Episode (Stratovarius album)

Episode
Studio album by Stratovarius
Released	22 April 1996 (1996-04-22)
Recorded	October 1995 – February 1996
Studio	Finnvox Studios, Helsinki
Genre	Neoclassical metal, power metal
Length	62:56
Label	Noise
Producer	Timo Tolkki
Stratovarius chronology
Fourth Dimension (1995) Episode (1996) Visions (1997)
Singles from Episode
"Father Time" / "Uncertainty" Released: 1996 "Will the Sun Rise?" Released: 1996

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic

Episode is the fifth studio album by power metal band Stratovarius, released on 22 April 1996 through Noise Records. It is the first Stratovarius album to feature keyboardist Jens Johansson and drummer Jörg Michael, both of whom would form part of the band's most stable line-up for nine years. The album reached No. 21 on the Finnish albums chart and remained on that chart for six weeks.

Track listing

No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Length
1.	"Father Time"	Timo Kotipelto, Richard Johnson	Timo Tolkki	5:01
2.	"Will the Sun Rise?"	Kotipelto	Tolkki	5:06
3.	"Eternity"	Kotipelto	Tolkki	6:55
4.	"Episode"	(instrumental)	Tolkki	2:01
5.	"Speed of Light"	Kotipelto	Tolkki	3:03
6.	"Uncertainty"	Kotipelto	Kotipelto	5:59
7.	"Season of Change"	Tolkki	Tolkki	6:56
8.	"Stratosphere"	(instrumental)	Tolkki	4:51
9.	"Babylon"	Tolkki	Tolkki	7:09
10.	"Tomorrow"	Johnson	Tolkki	4:51
11.	"Night Time Eclipse"	Kotipelto	Tolkki	7:58
12.	"Forever"	Tolkki	Tolkki	3:06
Total length:				62:56

Japanese edition bonus track

No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Length
13.	"When the Night Meets the Day"	Tolkki	Tolkki	5:30

2002 Japanese reissue bonus track

No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Length
14.	"Future Shock '96"	Tuomo Lassila, Tolkki	Lassila, Tolkki	4:27

Personnel

• Timo Kotipelto – lead vocals
• Timo Tolkki – guitar, background vocals, arrangement (except track 12), engineering, mixing, production
• Jens Johansson – keyboards
• Jörg Michael – drums
• Jari Kainulainen – bass guitar
• Pasi Puolakka – flute
• Sibelius String Orchestra – strings
• Sibelius Choir – choir
• Pop/Jazz Conservatory Choir – choir
• Reijo Harvonen – conducting, arrangement (track 12)
• Kimmo Blom – background vocals
• Richard Johnson – background vocals
• Marko Vaara – background vocals
• Richard Johnson – vocal consultation, lyrical consultation
• Timo Oksala – engineering
• Rene Siren – engineering
• Erol Sakir – tape operation
• Mikko Karmila – mixing
• Mika Jussila – mastering

Chart performance

Year	Chart	Position
1996	Finnish albums chart	21

External links

• Episode at stratovarius.com