On disc: Kotipelto

 
- Waiting For The Dawn
 
- Claudia Ehrhardt -
 
 


 
- Waiting For The Dawn
 
- Volker Raabe -
 
 


 
- Sleep Well (single)
 
- Claudia Ehrhardt -
 
 

Sleep Well (single)

(High & Loud - 2007)



 
 

 

With the single Sleep Well Timo Kotipelto gives a brief outlook onto the coming album Serenity. Some might know Sleep Well from the movie Vares 2, where it was first released. Musically the Finnish singer and his mates are based in the power metal genre, even if the keyboard of Janne Wirman adds a symphonic touch here and there. Vocals are more emotional then on many Stratovarius tunes, sure he has his own style which you can easily identify, but he tries to create a different sound. Only the repetition during the refrain is a bit too much...

Acoustic guitars and the voice of Timo are what you get on Te amaré. Timo Kotipelto sounds here vulnerable and you can hear him suffering. Can't remember that I ever heard him that fragile / emotional before. But partly his voice is still powerful, not whining as so many others.

The single shortens the time til the new album will hit the stores and it also shows Timo a bit differently. Well done.
 
 










Claudia Ehrhardt


  
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Waiting For The Dawn

(Century Media - 2002)



 
 

 

This is the first solo work of Stratovarius singer Timo Kotipelto and a conceptual album! The lyrics deal with the ancient Egyptian history and mythology, but the protagonist is a fictive person. The historical background Kotipelto has from his days in school when he even thought about studying history!

Musically Waiting For The Dawn is offering everything from heavy rock to melodic power metal. Songs like Arise remember of Black Sabbath (Tony Martin era) and Testimony and Chosen By Me remind me of Iron Maiden (Powerslave-era). But that ain't describe the whole musical aspect of this album! Lord Of Eternity for example is a more complex track, with progressive elements... Like Stratovarius meets Symphony X.... While Knowledge Of Wisdom is a track which could have been on the latest Stratovarius album, in my opinion.

Now you know about the music and the lyrics, but might wonder who joined Timo Kotipelto in the studio... For the recordings Mr. Kotipelto got joined by: Bass player Jari Kainulainen (Stratovarius), guitarists Mike Romeo (Symphony X), Roland Grapow (ex-Helloween) and Sami Virtanen (Warmen) as well as keyboarders Janne Wirman (Children Of Bodom, Warmen) and Mikko Harkin (Sonata Arctica) and last, but not least on drums Gus from HIM and Mirka Rantanen (Tunnel Vision, Warmen)! Some he ask for a helping hand, others heard about this solo album and called to ask, if they are welcome! Btw, the cover is done by Derek Riggs known for his work with Iron Maiden!

Resume: A great album, a fantastic debut and not easy to top!
 
 










Claudia Ehrhardt


  
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Waiting For The Dawn

(Century Media - 2002)



 
 

 

Stratovarius front man Timo Kotipelto is now releasing his first solo album. What I think about this solo albums and side-projects I told in the review of Full Strike, so this time I'll concentrate on the music.

That Mr. Kotipelto is a great metal shouter we know for a few years, but what will he present us? Waiting For The Dawn will show what the blonde has in his musical mind. The album remind me of his main band, but that's almost caused by his voice. But the Finnish made a very interesting, melodic and timeless album which comes alive by the concept - a story based on the ancient Egyptian history and mythology - and the influences of the musicians who supported Kotipelto. You want to who worked with him? Okay, here we go. The guitar parts were played by Mike Romeo (Symphony X), Roland Grapow (ex-Helloween) and Sami Virtanen of Warmen. The bass was played by Stratovarius mate Jari Kainulainen and on the drums were Gas of HIM and Mirka Rantanen (Warmen & Tunnel Vision). The keyboard parts were done by Janne Wirman (Children Of Bodom & Warmen) and Mikko Harkin of Sonata Arctica. An interesting mixture of well-known musicians who played songs like Chosen By Re, Travel Through Time and Vizier all crowned by the masters voice. A decent melodic metal album. Personally I don't think that this was a necessary release... Or can you afford to buy every melodic metal album? I don't think so...
 
 










Volker Raabe
(translation: Claudia Ehrhardt)


  
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