Stratovarius set sights on Eternal release

Stratovarius will release 15th album Eternal on August 14, they’ve confirmed.

They took a break after their Polaris, Elysium and Nemesis trilogy and keyboardist Jens Johansson says they’re now ready to deliver with the new record.

He says: “Since Polaris we have released a new studio album pretty much every two years. But after 2013’s Nemesis we all decided to take a little bit of time off after we finished the world tour.

“Now we’re all tanned and rested and it’s about fucking time to get back into the saddle. Everybody has been busy the last few months writing lots of new songs – and only the best has been recorded for Eternal.”

The record will be released via earMusic and further details will be made available in due course.

Johansson, vocalist Timo Kotipelto, bassist Lauri Porra, guitarist Matias Kupiainen and drummer Rolf Pilve will play this year’s Wacken Open Air, Germany on July 30 and have lined up a European tour which kicks off in Estonia in October. It includes one UK date at London’s O2 Academy Islington on November 3.

Scott Munro
Louder e-commerce editor

Scott has spent 35 years in newspapers, magazines and online as an editor, production editor, sub-editor, designer, writer and reviewer. Scott joined our news desk in the summer of 2014 before moving to the e-commerce team in 2020. Scott keeps Louder’s buyer’s guides up to date, writes about the best deals for music fans, keeps on top of the latest tech releases and reviews headphones, speakers, earplugs and more. Over the last 10 years, Scott has written more than 11,000 articles across Louder, Classic Rock, Metal Hammer and Prog. He's previously written for publications including IGN, the Sunday Mirror, Daily Record and The Herald newspapers, covering everything from daily news and weekly features, to tech reviews, video games, travel and whisky. Scott's favourite bands are Fields Of The Nephilim, The Cure, New Model Army, All About Eve, The Mission, Cocteau Twins, Drab Majesty, Marillion and Rush.