My first foray into Stratovarius (after listening to "Black Diamond" on my friend's Walkman - remember those? - in high school) was when I bought their album Episode (1996). And what a revelation it was...
This song is the most recognizable of the songs on the album and it is pure Stratogenius: lightning-fast-and-loud drums; Malmsteen-esque shredding; a classical interlude followed by guitar and keyboards duelling; and, of course, that voice. Timo Kotipelto's voice soar to uncharted heights as you find yourself on your feet, jumping up and down and alerting your mother, so that she comes up to your room to see if you're OK ... well, maybe not.
It is a fantastic song from a once brilliant band. Better things came along with Visions (1997) and the terrific live album, Visions of Europe! (1997), but the band imploded soon after with subsequent mediocre releases. Shame.
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