Reconsidering Stratovarius

Heh, even I feel that this is a dead horse that should be saved from further torment. For those who know me a bit, that should speak volumes.

The vids posted at the start of the thread further cemented my view really. Yeah, they've got a thing for grandiose arrangements and yeah they are fond of mellow interludes and ambient inserts. But this isn't structurally advanced in any manner, and at the core of the compositions all along are steady, predictable rhythms and patterns that doesn't really offer anything truly adventurous or beyond the scope of what is fairly common.

I wouldn't have objected at seeing them in prog-related, as they have structural elements, effects as well as arrangements that does reach beyond what is common in mainstream metal. But they started out about a decade too late to make a viable case for inclusion in that part of the database. They aren't innovators in their chosen field when utilizing those approaches nor can they be described as influential towards the development of progressive music per se when being slightly proggy or arty beyond being a popular entity in their own right.

Perhaps in 20 or 30 years, if numerous artists performing what is then regarded as progressive metal/rock describe them as a seminal influence, that this might be a case for further consideration. Or if they release several purebred indisputable prog albums later on. For this band just one album wouldn't suffice I suspect, as there are quite a few other bands around with one undisputed prog album to their name not a part of the database here due to their plentiful mainstream releases.

Windhawk - I hear you but if PA applied that rigidity throughout a lot of what has been included here on PA and in fact is being included would never have succeeded or would never succeed in future. We have a recipe for what is prog music being the definition of progressive rock music as PA sees it and if music fits that then to me it is prog music relating to PA. Whether you, I or anyone else likes it Stratovarius meet that definition - the only way around that is to change the definition as we see it. There is a world of difference between standard metal music and Stratovarius. If I look at the standards that you set - then why is Alice Cooper not here? Influential? In Spades. Groundbreaking at inception? Hell yeah. My thinking relating to Alice Cooper does not vector from todays standards but would I have called him prog back when he released Billion Dollor Babies, Killers, From the Inside etc - most definately. Would I like to see him here - I don't know about that. Would I have called Strat prog when they released Elements? Hell yeah. Would I like to see them here - Hell yeah.

Oh for f##k's sake, not again.

The result is obvious.

fi

Stratovarius

Thread closed before a bad carnival.