STRATOVARIUS' TOLKKI Is Japan-Bound

STRATOVARIUS mainman/guitarist Timo Tolkki has issued the following update:

"Off to Japan to play some shows. It's gonna be my 18th time there. This time I'm gonna see some of the real Japan, especially Kyoto area. We are going to have some rehearsals before flying (we haven't really played in months), but that usually comes together pretty quickly. Thank God we can fly with Finnair directly to Osaka so it takes only nine hours instead of 14. I know a pilot of Finnair and he arranged me a place in the cockpit for take off and landing. I have been in the real simulators a couple of times flying the plane myself, so that's gonna be fun."

STRATOVARIUS recently entered Sonic Pump Studios in Helsinki, Finland to begin recording its new album (the title of which consists of two separate words that both start with "R"). An early 2008 release is expected.