Nemesis (Stratovarius album)

Nemesis is the fourteenth studio album by power metal band Stratovarius, released on 22 February 2013 through Edel AG. It is the first Stratovarius album to feature new drummer Rolf Pilve, who replaced Jörg Michael in 2012. The album was first announced on the band's official website on 24 November 2012, with the track listing being revealed on 5 December 2012. Nemesis reached No. 3 on the Finnish albums chart. A preview of "Unbreakable", the album's first single, was made available on YouTube and was released on 25 January 2013.[1][2]

Nemesis
Studio album by
Stratovarius
Released22 February 2013 (2013-02-22)[1]
RecordedAugust–October 2012 at 5 by 5 Audio in Pitäjänmäki, Helsinki, Finland
Genre
Length57:39
LabelEdel
ProducerMatias Kupiainen[1]
Stratovarius chronology
Elysium
(2011)		 Nemesis
(2013)		 Eternal
(2015)
Alternative cover
Alternate cover included in Japan edition
Singles from Nemesis
  1. "Unbreakable"
    Released: January 25, 2013[1]

Background and recording

Former Sonata Arctica guitarist Jani Liimatainen, who released the collaborative acoustic album Blackoustic in 2012 with singer Timo Kotipelto, guest performs on Nemesis, having also co-written two songs in "If the Story Is Over" and "Out of the Fog".[3]

The band considered hiring an orchestra to perform in the album, but they abandoned the idea in the end.[4]

The name of the album came up when guitarist Matias was sitting on the airport of Madrid and suggested it to his bandmates.[4] At that point, most of the lyrics were already done. The woman on the cover may be a savior, an avenger or the author of all the destruction, according to Jens.[4]

Track listing
No.TitleLyricsMusicLength
1."Abandon"Timo KotipeltoMatias Kupiainen4:51
2."Unbreakable"Kupiainen, KotipeltoKupiainen4:37
3."Stand My Ground"Kupiainen, KotipeltoKupiainen4:14
4."Halcyon Days"KotipeltoKupiainen5:29
5."Fantasy"Lauri PorraPorra4:19
6."Out of the Fog"Kotipelto, Jani LiimatainenKotipelto, Liimatainen, Kupiainen6:58
7."Castles in the Air"Jens JohanssonJohansson6:02
8."Dragons"JohanssonJohansson4:04
9."One Must Fall"KupiainenKupiainen4:27
10."If the Story Is Over"LiimatainenLiimatainen, Kotipelto6:06
11."Nemesis"KotipeltoKupiainen6:33
Total length:57:40
Limited edition bonus tracks[5][6]
No.TitleLyricsMusicLength
12."Fireborn"PorraPorra4:45
13."Hunter"Kotipelto, Perttu VänskäKupiainen3:27
Japanese edition bonus track (Japan version also includes "Fireborn" and "Hunter")
No.TitleLyricsMusicLength
14."Kill It with Fire"JohanssonJohansson4:52
Limited vinyl edition bonus track[5][6]
No.TitleLyricsMusicLength
15."Old Man and the Sea"PorraPorra4:11

Chart performance

Finland #3, Czech Republic #12, Billboard Heatseekers #16, Japan #17, Switzerland #30, Spain #32, Germany #41, Sweden #44, France #56, Norway #56, Austria #62, Canada #126

Critical reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
About.com[7]
AllMusic[8]
BW&BK8.5/10[9]
Metal Storm8.2/10.0[10]

LA Weekly named its cover as the most ridiculous metal album cover of 2013.[11]

Personnel

Stratovarius

Guest musicians

Production
  • Mika Jussila – mastering[1]
  • Perttu Vänskä – production assistance
  • Kalle Keski-Orvola – production assistance
  • Paavo Kurkela – production assistance
  • Gyula Havancsák – cover art
  • Sander Nebeling – layout and package coordination

[12]

References
  1. "Stratovarius Release New Studio Album "Nemesis" and EP "Unbreakable"". stratovarius.com. 2012-11-24. Retrieved 2012-12-02.
  2. "Stratovarius Reveal Album Cover & First Song "Unbreakable"". stratovarius.com. 2012-12-05. Retrieved 2012-12-06.
  3. "Stratovarius – Nemesis". Black Wind Metal. 2013-01-14. Retrieved 2013-01-16.
  4. "Stratovarius: New Video Interview With JENS JOHANSSON". Blabbermouth.net. 4 February 2013. Retrieved 9 February 2013.
  5. "Stratovarius Video Contest". stratovarius.com. 2013-01-09. Retrieved 2013-01-14.
  6. "Stratovarius : Nemesis". Record Shop X. Retrieved 2013-01-17.
  7. Dan Drago. "Stratovarius - Nemesis Review". About.com. Archived from the original on 2013-02-28.
  8. Monger, James Christopher. "Nemesis - Stratovarius". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 2014-10-15.
  9. Carl Begai. "STRATOVARIUS - Nemesis". BW&BK.
  10. R'Vannith (2013-03-14). "Stratovarius - Nemesis review". Metal Storm. Retrieved 2014-10-15.
  11. Roche, Jason (9 December 2013). "The Year's 10 Most Ridiculous Metal Album Covers". LA Weekly. Semanal Media LLC. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  12. "Nemesis Liner Notes". 2013-02-13. Retrieved 2013-02-17.
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