Nemesis (Stratovarius album)

2013 studio album by Stratovarius

Nemesis

Studio album by

Stratovarius

Released| 22 February 2013 (2013-02-22)[1]
Recorded| August–October 2012 at 5 by 5 Audio in Pitäjänmäki, Helsinki, Finland
Genre|

* Power metal
* symphonic metal

Length| 57:39
Label| Edel
Producer| Matias 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]

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]

## Background and recording

[edit]

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

[edit]

No.| Title| Lyrics| Music| Length

|
|
|
|

1.| "Abandon"| Timo Kotipelto| Matias Kupiainen| 4:51
2.| "Unbreakable"| Kupiainen, Kotipelto| Kupiainen| 4:37
3.| "Stand My Ground"| Kupiainen, Kotipelto| Kupiainen| 4:14
4.| "Halcyon Days"| Kotipelto| Kupiainen| 5:29
5.| "Fantasy"| Lauri Porra| Porra| 4:19
6.| "Out of the Fog"| Kotipelto, Jani Liimatainen| Kotipelto, Liimatainen, Kupiainen| 6:58
7.| "Castles in the Air"| Jens Johansson| Johansson| 6:02
8.| "Dragons"| Johansson| Johansson| 4:04
9.| "One Must Fall"| Kupiainen| Kupiainen| 4:27
10.| "If the Story Is Over"| Liimatainen| Liimatainen, Kotipelto| 6:06
11.| "Nemesis"| Kotipelto| Kupiainen| 6:33
Total length:| 57:40

Limited edition bonus tracks[5][6]No.| Title| Lyrics| Music| Length

|
|
|
|

12.| "Fireborn"| Porra| Porra| 4:45
13.| "Hunter"| Kotipelto, Perttu Vänskä| Kupiainen| 3:27

Japanese edition bonus track (Japan version also includes "Fireborn" and "Hunter")No.| Title| Lyrics| Music| Length

|
|
|
|

14.| "Kill It with Fire"| Johansson| Johansson| 4:52

Limited vinyl edition bonus track[5][6]No.| Title| Lyrics| Music| Length

|
|
|
|

15.| "Old Man and the Sea"| Porra| Porra| 4:11

## Critical reception

[edit]

Professional ratingsReview scores

Source| Rating
About.com| [7]
AllMusic| [8]
BW&BK| 8.5/10[9]
Metal Storm| 8.2/10.0[10]

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

## Personnel

[edit]

### Stratovarius

[edit]

* Timo Kotipelto – vocals
* Matias Kupiainen – guitar, mixing, production
* Jens Johansson – keyboard
* Rolf Pilve – drums
* Lauri Porra – bass

### Guest musicians

[edit]

* Jani Liimatainen – acoustic guitar, background vocals
* Joakin Jokela – whistling
* background vocals by the "Shark Finns" – Susana Koski, Anna Maria Parkkinen, Anna-Maija Jalkenen, Alexa Leroux, Tipe Johnson, Hepa Waara, Ari Sievälä, James Lascelles, Dane Stefaniuk, Koop Arponen

### Production

[edit]

* 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]

## Charts

[edit]

Chart (2013)  | Peak
position

|

Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[13] | 62
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[14] | 136
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[15] | 59
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)[16] | 3
French Albums (SNEP)[17] | 82
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[18] | 41
Japanese Albums (Oricon)[19] | 37
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)[20] | 32
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[21] | 44
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[22] | 30
US Heatseekers Albums (Billboard)[23] | 16

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e "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. ^ a b c "Stratovarius: New Video Interview With JENS JOHANSSON". Blabbermouth.net. 4 February 2013. Retrieved 9 February 2013.
5. ^ a b "Stratovarius Video Contest". stratovarius.com. 2013-01-09. Retrieved 2013-01-14.
6. ^ a b "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.
13. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Stratovarius – Nemesis" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
14. ^ "Ultratop.be – Stratovarius – Nemesis" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
15. ^ "Ultratop.be – Stratovarius – Nemesis" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
16. ^ "Stratovarius: Nemesis" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
17. ^ "Lescharts.com – Stratovarius – Elysium". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
18. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Stratovarius – Nemesis" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
19. ^ "ネメシス". Oricon.co.jp. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
20. ^ "Spanishcharts.com – Stratovarius – Nemesis". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
21. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Stratovarius – Nemesis". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
22. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Stratovarius – Nemesis". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
23. ^ "Stratovarius Chart History (Heatseekers Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved June 20, 2024.

* v
* t
* e

Stratovarius

* Timo Kotipelto
* Jens Johansson
* Lauri Porra
* Matias Kupiainen
* Rolf Pilve

* Timo Tolkki
* Tuomo Lassila
* Jörg Michael
* Jari Kainulainen
* Antti Ikonen
* Jari Behm
* Jyrki Lentonen
* Mika Ervaskari
* John Vihervä
* Staffan Stråhlman

Studio albums|

* Fright Night
* Twilight Time
* Dreamspace
* Fourth Dimension
* Episode
* Visions
* Destiny
* Infinite
* Elements Pt. 1
* Elements Pt. 2
* Stratovarius
* Polaris
* Elysium
* Nemesis
* Eternal
* Survive

Live albums|

* Visions of Europe

Compilations|

* Intermission
* Best Of
* Enigma: Intermission 2

Related pages|

* Discography
* Kotipelto
* Cain's Offering
* Revolution Renaissance
* Symfonia
* Blackoustic
* Avalon

Authority control databases |

* MusicBrainz release group

|

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