Sonata Arctica

[Matt Smith]

Anybody else here like Sonata Arctica? I've always liked 'em, and man I just wanted to go on record and say how amazing I think their new album is. I think it's the best thing they've ever done. Tony just blows me away as a songwriter...the melodies he comes up with are out of this world!! Hopefully I'll get to meet him eventually. It's always an honor to meet the songwriters I look up to.

Anyway, I guess this is neither here nor there. Just wanted to see if anyone else thinks the album is as awesome as I do.

 

[Der Schriftsteller]

Yes I like Sonata Arctica too. Maybe not as much as Theocracy, but it's a good thing if you take them as inspiration, it won't derogate your music at all!

 

[Nightmare1z]

Sonata Arctica was a band I really kinda liked, but never really appreciated. More and more though I grew to like them, and now they are definatly one of my favorite bands to listen too.

I got the new album a month or so ago - and to me, it's their strongest yet. IMO, it has the strongest songs on there. (I never was into the whole 1st album is the best of SA like so many people. To me their first is typical speed power metal)

Ain't Your Fairytale - What a song, such a sing-a-long chorus. Great song.

Don't Say a Word - I love this song. I remember hearing it over the loud speaker at PP (since Matt pointed it out to me) and I could remember the chorus in my head. Great song and tempo change!

White Pearl, Black Oceans - Probably one of my favorite songs SA has done. Great melodies and harmonies.

And the rest of the songs are great as well!

I agree, Sonata Arctica is an awesome band!

 

[Matt Smith]

I agree with absolutely everything you said, Jon. I love those songs as well. "White Pearl, Black Oceans" is ! I also love the 80s-style catchiness of "Blinded No More" and I think "Shamandalie" is a killer ballad. Best album yet, without a doubt!
I also TOTALLY agree with you about their first, "Ecliptica". It's a good album, but I never understood why everyone seemed to think it was their best. To me they've grown miles from the Stratovarius style of that debut, especially in the way that Tony has learned to better write for his voice. In fact, I think they've gotten better with each album. I loved "Winterheart's Guild", but thought the first half of the album was definitely stronger than the second. This one is strong from start to finish.

 

[Kenneth R.]

hmmm i think i'll have to check it out! i was a big fan of winterheart's guild and with so many new albums, i overlooked them because i wasn't sure if it would be something new, or more of the same.

 

[Ayreon Guardian X]

Personally, my favorite Sonata album is Silence....there are just so many classics on that album....there just isn't a single bad song....even on Winterhearts and Reckoning, there are some less-awesome songs....not so with Silence. The weakest song on Silence is Tallulah, and that's just because it is a slow ballad....

 

[Victory]

I also like them, eventhough I suggest you check out new Finnish power metal sensation, Twilightning, www.twilightning.net. Extremely good stuff!

Also, the former Keyboardist of Sonata, Mikko Härkin, is nowadays a member of christian hard rockers, Random Eyes (www.randomeyes.net)

 

[Ashe]

Newbie here, hey all.

New album eh? Too many metal bands to keep up with and not enough cash! Sonata definitely rocks. Only heard a little bit but they do rock.

 

[Snert]

I really like Sonata Arctica. The first disc I bought of them was Winterheart's Guild and it rocks. Then I bought Silence which is great as well. I was waiting for Reckoning Night and today I bought it. I'll listen to it when I leave the internet. From what I've heard when I sampled it in a store some time ago it sounded very good.
I think Kakko is a great singer!

 

[Matt Smith]

Yup, Twilightning is very good. I still haven't heard their new one, but their debut album was great.

 

[Victory]

Yup, Twilightning is very good. I still haven't heard their new one, but their debut album was great.

Matt, the debut is garbage compared to the new one!!

 

[dargormudshark]

I loved Sonata Arctica but the new album has dissapointed me alot, I will listen to it some more but I hated some stuff I heard from it. Although My Selene written by jani is one of their best songs.

 

[Victory]

Btw, I plan to see Sonata live next friday, when they hit my hometown ;-)

 

[newdawn]

I'm a big fan of SA, and I have all of their albums. I especially like their covers of Bette Midler's Wind Beneath My Wings, and Metallica's Fade to Black. I love their new one.

 

[Dream Thief]

Sonata Arctica rule!!

Reckoning Night was everything I expected and more. I do think Ecliptica is the most special to me personally but all their stuff is great anyway.

Hey, if you wanna see my review of Reckoning Night then it's right here

I have loads of reviews up here aswell......sorry for the shameless plug!!

 

[SeaStorm]

How's this for resurrecting an old thread?

Back when I first read this thread, Winterheart's Guild was the only CD of theirs that I owned (and I love it, especially Gravenimage and The Misery). Well, I picked up Reckoning Night this summer and was completely blown away. I agree that this is strong from start to finish - I really enjoy every song. But more important than that is the presence of the song White Pearl, Black Oceans. I am not even sure I can put into words how I feel about it. This is an absolute masterpiece of a song. I can listen to it over and over and over and just go crazy every time. Everything about it is just amazing: the vocals, the lyrics, the tempo changes, everything! Wow, wow, wow! Also, as Matt said, Shamandalie is just a phenomenal ballad. My only complaint about the album is that I have a hard time listening to the whole thing because I always want to skip to tracks 9 and 10.

I have recently picked up Silence, but have only listened to it once. I need to get Eliptica.

Hey Victory, I checked out Twilightning and Random Eyes based on your recommendations. Twilightning didn't really do it for me, but I really liked the Random Eyes mp3s on their website. I ordered Eyes Ablaze and I really love it. I also had some cool conversation over e-mail with their guitarist, who apparently fills CD orders. I hope to someday get them over here for a show (here being MN for me).

I'm also going to make a shameless plug here. SwordLord and I are putting on the Sonata show in Minnesota on Jan 31. If anyone is within driving distance, consider coming to our show and meeting the band! We plan to have a meet and greet after the show for everyone willing to stay late enough to meet them. Cellador (http://www.cellador.com) is opening.

 

[Theandromedastrain]

Sonata Arctica is fantastic, i have 2 of thier albums. not thier new one though, im eager to get it, and after you said it was awesome Matt, now i HAVE to get it!

 

[Der Schriftsteller]

Hmmmm... actually they weren't very good live.

 

[Jaen]

Personally, my favorite Sonata album is Silence....there are just so many classics on that album....there just isn't a single bad song....even on Winterhearts and Reckoning, there are some less-awesome songs....not so with Silence. The weakest song on Silence is Tallulah, and that's just because it is a slow ballad....

i sorta disagree, Talullah is really cool, the weakest track on Silence is Last Drop Falls

 

[Spyderman-Hyderman]

I saw them in April...good show, got lots of pics, and a few video clips too. They sure like to drink. Ecliptica will always be my favorite album, just because. Silence I didn't care for that much, it's good don't get me wrong, but...Reckoning Night I liked a lot but I had to listen to it several times before I really got into it. The Boy Who Wanted To Be A Real Puppet is my favorite song on it surprisingly enought....followed closely by Don't Say A Word.

As an aside, Anthrax and Judas Priest were here yesterday....I missed it. I had FRONT ROW TICKETS in my face that my boss had won on the radio. He was going to sell them to me for $40/pair. They were selling for $125 each. But I didn't have the cash on me so he took the tickets and walked away. I felt sadness. My friends all claim it was amazing.