The thing that really stood about this whole album for me is that they’re getting a little weirder, a little more subtle and more musically advanced. These guys do what they do, no matter what it is, convincingly.īut there is a reality to face for most fans. And, of course, this is Sonata Arctica, these guys are real pros and every track on here is perfectly performed, produced and constructed. Tracks like “Juliet” and “Zeroes,” walk on that fine line and with just a little bit more speed could probably have fit onto Winterheart’s Guild or Recknoning Night. While the only true throwback to the older sound is “Flag in the Ground,” the tracks don’t disappoint. The sound is still heavy and keyboard-laden, but despite that the slowness and chuggy riffs that still dominate this album, the speed has started sneaking back in, adding balance while satisfying a lot of my urges for catchy, speedy, poppy Sonata Arctica. Unlike old Sonata Arctica this record doesn’t rip out the door, but instead it creeps up on you with a long intro and the track “Deathaura” which begins with female vocals.

The Days of Grays is definitely not classic Sonata Arctica, but the good news is: it’s a grower.

Unia was a much more plodding album, more progressive I’d say, but lacking a lot of the catchiness and addictive speed that defined the band for so many years and for so many of their fans. By admission, according to Henrik (keyboards), they were “bored as fuck” with that sound, which lead them to producing Unia, an album which did not sit well with many of the traditional Sonata Arctica fanbase. Sound familiar to your experience? I hope so, because that’s the angle I’m starting from. I’ve always described it as “driving music.” You know, hit the open road, go as fast as you think you can get away with and blast Sonata Arctica at top volumes while you barrel down the highway into the amazing summer day. The music was just technical enough to make me feel superior to all the people who were listening to Nu-Metal, but poppy and feel good were the other traits that I loved about the band. I loved it, and I was instantly hooked by the band’s sweet hooks, tightness and particularly the vocal stylings of one Tony Kakko. One of the first records I ever reviewed in my entire reviewing career was Silence, which by many is still considered to be the band’s finest record. I’ve been a big Sonata Arctica fan for a long, long time. Rating: 4.0/5.0 – Very good to great, depending what you want from them.

Sonata arctica silence full album