earMUSIC announce the release of Nemesis, the new studio album by STRATOVARIUS, to hit the stores as standard 11-track edition as well as 13-track special edition on February 22nd, 2013. A taste of the new studio album can be enjoyed with the limited edition EP, Unbreakable, released on January 25th.

Stratovarius are hailed as one of the most influential and successful symphonic metal bands in the world and they have managed to establish themselves as one of the metal scene’s heavy names. The new album, Nemesis, unites all the best traits of the band’s melodic, powerful, fresh and technically elaborated metal, all spiced up with an incredible sense for melody.

The album was produced and mixed by Matias Kupiainen and mastered by Mika Jussila from Finnvox studios, who has a long history with the band.

To shorten the waiting period for the album, January 25th finds the release of the limited edition EP, Unbreakable. It features five songs: the new album leading track 'Unbreakable' and a selection of four songs from previous albums, remastered by Mika Jussila. Songs like 'Falling Star' (taken from Polaris) and 'Freedom' (taken from Infinite) show a different, catchy side of Stratovarius and guide the way to the new masterpiece Nemesis.

Matias Kupiainen about the new song: "’Unbreakable’ is a very important song to me and the lyrics have a lot of personal meaning. Sometimes you can snap out of your day to day fog and see what is important. And when you are in that special moment, when you have that special feeling, you are invincible, unbreakable; you should really stop and enjoy the feeling. Even, if the whole world falls apart tomorrow."

Timo Kotipelto adds: “This album has a darker and more modern sound. We, as a band, have gone through a lot and we have matured as songwriters. The making of this album was easier than before, because we could give it as much time as needed."

Unbreakable tracklisting:

'Unbreakable' (taken from the brand new studio album Nemesis)

'Falling Star' (taken from Polaris)

'The Game Never Ends' (taken from Elysium)

'Freedom' (taken from Infinite)

'Why Are We Here' (taken from Intermission)

(Songs 2-5 remastered by Mika Jussila in 2012)

Stratovarius and AMARANTHE are teaming up in a double headline bill next spring. The Nordic Nexus Of Nemesis Tour 2013 will kick off in Munich, Germany on March 20th.

Confirmed dates include:

March

20 - Backstagehalle - Munich, Germany
21 - Stadtgarten - Erfurt, Germany
22 - Masters Of Rock Cafe - Zlin, Czech Republic
23 - Club 202 - Budapest, Hungary
24 - Majestic Club - Bratislava, Slovakia
26 - Szene - Vienna, Austria
27 - Hirsch - Nürnberg, Germany
28 - Matrix - Bochum, Germany
29 - Grünspan - Hamburg, Germany
30 - De Pul - Uden, Netherlands
31 - La Cigale - Paris, France

April

2 - La Laiterie - Strasbourg, France
3 - Le Kao - Lyon, France
5 - Razzmatazz 2 - Barcelona, Spain
6 - Arena - Madrid, Spain
7 - Rock Star - Bilbao, Spain
9 - Z7 - Pratteln, Switzerland
10 - Alcatrazz - Milan, Italia
11 - Rockfabrik - Ludwigsburg, Germany
13 - PPM Fest (Festival) - Mons, Belgium