So now something that most fans have always wanted, but had never dared to hope: a new Sonata album that enhances returns to the good old style and even complete with the beautiful old Sonata logo! Dreams can still come true so obviously. But let's go into detail on the entire album.
The album kicks off with "The Wolves Die Young", which already appeared in early February as the first advance single and already shows where the priorities of this album are: namely, that unrivaled Sonata feeling that one knows from the old days. Only the chorus fits seamlessly into all the catchy tunes, which so far Sonata Arctica put on their feet. Seems a bit more through the mid-tempo style of the previous album so far one can already sense that the band is not just about anything from 2006 nixed and a second "Ecliptica" wrote. Rather, the song is a logical development, but clearly moving in the direction of the band and starts a fairytale Wolf story.
"Running Lights" begins with loud engines, which first the thought "Oh God, what's that supposed to be now? Motorcycle skirt?" but already brings a few seconds later change the song on a typical high-speed melodic metal rail, as it could also come from old Gamma Ray or Helloween. Definitely a great homage to the early Sonata day. The verse, however, looks quite progressive and is decorated now and then by beautiful high piano tinkling, the following Bridge are strong memories of "The Last Amazing Grays" awakens. The chorus then goes back to's melodic metal Accelerator (as well as the subject of the song), which is a bit reminiscent of "Nothing More". Finally initiates unmistakable Sonata Arctica-guitar solo a recent chorus that is beautifully presented restrained and dying away. This is exactly the kind of music, partying fans of Melodic Metal golden era right up to today.
And then it goes on with the beautiful piano introduction of "Take One Breath". This song initially acts also as a typical, classical Sonata-Song of the brand "Do not Say A Word" and just when you think that you know how the song goes so and think you have seen through him, returns the piano melody from the beginning, and serves as an intro to a beautiful narrative passage so well in "The Boy Who Wanted To Be A Real Puppet" or "Caleb" could occur. And this "narrative-Passage" is euphoric continued before the virtuoso piano returns and forms the brilliant finale of the song along with Tony's vocals. All in all you have to say, very varied, dynamic and exciting! The perfect blend of old Sonata era and the later, more complex songs as fans of both eras will be thrilled!
For many years, Tony had the song "Cloud Factory" already in the pipeline, a story about a cloud-factory, from the people who have to work there after a certain age, can no longer dissolve. This fast melodic metal anthem, reminiscent of all the songs most likely to "Ecliptica" and "Silence". Henrik Klingenberg, keyboarder of Sonata Arctica, has already stated that he feels a kind of love-hate relationship for this song, because it's a merciless catchy nunmal that one for hours not get out of your head (and he is glad that he can share his "suffering" with the world ^^). In any case, this song fits seamlessly into catchy tunes like "The Cage", "Kingdom For A Heart", "My Selene" or "Silver Tongue". No wonder that "Cloud Factory", the second pre-single release was: a real hit!
After this high speed catchy followed by another wolf-song called "Blood," which starts and moderate in the beautiful, emotional verses memories of the slightly faster moments of "White Pearl, Black Oceans" awakens. Approximately from the 2-minute mark, when one already thinks that things go on as before, the song wins (almost galloping) to speed and has a triumphal. Then a break that puts the song briefly in a near-half-ballad mode. The final returns to the previous speed. As "Take One Breath" is also "Blood" is one of the most diversified of the shorter pieces of the album in these two songs will be a very long time been thrilled they are for example, a "Grave Image" in every way.
"What Did You Do In The War, Dad?" Tony is loud even one of the most important and the most emotional pieces he ever wrote and it shows from the first note to the last fading away. What at first seems like a ballad, early leads in areas with rapid virtuosic interplay of keyboards and guitars, the smooth calls "Revontulet" in memory. Above all perched Tonys song that conjures up a little time sensitive and tragic, sometimes quickly and defiant mood of "Caleb". A perfect example of the well-balanced mixture of (a bit) and old (a lot) new Sonata style. The interplay of semi-ballad, drama and Power Metal is perfect friends of "The Power Of One" have here a contender for their new favorite song.
The quiet intro of "Half A Marathon Man" prepares the listener not just preparing to what follows after the 1-minute mark. After all, "A Half Marathon Man" is the most rocking song clearly the CD. And with "rock", I mean a song that can be imagined as a cross between "The Gun" and "S *** load of money" but with significant emphasis on humor and more to "The Gun" tending to be too " S *** load of money ". If you do not make the mistake to take the song very seriously or him as stamped on Sonata untypical, it develops very quickly into a real feel-good rocker, embellished with great piano attacks, but throughout typical rock Attitude showcases. With the same calm acoustic guitar as in the beginning, accompanied at the end with quiet acoustic guitars, sounds the song as a kind of small atonement for the previous snotty rocking with his tongue sticking out. (By the way: the song for "Stones Grow Her Name" fans!)
But it does not stop there with the humor of the album, for "X Marks The Spot" makes right up where "Half A Marathon Man" left off. But this time it is not a rock song, but a melodic metal song that again by Helloween or Heavenly might have come: very straight forward and just great by Tony, very melodious song a definite Sonata song even if there are many places spoken of a rock and roll priest (!), which initiate the song and reappear in the central part and at the end. At the end of the audience cheered even a "hey hey! Ho ho!" to before the melodic chorus is still celebrated for the last time. The perfect sing-song!
Sonata Arctica have written in her career a lot of ballads that will surely among the most beautiful ballads of all time. And so should not be missed on "Pariah's Child" such song. With "Love", which is reminiscent of a quiet and serene blend of "Shamandalie" and "The Misery" romanticism Group well served. Tony had made for this album, sometimes writing a song, the simple and simply tells a positive story with the most beautiful Love moments that will remain positive. Simply tingling infatuation, pure romance instead of the (otherwise Sonata-typical) tragedy. And what can you say? It is absolutely first class! One could complain that the song both lyrically and musically as well as offers no surprises, but who's scratched if the song is SO beautiful?
For the album "Stones Grow Her Name" Tony had to hold back time and again when his urge was felt to write complex, opulent and "great" songs, as heard on "Unia" and "The Days of Grays" were because of "Stones Grow Her Name", the band had made "simple KISS = Keep it, Stupid" according to the principle to act (what Tony had written on a large sticky notes on his desk, not back into pompous pattern . fall back In "Pariah's Child" this habit Tonys already begin to come in, "Take One Breath" and "Blood" to the fore.
The last song of the album, "Larger Than Life", but should again selectively precipitated as opulent Opus and finish the album as a grand finale. In order to keep the description of this madness songs turn out too long: The song has a strong like a cross between "Bohemian Rhapsody" and "My Dream's But A Drop Of Fuel For A Nightmare" with the beauty and drama of "Death Aura" or " White Pearl, Black Oceans ". Of course, the song is not in the least comparable with all the previous songs on the album but precisely because he looks again more fulminant and grandiose. He may be getting used to at first, just because of Tony's theatrics, which assumes proportions that are not yet known (but fits perfectly because of the song by a theater actor is) but it's worth the patience at all costs.
What an album!
Sonata Arctica have done it again, something really to provide great on your legs. You have this time actually the perfect blend of their early days and the later albums created at last Sonata album that unite the fans of both eras and delight alike can. The numerous fans of the early albums get a lot of fast melodic metal anthems with the typical Sonata Charm and even fans who "Unia" and "The Days Of Grays" more like than the old power metal phase Sonatas, found in all Songs enough variety, so as not to get bored. Not a single song is really weak, every song has something special. Some of the songs might need a few more passes until they ignite completely, but is certain: this album can definitely be counted among the best ever released the Sonata. Hats off!
"It truly makes the most beautiful music."
Thank you, Sonata Arctica. Thank you for 15 years of beautiful music and thank you for this incredibly great surprise.
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