🎸 Stratovarius – Elements Pt. 2 (2003)
📀 Album Overview
Elements Pt. 2 is the tenth studio album by Stratovarius, released in 2003. It is the companion release to Elements Pt. 1 and completes the band’s dual-album conceptual project focused on natural forces, mythology, and large-scale symphonic metal composition.
Compared to Part 1, this album is generally regarded as more intense, faster, and more traditionally power metal-oriented, while still retaining the orchestral and progressive ambitions of the Elements era.
🎵 Tracklist
- Alpha & Omega
- I Walk to My Own Song
- I'm Still Alive
- Season of Faith's Perfection
- Awaken the Giant
- Know the Difference
- Luminous
- Dreamweaver
- Liberty
- Ride Like the Wind
🎶 Music Genre
- Power Metal
- Symphonic Metal
- Neoclassical Metal
The album blends high-speed drumming, layered orchestration, and melodic vocal lines, returning slightly closer to the band’s classic energetic style compared to Elements Pt. 1.
👥 Credits
Band Members:
- Timo Tolkki – guitars, production, composition
- Timo Kotipelto – vocals
- Jari Kainulainen – bass
- Antti Ikonen – keyboards
- Jörg Michael – drums
Production:
- Produced by Timo Tolkki
- Recorded in Finland
🎸 Musical Direction & Sound
Elements Pt. 2 balances symphonic ambition with higher energy pacing:
- “Alpha & Omega” – fast, aggressive opener with strong melodic hooks
- “I Walk to My Own Song” – anthem-like structure emphasizing individuality
- “Awaken the Giant” – heavy, dramatic composition with orchestral backing
- “Dreamweaver” – atmospheric, melodic centerpiece
- “Ride Like the Wind” – cover of Christopher Cross, reimagined in power metal style
The album emphasizes contrast between speed and orchestral layering, continuing the conceptual scope of the Elements project.
🤓 Fun Facts & Trivia
- This album completes the two-part Elements concept project.
- “Ride Like the Wind” is a power metal reinterpretation of a soft rock classic by Christopher Cross.
- It is often viewed as the more “accessible” and energetic half of the Elements project.
- The production is highly layered, with heavy use of orchestral keyboards.
🧠 Did You Know?
- Timo Tolkki intended the Elements albums as an artistic peak of Stratovarius’ symphonic ambition.
- The recording period was marked by internal tensions within the band despite the ambitious output.
- Jörg Michael’s precision drumming is especially prominent on faster tracks like “Alpha & Omega.”
- The album maintains stronger ties to traditional power metal than Elements Pt. 1.
- It helped reinforce Stratovarius’ reputation for combining speed with symphonic scope.
Download album from Amazon Music Store
Stratovarius Full Discography: Complete Guide to Albums & Covers Collection (1989--2015)
More Albums:
Stratovarius - Fright Night (1989)
Stratovarius - Twilight Time (1992)
Stratovarius - Dreamspace (1994)
Stratovarius - Fourth Dimension (1995)
