One has to wonder why a band like Stratovarius didn’t call it a day when they had the chance. I mean it got to the point where the band were urinating on each other during stage performances – that is surely a sign that the rot is setting in? After a brief period of splitting up, slating each other, adding and removing a female vocalist and just general bad feeling - the band for some reason decided to kiss and make-up so they could make more music… Seriously guys, the media slagging matches were more entertaining than this!

Stratovarius return with something that can only be described as dire - in the extreme. Gone is the power metal style they are famous for. Indeed, almost gone completely are the keyboards – so it makes you wonder whether Jens Johansson was just in the studio to make the tea. Instead, Strato are now a bizarre mix of MEGADETH (no, not GOOD Megadeth, we are talking say – “Crush ‘Em”. That’s right. The shite era) and dad-rock extraordinaires THUNDER. Now – if that sounds like your idea of heaven, then knock yourself out, grab a copy as soon as you can. Unfortunately I’d rather watch a video of them urinating on eachother. It would be more entertaining, and for one actually have more point.

So called “single” Maniac Dance is so utterly forgettable it only goes to show how weak the album is - & when the “chart topper” can barely muster a wimper there is something definitely amiss. I’ve given this album fair chance to try and find something positive – but I’ve failed. I can’t even remember what songs are which. The proof is in the pudding – and Stratovarius are a bunch of puddings for getting back together (see what I did there?). The power in their “metal” is so obviously dead and gone, as it seems, is their ability to get together as a band and write a decent song. Both lyrically and musically. Call it a day for God’s sake.

Standout Tracks:  .....

Overall Score:   2.5 /10