Sonata Arctica is yet another young and exciting metal band leading the charge of the new breed of Finnish metal (along with Nightwish and Children Of Bodom). In 1999 their debut album Ecliptica immediately made an impact and earned them critical praise and strong sales and a touring slot with Finnish legends Stratovarius. Following that successful tour they tagged along with Stratovarius and Italian Hollywood metal stars Rhapsody on a widely praised tour of Europe. In 2001, the band opened up for 80’s metal veterans Ratt, the legendary Dio and the original shock rocker Alice Cooper on the Monsters of the Millennium tour. Their sophomore effort Silence hit shelves in 2001 and earned even more accolades, and hit Japan for the first time that same year for a tour, and became a household name for Japanese metal fans as they were being called “messiahs” in advertisements (I am not making this up!). The live album Songs Of Silence was recorded during that tour. 2003 saw the release of the amazing album Winterheart’s Guild and the arrival of new keyboardist Henrik Klingenberg. This was the album that got me into Sonata Arctica and I was amazed by the skill, the emotion and the beauty contained on this awesome album! Another successful tour followed and the Japan-only EP Takatalvi was released in late 2003. In 2004 the band hit the studio to record their next masterpiece titled Reckoning Night. Released in October 2004 (but not hitting the US shores until February of 2005), the band continued to rack up awards and also earned an Emma Nomination (Finnish Grammy Award). In April of 2005 Sonata Arctica will be coming to the USA for the first time. So I figure the time is right to review their latest album to prepare you for a Finnish invasion where the weapon is melodic power metal of the highest quality. Prepare yourself for the NIGHT OF RECKONING!

Because I love Sonata Arctica so much, and I know you will too (If you don’t, proceed beating yourself over the head with a brick stick now! The owl commands it!), I will attempt to do a track-by-track rundown of this awesome album. Tell me how I do! If it is good, let me know. If it isn’t, well…just wish me luck!

1. Misplaced- A great opener for the album. It starts kicking your ass right of the bat with artillery fire drums, beautiful yet heavy melodic riffs and blinding keyboard work. Lead vocalist Tony Kakko’s vocals are in fine form, and there are some interesting vocal harmonies that sound like they were shouted by 100 people. If this song doesn’t make you a fan, I don’t know what will. Proceed with beating yourself over the head with that brick stick again if you are not convinced yet.

2. Blinded No More- Things slow down a notch with this cool mid-paced song that would make a great single. More great vocals from Kakko as he is mulling a seemingly bad relationship and saying he has had enough, and is blinded no more! A great chorus with great harmonies make this one another winner.

3. Ain’t Your Fairytale-The pace picks up again on this ass kicking and taking names track. This song seems to be about a wolf telling his/her pack to fight to survive in tough times ahead. Wolves must be Kakko’s favorite animal as he has written several songs on past albums about them. More thunderous drumming, great guitar work and lightning quick keyboard runs on this one. Another great track.

4. Reckoning Day, Reckoning Night-A nice, quiet keyboard instrumental which is very relaxing and will soothe your body and soul. It is only giving you a short break before the attack begins again. The proverbial calm before the storm.

5. Don’t Say A Word-The first single off the album is a mid to fast paced rocker with a great rhythm and is a great song to listen to while driving. Great keyboard and guitar solos abound on this track along with some quieter moments which showcase the softer side of Kakko’s amazing voice, and his angrier side is showcased as well on this track. The song seems to be a continuation of the song “The End Of This Chapter” off of Silence. Another top notch track, although the chorus is a little wordy, but still cool.

6. The Boy Who Wanted To Be A Real Puppet- A great song full of beautiful piano melodies and emotion and some great heavier moments as well. Interesting musical arrangements and unique vocal harmonies color this “be careful what you wish for” story about a blind puppetmaster, his prized puppet (which also happens to be his son. Pinnochio in reverse!) and a greedy man who goes to great lengths to purchase the puppet. Very interesting and very different, and completely excellent!

7. My Selene- Guitarist Jani Liimatainen contributes his first lyric to this solid, yet unspectacular rocker which is still a darn good track with a nice hook. I am not sure, but this song seems to be loosely based on the movie Underworld. Not my favorite track but it is a good one none the less and a indicator of things to come on the songwriting end for the talented young axeman.

8. Wildfire- A haunting spoken word intro by Nik Van-Eckmann sets the tone for this unbelieveable, amazing song about pyromania. Good subject too, because this track SMOKES! Tony uses his entire range to great effect and sounds more angry than I ever heard him sound. Another song where interesting vocal harmonies come out to play, and the instrumentalists will kick your ass black and blue on this bad boy! Burn it! Burn it all!

9. White Pearl, Black Oceans- Best Sonata Arctica epic….EVER! Words cannot describe this emotional masterpiece about a lonely lighthouse keeper who ventures into town for a night out and meets the woman of his dreams, but she is leaving that night via a boat. The keeper suffers a mishap which keeps him from tending the light and it goes out. When he awakes the next morning, he discovers that a ship (The White Pearl) has sunk after hitting the coral reefs on the coast, the ship which his love was on. The whole town blames him for the disaster of the shipwreck which the lives of all aboard, and the keeper wants to take his life by jumping from his tower to the black ocean below. An emotional and haunting epic which changes moods from romantic to melancholy and really showcases Tony’s emotional voice and the band’s amazing musicianship. The song sums up what Sonata Arctica is all about in my opinion. If you are not crying a river after this one you have no heart! Break out the brick stick and commence the skull bashing again!

10. Shamandalie-The album closes with this great ballad about a lost friend from years past. More of Tony’s great emotional side and some beautiful keyboards and acoustic guitar. A perfect ending to an another work of art by Sonata Arctica.

The band puts on another fine performance worthy of Sonata Arctica on Reckoning Night. On their own, the individual members are great musicians, but as a whole they are a force to be reckoned with! Guitarist Jani Liimatainen burns the strings with his scorching guitar riffs. New keyboardist Henrik Klingenberg proves the band made the right choice, and he makes his case with some delicious keyboard melodies that make you wonder “Why is this guy not known or respected?”. Give it time, people will recognize his talent. Bassist Marko Paasikoski and drummer Tommy Portimo comprise one of the best rhythm sections in Finnish metal. The only sad thing about this album is that it is the first one not to have Tony Kakko on keyboards in any way, shape or form. However, his songwriting genius is still intact and his vocals are amazing as always. I know of no vocalist who sounds like him, and few who could even come close to his uncanny and incomparable voice. He can sound angry, passionate and sad and can even do the occasional grunt. He is one of the few male vocalists who can make me cry and that is no easy task. If there was any justice, Tony Kakko would be one of the most revered vocalists in the world of metal. Maybe some day he will.

Bottom line: Prepare for the onslaught of Sonata Arctica on American shores for the first time this April! Buy the new album. Memorize all the songs. Get the rest of their albums if you don’t have them. Memorize those songs as well! You have to be prepared! You must go! Buy tickets to their nearest gig and go go go and give this amazing Finnish metal band the welcome they deserve! Oh, and did I mention BUY THE NEW ALBUM? Well get out of your chair and do it! NOW! Quit sitting at your desk staring at the PC and get one of the best albums of 2005!   The owl has spoken.

Reviewer:  Matt "Snowy Owl" Bankes

1/2   (4 1/2 out of 5)
 

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