After 13 albums as mentor and often controversial band leader of leading Finnish Melodic Metal band STRATOVARIUS guitarist TIMO TOLKKI embarked on a fresh band project in April 2008. The Grammy nominated record producer, songwriter and musician had sold in excess of 3 million records during a 22 year career, performed over 1500 concerts on every continent and had produced over 50 albums. With STRATOVARIUS he released 13 albums and a further two solo albums.

Seemingly unable to rectify internal band problems with his erstwhile STRATOVARIUS colleages, Tolkki announced he was to use recently compiled songs for his new venture REVOLUTION RENAISSANCE. The first record from the new band, aptly entitled 'New Era' released by the Italian Frontiers imprint in June 2008, included the heavyweight vocal talents of MICHAEL KISKE, ex-HELLOWEEN, Tobias Sammet, from EDGUY and AVANTASIA, plus Pasi Rantanen of THUNDERSTONE. It also boasted Mirka Rantanen on drums, of THUNDERSTONE, Pasi Heikkilä on bass, of 45 DEGREE WOMAN, and Joonas Puolakka on keyboards.

A new unit was assembled for touring purposes, involving  keyboard player Mike Khalilov, drummer Bruno Agra, ex-AQUARIA, singer Gus Monsanto, ex-ADAGIO, and bassist Justin Biggs of DESCEND.

In October REVOLUTION RENAISSANCE signed a four-album deal with JVC Victor in Japan for the territories of Japan, China, Korea, Taiwan, India, Mongolia, Indonesia, East Timor, Thailand, Malaysia, The Philippines, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Brunei, Burma and Singapore.

REVOLUTION RENAISSANCE was all set to embark on South American touring in December. However, these shows were cancelled, with the band citing "lack of professionalism and responsibility of the promoter".

REVOLUTION RENAISSANCE's second album, 'Age Of Aquarius', was released on 23rd March 2009 via Scarlet Records. Subsequently the band contracted to Austria's Napalm Records for a three album deal.

In a controversial move, Timo Tolkki announced that he was to record another album with former STRATOVARIUS members drummer Tuomo Lassila and keyboard player Anti Ikonen. Revealing a title of 'Return To Dremspace', the album was scheduled for a September 2009 release with plans for fans to decide the name of the project. Tolkki stated "If the fans decide that it should be called STRATOVARIUS, then it will. Then I will face the consequences, but that will be one interesting trial, I tell you that."

That April it was revealed Finnish bassist Jari Kainulainen, then a member of Sweden's EVERGREY, had enrolled into Tolkki's scheme, meaning that the project's line-up was exactly the same as the one that recorded STRATOVARIUS' 'Dreamspace' LP that was released in 1994.

Tolkki released a statement on Thursday 8th October indicating that REVOLUTION RENAISSANCE had parted ways with both Biggs and Khalilov due to "musical differences", explaining "Justin is more of a thrash guy and Mike expected the music to be something totally different".

Garry Sharpe-Young