STRATOVARIUS Mainman: 'We Are Facing Challenges Man Has Never Faced Before'

STRATOVARIUS mainman Timo Tolkki has commented on the announcement that former Vice President Al Gore and the U.N.'s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change have been awarded this year's Nobel Peace Prize for their efforts to help spread awareness about man-made global warming.

In a posting on his MySpace page, Tolkki writes, "I am very happy that he won it and that the cause gets more and more publicity. Like in any really important question, the powers that be and the programmed masses will criticize anything that would change the present system and their profits and comfortable life. But time has come for mankind to choose some very basic things and our future and destiny depends on those decisions. We are facing challenges man has never faced before. That's why people like Al Gore are important. And the more visibility he gets, the more he will be criticized. That doesn't stop him or other people who still care about this planet. Global climate change is a fact and that fact is not gonna go away. We will either solve it or our culture and way of life will be destroyed. And we don't have time."

STRATOVARIUS debuted a brand new song, entitled "Last Night on Earth", during their appearance at the Wacken Open Air festival on Saturday, August 4 on the "True Metal Stage". Watch professionally filmed video footage of the performance below.

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.

STRATOVARIUS' last, self-titled effort was released in the U.S. in September 2005 via Sanctuary.

"Last Night on Earth":