Is the fact that they're Finnish pertinent to anything about to be discussed? No, probably not, but it's worth mentioning that they're one of the few bands we've heard of to hail from the cold dark North and not play Black metal. The new disc, "Destiny," does end off with the bonus "Cold Winter Nights" however, an acknowledgment perhaps, but not presented in expectedly bleak fashion. In fact, "Stratovarius" is probably Scandinavia's answer to Germany's Gamma Ray. The two are often similar in their respective styles and revolving conceptualizations, and would make a formidable tour package anywhere but the U.S. perhaps, but we're moving in the right direction finally.

"Stratovarius" has come along way since their slightly crude beginnings, and have really hit a comfort zone on this and their last release. Imagine what the European 80's pop-metal band might sound like if the tape-speed was juiced just a little higher. "4000 Rainy Nights," "Years Go By" and "Venus In The Morning" notwithstanding, that's what we get with "Stratovarius," yet presented in a mature context where there's no mistaking it's music first beyond image. In fact, singer Timo Kotipelto sounds like a dead ringer at times, for Sweden's one-time answer to Bon Jovi, Joey Tempest, with the rest of the band, led by one of Germany's most employed session drummers, Jorg Micheal leading the charge. "Stratovarius" also tracks dual harmony tradeoffs between guitar and keyboards as effectively as any you'll hear while effortlessly jumping back to the power and speed they're commonly associated with.

A band "destined," if you will, to reach the top in what's getting to be a pleasantly crowded heavy music domain.