So Sonata Arctica is Touring Europe...

Creeps said:
yikes! Silence was my introduction to them, then I picked up the 1st.. I love both of em. shame on you (wink nudge)

I can almost guarantee that had you bought & absorbed their debut first, that you wouldn't feel this way. It was most definitely a letdown for me, but still a fairly decent album, just not great by any stretch.
 
But in what way was Silence bad? The only flaws I find are that it had a few too many ballads. But songs like Weballergy, San Sebastian revisited, and Wolf & Raven were great, IMO. Winterheart's Guild is pretty good. I think it lacks songs like the ones I just mentioned, that were really catchy, and instantly stayed with you forever. But, the more I listen to it, the more I like it. I'm curious to see what all the people who disliked Silence think of it.
 
I loved their debut, I loved Silence. And I love the one song I've heard from the new album (Victoria's Secret). That's basically the reason I want to see these guys so badly. They haven't produced a bad tune yet..