Stratovarius - Episode (1996)++ ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Timo Kotipelto - Lead Vocals Timo Tolkki - Guitars Jari Kainulainen - Bass Anders Johansson - Keyboards Jorg Michael - Drums Pasi Puolakka - Flute on "Forever". Backing Vocals by "The Hangover Brothers": Rimmo Blom, Richard Johnsson, Timo Tolkki and Marco Vaara. Vocals/Lyrics Concultant - Richard Johnsson. Produced by Timo Tolkki. Engineered by TT "Kakadu" Oksata and Timo Tolkki. Recorded and Mixed at Finvox Studios, Helsinki, October'95 - February'96. Mixed by Mikko "Fimnel" Karmilla and Timo Tolkki. String Orchestra and Choir Recorded at Arabian Sound Studios. Strings and Choirs on "Eternity", "Season Of Change", "Babylon" and "Forever" Engineered by Rene Siren and Timo Tolkki. Strings Played by Sibelius String Orchestra. Female/Male Orchestra by Sibelius Choir and Pop/Jazz Conversatory Choir. Strings and Choir Conducted by Reijo Harvonen. Arrangements by Timo Tolkki. Put Into Reality and Scored by Reijo Harvonen except "Forever" Arranged by Reijo Harvonen. Cover Concept and Illustrations by Sakari Pettola. Concept Assisted by Timo Kotipelto. Typography by Marisa Jacobi. Photography by Qick Lindberg/Hikki Oy. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Track Listing 1) Father Time (Tolkki / Kotipelto, Johnson) 5:01 2) Will The Sun Rise? (Tolkki / Kotipelto) 5:06 3) Eternity (Tolkki / Kotipelto) 6:55 4) Episode (Tolkki) 2:01 5) Speed Of Light (Tolkki / Kotipelto) 3:03 6) Uncertainty (Kotipelto) 5:58 7) Season Of Change (Tolkki) 6:56 8) Stratosphere (Tolkki) 4:52 9) Babylon (Tolkki) 7:09 10) Tomorrow (Tolkki / Johnson) 4:51 11) Night Time Eclipse (Tolkki / Kotipelto) 7:58 12) Forever (Tolkki) 3:08 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1) Father Time (Tolkki / Kotipelto, Johnson) 5:01 Walking ... down the path that leads me to my memories Pacing all the way ... without a care in my stride Where are the friends of my yesterday, have they moved on with they lives Can we still laugh ... and joke about things like before There's no need to hide ... the past that I have left behind It's a good resource ... somewhere for me to find Why am I waiting for someone to reach out, it should be all up to them Keeping in touch ain't that easy but I'll have to try Chorus 1: Where have all the years gone That's what I am asking now What have I learnt so far Tell me father time Tell me now Now I ... understand I'll take from time what I need And I store it inside, it's there for me to find I can't deny that the years will pass by but it won't bother me Coz now I will set out ... to realize my dream Chorus 1 Yeah Chorus 2: Where have all the years gone That's what I am asking now What have I learnt so far Tell me father time Chorus 2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2) Will The Sun Rise? (Tolkki / Kotipelto) 5:06 Throwing my dreams out of my mind Casting them into the sky Canceling tasks I've delayed for so long Now it's do or die Chorus 1: I can't be seen I can't be heard But I am here and I am wondering Will the sun rise ... tomorrow Will it light up ... my sky Can I wake up ... with no sorrow ... awaiting Will the sun rise ... tomorrow Will I still see ... the dawn And not worry ... 'bout the future ... at all At the end of each day I promise myself... I'd better start to live Coz sooner or later I'll find out... There's so much I can give Chorus 1 & 2 Chorus 2 (2) Will the sun rise (2) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 3) Eternity (Tolkki / Kotipelto) 6:55 When clouds are covering the sky I can't help thinking ... what's behind In a fading evening ... I can feel strange thoughts in my mind What if we aren't alone here There's a clone of everyone ... somewhere That duplicates all that we do Not like me, not like you ... but our other ego Chorus 1: There ain't no wars or crises Only joy and ... compromises Time has stood still Chorus 2: Why don't you ... take me there Wanna feel some ... infinity Why don't we ... just dare Coz after all remains... Why don't you ... take me there Wanna feel some ... infinity Why don't we ... just dare Coz after all remains - eternity A landscape with no trees And a mist arising from the distance An illusion just ... for me Or a proper ... reward ... and a chance Chorus 1 & 2 Chorus 2 (2) Eternity (2) Coz after all, after all all remains ... eternity Always remains eternity ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 4) Episode (Tolkki) 2:01 Instrumental ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 5) Speed Of Light (Tolkki / Kotipelto) 3:03 Today is just another day ... of my life too short to live I should have some kind of meaning, a destiny to believe in Before I go to sleep I find some pictures of a time... When everything was still so fine Although the years have passed by... I will give it all I have inside ... everything Chorus: I'm away - lost in my thoughts Everyday - my life goes by ... at the speed of light I'm away - lost in my thoughts Everyday - my life goes by I'm away - lost in my thoughts Everyday - my life goes by ... at the speed of, at the speed of... At the speed of ... light ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 6) Uncertainty (Kotipelto) 5:58 Learning by trying, it's hard to deny it While paying for what I ... used to know (to know, to know) Dreams are deceiving ... untill I'm achieving... The goals I haven't ... set too low (too low, too low) Chorus: Waiting - waiting... For a new day to wipe away The uncertainty - uncertainty... That flows around me once again to stay So many choices but so few answers My time ... slips away while ... thinking too much Whom to believe in, they're all just repeating... The same old lies ... so nice to clutch Chorus Waiting - waiting... For a new day to wipe away The uncertainty - uncertainty... That flows around me once again Chorus To wipe away the uncertainty Ooh oh oh Uncertainty (2), yeah yeah ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 7) Season of Change (Tolkki) 6:56 Season ... of change, life ... feels so strange Look ... into my eyes, do you see ... the truth I'm lost ... and alone, feelings unknown Come to me stronger ... than ... before On winds of time ... my soul will fly The angels are knocking ... at my door Ooh now I need ... to be free... From all this hatred ... I feel inside Let it be my dreams Let it be my thoughts All those things in my heart One too many days One too many years I wasted for nothing I never realized ... the truth is inside... Of every man for all to see Listen to me now, I'm so close to you Never felt ... like this before (before, before...) The carousel is spinning fast Better enjoy while it lasts Every moment is like gold You'll remember when you're old And the meaning of this life ... is to live and is to die Make the best out of your dreams They're the world where you are free All the sorrow and the pain ... will be washed away by rain An eternal joy will come, it can be found by everyone Though the end is drawing near ... I'm not feeling any fear I have found the truth inside ... after all the tears I've cried (cried) Season of change (4) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 8) Stratosphere (Tolkki) 4:52 Instrumental ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 9) Babylon (Tolkki) 7:09 A new day is rising ... in ancient Babylon... Revealing mysteries to see And the endless caravan... Never ending its journey With the wings of the wind ... I will fly Chorus 1: I can hear you calling me I am blind but I see, yeah Chorus 2: Babylon, your memory haunts... Your memory haunts me forever Won't should be Won't leave me be Babylon, your glory's strong... Your glory's stronger than ever... For all to see (2) Centuries have passed by But your memory still lives on ... in the minds of those ... who see Under the summer moon ... there comes a sight... That stays with me ... forever Chorus 1 & 2 And underneath the starlit sky... I feel so strong, I'll never die I'm on this road to eternity My soul will live forever... I'm free Chorus 2 (2) Babylon, your memory haunts... Your memory haunts me forever... ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 10) Tomorrow (Tolkki / Johnson) 4:51 I'm staring ... out the window Wondering ... will I soon know The answers ... to the questions within Where should I begin I'm delusioned ... by a clear winter night While trying ... to find some insight The solution ... is close at hand yet still so far away I'll turn the tables 'round and find another way I'll leave all this behind and move on today Chorus: I will take things as they come Look out for number one And I'll be back - tomorrow Feeling strong and brave inside My head up high with pride Yes I'll be back - tomorrow I'm facing ... my nightmares again Determined ... that I won't bend Now the answers ... are coming to me I'm learning how to believe I know now ... that this is the way I've found my ... red-letter day I've been there ... out on a limb But now I've finally come in I've turned the tables 'round and found another way I've left it all behind for a better day Chorus (2) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 11) Night Time Eclipse (Tolkki / Kotipelto) 7:58 If I could stay awake for awhile I would see another morning Don't wanna fall asleep now when... Everything seems so far and beyond (beyond, beyond, beyond...) Walking down a familiar road But the darkness is misleading me I know I should feel fear inside But still the shadows is where I wanna be Chorus 1: Just an ordinary day stealing all the hope away Wanting me to be the one ... who has dreams ... made of clay Chorus 2: Ooh oh oh oh - My fading confused mind Ooh oh oh oh - Creating phrases unknown I know I should't stay awake If I fall asleep they just ... might find me Now all is so clear I can finally proceed (proceed, proceed...) Chorus 1 & 2 Waiting for the dawn ... soon to arrive So few options that I have ... and I can use Life's circumstances ... can be so cruel If I take a chance I just might ... make the wrong move ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 12) Forever (Tolkki) 3:08 I stand alone in the darkness The winter of my life came so fast Memories go back to my childhood... To days I still recall Ooh how happy I was then There was no sorrow - there was no pain Walking through the green fields Sunshine in my eyes I'm still there, everywhere I'm the dust in the wind I'm the star in the northern sky I never stayed ... anywhere I'm the wind in the trees Would you wait ... for me ... forever? I'm still there, everywhere I'm the dust in the wind I'm the star in the northern sky I never stayed ... anywhere I'm the wind in the trees Would you wait ... for me ... forever? (2) Will you wait ... for me ... forever? ------------------------------------------------------------------------ We want to thank everybody who has supported us. This album could not have been made without YOU!!! We want to thank every magazine, radio/TV station, journalist that supported us and had the guts not to turn trendy!!! All true Heavy Metallers in the world who supported us: Thanks for being so faithful and see you on Episode Tour'96!!! Timo Tolkki plays ESP Guitars & Picks and Mesa Boogie Amplification. Jorg Michael plays Tama Drums, Meinl Cymbals and Vic Firth Sticks.