need help with SONATA ARCTICA

I'll always have a soft spot for Ecliptica, since it was the CD that first "put them on the map" and I recommend it heartily. Their new one Winterheart's Guild is good too, and I've been playing tracks from it and also their Successor EP lately on the air.
 
I only have Silence. It's okay... But I have yet to see what the big deal is with them. A lot of people seem to really like this band though, so I might not have started with a great album.
 
Sonata Arctica is typical speedy Finnish power metal, with lots of catchy guitar riffs and wailing keyboards throughout. I'm a pretty big fan, and I'm really hoping to see them on the bill at PP next year. In my opinion, each of their albums has strenghts and weaknesses. Ecliptica, the first one, is very intense and ridiculously fast, which makes it a blast to listen to. But after repeated listenings, a lot of the songs on the album start to run together. Silence has a handful of really outstanding, catchy songs like "Weballergy", "San Sebastian Revisited", and "Wolf & Raven", along with a few other solid ones. But there's also a number of slower songs that are a bit bland. Winterheart Guild, the most recent one, is fairly slow overall, but I think the slower songs are a lot more interesting than the ones on Silence. More intricately layered harmonies, and lots of great vocal moments throughout. I don't listen to Successor very much, because half of it is live, and it sounds pretty poor. They also do a completely kickass rendition of Bette Middler's "The Wind Beneath my Wings", which I think is on a single or something.
 
All three studio albums are great. Their EP is excellent as well. The live album is quite good and encompasses much of their best tunes from the first two full-length releases.

Great, great band.

Let's hope they play the US sometime soon!
 
I think they are a little more varied than people give them credit for. I really enjoy their ballads and mid-tempo tunes. "The Last Chapter" off of Silence is one of my favorite songs as is "Replica" off of Ecliptica. Of course the fast stuff is great, but I think Sonata Arctica will be around for a while and have some great stuff left to show us. I would definitely reccommend the first two CD's if you don't have anything by them. This new one (Winterheart's Guild) took some getting used to even from me and i'm a huge fan.

BTW, does anyone know where I can get a copy of that Wind Beneath My Wings cover?
 
They are above average power metal band I would say. They have some catchy fast songs, but the ballads are horrible. The weak point of the band is the singer who truly sucks live. The guitarist and keyboardist (who just left the band) are really good and play impressive solos. Overall, it is a pretty decent band.
 
Sonata Artica is my favorite band so my comments will be quite jaded. To address the comment on singer Tony Kakko's voice, I'm not sure who you were listening to. I think he is one of the best singers around. I am sure you have your reasons but would like to know who you think is better and see if I agree with you or not.
 
I'm also a big fan of theirs, but Tony Kakko's voice does come out pretty bad in a live setting, from what I've heard, even though it sounds awesome in the studio.
 
chibitotoro said:
I'm also a big fan of theirs, but Tony Kakko's voice does come out pretty bad in a live setting, from what I've heard, even though it sounds awesome in the studio.

I have heard/seen 2 live videos of Tony and do not agree about it coming out bad. One was San Sebastian revisited and the other was Beauty and the Beast with Nightwish. The song "Last Drop Falls" off the Silence album is a fine example of his vocal abilities. I believe he is one of the best vocalists in the power metal category.
 
Just listen to Wolf & Raven or Weballergy chorus on live album. He definitely needs to work on his voice. He does sound good in studio but live is where good singers separate themselves from the rest.
 
Heavenly Call said:
BTW, does anyone know where I can get a copy of that Wind Beneath My Wings cover?
It is on their EP!

They also (not on the EP) do some other fabulous covers -- IM's Die with your Boots On and the Scorp's Still Loving You. I think I like their version of Still Loving You even more than the original!!!

I hope they are on the short list for PP V too!!! :rock:

Cheers!
 
All I have to say to all of those who are questioning Tony Kakkos voice is to pick up the new Japanese Import EP "Takatalvi" which has a live video of the band performing "Broken" off of "Winterhearts Guild". All opposition will be silenced