How does a band go about compiling a greatest-hits collection when they're all but ignored outside of a devoted fan base? In the case of Stratovarius, they simply consult that audience; the track listing for The Chosen Ones: Greatest Hits was determined by fan balloting, and the results make a case for Stratovarius as one of the most unfairly overlooked metal outfits of the '90s, as well as providing a perfect entry point for American audiences who have been kept in the dark by the scarcity of the group's albums up until 1998. Two of the tracks here are rarities formerly available in Japan, fleshing out a pretty entertaining and balanced portrait of the group's career up through 1999. ? Steve Huey
marioskor