Kotipelto & Liimatainen: Blackoustic

This is what happens when you unplug power metal

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As the long-serving vocalist of Stratovarius and a co-founding former guitarist of Sonata Arctica, Timo Kotipelto and Jani Liimatainen are major names in the European power metal scene. After playing acoustic shows together in their native Finland, the duo have decided to lay down the results on CD, stripping Strato and Sonata classics to the bare bones, revisiting a variety of songs by their favourite artists and throwing in the odd solo tune.

Regrettably, the results are hit and miss. Gary Moore’s Out In The Fields, Rainbow’s Rainbow Eyes and Behind Blue Eyes by The Who survive the transition better than most. Timo and Jani also take a passable stab at Deep Purple’s Perfect Strangers, Kotipelto’s passionate vocal delivery offering adequate recompense for the glaring absence of its near-legendary Blackmore/Lord riff.

A sole original tune, Where Mr Rainbow Ends, is nothing to get too excited about. Just as damning, material such as Serenity, Sleep Well and the traditional Finnish song Karjalan Kunnailla is pretty forgettable, a weakness further exposed by the restrictions of the strum-along delivery.

Dave Ling

Dave Ling was a co-founder of Classic Rock magazine. His words have appeared in a variety of music publications, including RAW, Kerrang!, Metal Hammer, Prog, Rock Candy, Fireworks and Sounds. Dave’s life was shaped in 1974 through the purchase of a copy of Sweet’s album ‘Sweet Fanny Adams’, along with early gig experiences from Status Quo, Rush, Iron Maiden, AC/DC, Yes and Queen. As a lifelong season ticket holder of Crystal Palace FC, he is completely incapable of uttering the word ‘Br***ton’.