I've always thought I should like Stratovarius more than I do, and I wondered if I'd really take to this album of theirs, but now I do believe it is one of their best. It starts with the steady "Hunting High And Low" and fast "Millenium" (everyone was Millenium-mad back then), two solid, without being remarkable, songs, before going into progressive territory with "Mother Gaia", which doesn't really work, or maybe it does? Not sure about that one. But pretty much everything else does work afterwards, with "Infinity" being a much more successful attempt at progressive rock, while the high-flying "Freedom" is another highlight, and "Glory To The World" is good too. The lyrics are full of their rather characteristic think-positively-and-make-the-world-a-better-place topics (lyrically, they're a bit like a power metal Yes), and the music is played with passion, Jorg Michael's drums in particular absolutely ferocious, especially on "Glory To The World."
Maybe I will eventually learn to love Stratovarius, but for now, I'll continue to like, admire and enjoy them.
****
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