STRATOVARIUS, Tracedown, Winter's Verge.В 
24.01.2010, 'Hristo Botev' hall, Sofia - Bulgaria
words by Georgi Georgiev, photo:В Georgi GeorgievВ 

It's cold! Or rather it's bitter cold weather! And it's time for the Stratovarius concert. Equipped as for the North Pole I'm traveling to Hristo Botev hall, thinking that this kind of weather is perfect for an Immortal concert...

Well, I have never been into such a music, just the power metal is not my cup of tea. I'd became reconciled with the fact that this is gonna be a night full of melody, pathetic singing, dizzy solos etc. manifestations of virtuosity.

I'm running to the hall, estimating that there are no many people outside. Finally I'm in! The hall is almost full, about 2000 got over the bitter cold weather especially for attending this event.

Loud Concerts are precise as usual and the concert starts on time. First on the stage are WINTER'S VERGE from Cyprus. Their power metal do not impress me with anything, nothing but a cliche.

Next ones are the FinnsВ TRACEDOWN that surprised me pleasantly. They played about an hour showing nice mixture of melodic death metal,В  lyrical digressions and much more energy!

It was almost 10 p.m. when the time had come - STRATOVARIUS forВ the first time live in Bulgaria!! The band seemed to be very excited and happy of the crowd and Timmo Kotipelto asked constantly "Kak ste?" in plain Bulgarian. He also compared the outside temperatures here towards Finland, finally concluding that there was no big difference at all. That makes them feel at home...

Stratovarius presented some stuff from all their records, playing songs from their new album 'Polaris' as well as some old classics. It turned out that the show was being recorded for future live album.

I had heard of the melodramatic performances and endless "soap operas" of their ex-guitarist Timo Tolkki that made him "famous". Well, now I can say that his substitute Matias Kupiainen presented himself just perfectly!!

In conclusion? Well, there is not that much to say when you'd been at show like this. The fact that these Finns warmed up so many people's hearts with their music says enough..

В 

GALLERY & SETLIST