STRATOVARIUS: Support Acts Announced For European Tour

Finnish melodic metallers STRATOVARIUS have announced the support acts for their forthcoming European headlining tour, which is scheduled to kick off on January 7 in Bochum, Germany. They are as follows:

With TRACEDAWN, MYSTIC PROPHECY:

Jan. 07 - Zeche - Bochum [DE]
Jan. 08 - Hof ter Lo - Antwerp [BE]
Jan. 09 - Melkweg - Amsterdam [NL]
Jan. 10 - Garage - London [UK]
Jan. 12 - Elysee - Paris [FR]
Jan. 13 - Le Bikini - Toulouse [FR]
Jan. 15 - La Riviera - Madrid [ES]
Jan. 16 - Rockstar Live - Bilbao [ES]
Jan. 17 - Razzmatazz 1 - Barcelona [ES]
Jan. 19 - Transbordeur - Lyon [F]
Jan. 20 - Z7 - Pratteln [CH]
Jan. 21 - Alcatraz - Milan [IT]

With TRACEDAWN, WINTER'S VERGE:

Jan. 23 - SKC - Belgrad [RS]
Jan. 24 - Hristo Botev Hall - Sofia [BG]
Jan. 26 - Petöfi Hall - Budapest [HU]
Jan. 27 - Szene - Vienna [AT]
Jan. 28 - PKO - Bratislava [SK]
Jan. 29 - Masters of Rock - Zlin [CZ]

With TRACEDAWN, DREAM EVIL:

Jan. 30 - Backstage - München [DE]
Feb. 01 - Longhorn - Stuttgart [DE]
Feb. 02 - Garage - Saarbrücken [DE]
Feb. 03 - Markthalle - Hamburg [DE]
Feb. 04 - The Rock - Copenhagen [DK]
Feb. 06 - Mejeriet - Lund [SE]
Feb. 07 - Trädgarn - Gothenburg [SE]
Feb. 08 - Rockefeller - Oslo [NO]
Feb. 09 - Tyrol - Stockholm [SE]

"Polaris", the new album from STRATOVARIUS, landed at position No. 57 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200.

"Polaris" entered the official chart in the band's home country at position No. 2. The album also debuted on the German Media Control chart at No. 55.

"Polaris" was released in the U.S. on May 26 via Armoury Records (a division of Eagle Rock Entertainment).

The cover artwork for "Polaris" was created by Gyula Havancsák.

"Polaris" was recorded in the fall 2008 at Hästholmen and 5by5 studios in Helsinki, Finland. It was mixed by the longtime confidant of the band, Mikko Karmila.

STRATOVARIUS 2009 is:

Timo Kotipelto - Vocals
Matias Kupiainen - Guitars
Lauri Porra - Bass
Jörg Michael - Drums
Jens Johansson - Keyboards