Stratovarius "The Fourth Dimension (Japan, Victor Entertainment, VICP-5506)"

Fourth Dimension is the fourth studio album by power metal band Stratovarius, released on 11 April 1995 through Noise Records. The album is the band's first to feature vocalist Timo Kotipelto as well as the last with keyboardist Antti Ikonen and drummer Tuomo Lassila, thus being the last Stratovarius album to date featuring an all-Finnish line-up.

Founding member and guitarist Timo Tolkki, who had served as the band's vocalist for their first three albums, still provided background vocals on Fourth Dimension before handing over lead singing duties to Kotipelto for all subsequent albums. The track "030366" is likely a reference to Tolkki's birthday of 3 March 1966.

For a couple of months, the recording sessions for this album ran parallel and in the same studio as Tolkki's then-upcoming solo studio album Classical Variations and Themes. In said album, Lassila and Ikonen also provided drums and keyboards, respectively.

Track listing

All music is composed by Timo Tolkki. Lyrics as indicated.

1. "Against the Wind" Tolkki, Timo Kotipelto 3:48
2. "Distant Skies" Tolkki 4:10
3. "Galaxies" Tolkki, Kotipelto 5:00
4. "Winter" Tolkki 6:32
5. "Stratovarius" (instrumental) 6:22
6. "Lord of the Wasteland" Tolkki 6:11
7. "030366" Tolkki 5:46
8. "Nightfall" Tolkki, Tuomo Lassila 5:09
9. "We Hold the Key" Tolkki, Kotipelto 7:53
10. "Twilight Symphony" Tolkki 6:59
11. "Call of the Wilderness" (instrumental) 1:30

Total length: 59:20

Japanese edition bonus track

1. "Dreamspace" (live) Tolkki 6:16

This is the first album featuring Timo Kotipelto on vocals.

Recording information:

Recorded at Soundtrack Studios in Helsinki, Finland from June-October, 1994.

Mixed at Hot House Studio in Espoo, Finland in November, 1994.

Mastered at Finnvox Studios in Helsinki, Finland.

Track 12 recorded live at Club Citta, Kawasaki.