Elements Part 2

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Elements Part 2
Stratovarius studio album

Publication
(s)

2003

Label (s) Goldenworks Ltd./ Nuclear Blast

Format (s)

CD

Genre (s)

Power metal

Title (number)

9

running time

50 min 40 sec

production

Timo Tolkki

Studio (s)

Finnvox Studios

chronology
Elements Part 1
(2003) 		Elements Part 2 Stratovarius
(2005)

Elements Part 2 (abbreviated notation on the album cover: Elements Pt. 2 ) is the eleventh studio album by the Finnish power metal band Stratovarius . It was released on October 29, 2003 in cooperation with the record labels Goldenworks Ltd. and Nuclear Blast nine months after the previous album Elements Part 1 .

Origin and Music

Both albums were created practically at the same time and were recorded and mixed in the Finnvox Studios from April 2002 to March 2003. The Joensuu City Orchestra and a choir put together by the band also took part in the recordings. In the run-up to the album release, a Shape single of the track I Walk to My Own Song was released, as with the previous album, which included the title track as well as two live recordings .

Despite the similar naming, Elements Part 2 is not a continuation of the first part, as there are no musical references. Rather, the second part is a conceptual counterpart to Elements Part 1. The record cover designed by Derek Riggs shows a statue surrounded by tree roots and flying autumn leaves and thus symbolizes two of the four elements , namely earth and air . In contrast, Elements Part 1 focuses on fire and water .

This contrast also shows through musically. The first part is rather delicate and bombastisch arranged involves complex song structures and is controlled by a cheerful mood. Elements Part 2, on the other hand, offers more conventionally composed songs. Only a few songs on the album are played at the high tempo typical of the band ( I Walk to My Own Song , I'm Still Alive , Know the Difference ). The majority of the songs are held at a medium to slow tempo (e.g. Alpha & Omega ) or represent ballads . Also noteworthy are the latent tendency towards minor keys and the rather reserved instrumentation, in which orchestra and choir are only used in a few places come.

Track list

  1. Alpha & Omega (6:38)
  2. I Walk to My Own Song (5:03)
  3. I'm Still Alive (4:50)
  4. Season of Faith's Perfection (6:09)
  5. Awaken the Giant (6:37)
  6. Know the Difference (5:39)
  7. Luminous (4:49)
  8. Dreamweaver (5:53)
  9. Liberty (5:02)

Total playing time: 50 min 40 s

expenditure

Nuclear Blast released the album as a normal single CD in a jewel case and also in two other versions:

Single CD in a hinged box

In this limited edition version, the normal single CD was delivered in a box printed with the album cover; In addition, two bonus tracks were included:

  1. Alpha & Omega ( demo recording , 6:35)
  2. Vapaus (demo, 6:06 am)

The playing time increases to 63 min 21 s due to the bonus tracks.

Double CD in digipack

This limited edition was only available through the Nuclear Blast mail order . The regular single CD was housed in a digipack , and a bonus CD with the following titles was also included:

  1. Alpha & Omega (Demo, 6:35)
  2. Vapaus (demo, 6:06 am)
  3. Season Of Faith's Perfection (Demo, 6:18)
  4. Soul Of A Vagabond (live in Paris on April 6, 2003, 8:03 am)
  5. Destiny / Fantasia (live in San Sebastian on April 5, 2003, 9:08 am)
  6. Father Time (live in Pratteln on April 10, 2003, 4:58 am)
  7. Hunting High and Low (live in San Sebastian on April 5th, 2003, 5:10 am)
  8. Paradise (live in Barcelona on April 4, 2003, 5:43 am)

The playing time of the bonus CD is 52 min 1 s.

It is noteworthy that some of the concerts from which the live recordings were made also included bonus tracks for the I Walk to My Own Song single.

Web links