vocalist’s concert begins I was already planning how many bad adjectives I was about to use to actually destroy this Finnish band on 20th October in São Paulo.
Well, I’ve paid the price. During these both concerts I have experienced exactly the contrary of what I was expecting to. The first one you already know, and if not, just take a look at the Ripper Owens concert review published here on this website. So, let’s go to the second one.
Opposite to everything I was expecting, Stratovarius (precisely on stage at 21:30pm) did an excellent concert giving to the fans all great classics from “Fourth Dimension”, Timo Kotipelto´s debut in the band, to the most recent album “Polaris”, the first one without Timo Tolkki and with the new virtuous guitar talent: Matias Kupiainen, only 26 years old.
The great concert begins with the epic “Destiny” from the album that carries the same title - the successor of the band’s successful “Visions” - and keeping the same vibe, came the hits “Hunting High and Low” and “Infinite”. As the band was willing for more energy and loudness, they played on the sequence the virtuous but fast “Speed of Light” from the album “Episode”, which defines the non- Finnish members: the German and the Swedish metal decanis Jorg Michael and Jens Johansson, with over than 25 years of more than well done services on music, and also with the record on participations on many artist’s albums. Remember that some years ago Timo Tolkki used to play this little classic carelessly, not reproducing all of those virtuous details from the song? Well, Matias does all of them as simple as if he was eating some bread! Anyway, everything on this kid is pretty good: his way of playing, his tune, his punch and precision. The only thing that is still missing is his stage presence that’s still a little shy. Nothing that a few beers can’t solve until he gets 30 years old!
Right after these three songs perfectly done to make you feel like kicking another human being, some Kotipelto words to the crowd (which wasn’t a huge one but very excited and happy to be there) until another classic begins: “Kiss of Judas”, a song capable of turning the most rebellious Stratovarius fan into a lamb. After that, the first track of “Polaris”, the great “Deep Unknown”, composed by the vocalist and the new guitarist, a song that shows clearly the difference between the “freshman” and his predecessor.
Right after another sequence of songs like: “Twilight Symphony” (as that tiniest tear tried to escape from my right eye), “A Million Light Years Away”, “Winter Skies” (also from the new album). A duel among the “big boys” on the band happens, right about the middle of the concert; the already mentioned Matias and the bassist Lauri Porra (please, no jokes on the guy’s last name which in Portuguese means “cum”, oops!). Meanwhile, as one has a sip of Skol beer, the other one literally destroys the place showing all his skills on his instrument; and then the duel exchange started until Porra (hey, I’m not cursing the guy!) finally plays alone on the stage, as if Billy Sheehan’s spirit were possessing him. Actually, it has been very advised before the previous tours of 2005 and 2006 that in Brazil, the bassist’s last name, hmmm, is kind of very suggestive. So, why should we fight against it? Well, as a series of solos and slaps happened, the man screamed out and loud “What a “Poooorra!” (now you can actually joke on the guy’s name).
After the old men’s on the band had their time to take rest, we had more Finnish Power Metal classics such as: “Paradise”, “Eagleheart”, “Phoenix” and the great and fast new version of “ Higher we Go”, another composing of Kupiainen/Kotipelto. For the encores, nothing less than the very beautiful and ever present ballad “Forever”, needless of further comments or even Timo Kotipelto’s voice, once every single person on the venue was singing it along bu heart. And at last, the mosh pit generator: “Father Time”, a Jens Johansson’s solo moment, proving the value for those who still had doubt about a keyboard player coming from a classic education playing heavy metal. And of course for the band’s own sake, “Black diamond”, a very successful song that can be played even on unexpected “hot hits” radios.
The band is obviously in peace, after realizing it’s still withstanding around here, and ends the concert with that traditional act of theirs: the crowd’s counting to 4 in “Suomi”, Finnish: Yksi, kaksi, kolme nelja!
I register in here my advice for our brother Timo Kotipelto: enough of “castrati wanna be voice”, right?! It is very clear you cannot reach this kind of tone and it isn’t required on nowadays metal. Your vocal’s reach is still there in every other moment and it´s still great. To both “young” boys as well as to both “veterans” on the band: Matias and Lauri; Jorg and Jens, well, these guys seem as young as before, not having all the decades of age separating them, it’s like they’ve always been playing that great and heavy rock from school times, as the good and old friends usually do. Congratulations on all of you, your instrumentation is simply as scary as amazing (on my case, I fear it 4x, once I try to be what you four actually are).
Damned be the irony of fate, because it made me think over about both texts so I could write them the way you are reading now.
That´s it!
Hard Blast thanks Stratovarius production and Luciana Stabile and Citibank Hall (São Paulo) for giving us the press pass to cover the event.
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