Arctic Sonata

Sonata Arctica is a Finnish band formed in Kemi in 1996 under the name Tricky Beans, later changed to Tricky Means, and finally to Sonata Arctica in 1999. Sonata Arctica has undergone various musical changes throughout their career, first with Melodic Power Metal fused with Neoclassical Metal then adopting Power with Symphonic Metal elements to this day. Its singer Tony Kakko has commented on influences from bands such as Stratovarius, Nightwish, Helloween, Scorpions, Iron Maiden, Metallica, Queen, X Japan, among others cited by the group in various interviews.

Biography

Beginnings (1995-1998)

Sonata Arctica was founded under the name Tricky Beans by vocalist Tony Kakko and guitarists Jani Liimatainen and Marko Paasikoski, later bassist. In their beginnings they played songs strongly influenced by the hard rock genre, which did not have much to do with Power Metal. Early in their career, they recorded three demos that were never sent to any record label - Friend 'till The End, Agre Pamppers and PeaceMaker .

Ecliptic (1999-2000)

In 1999, the band recorded a demo titled FullMoon, consisting of Tony Kakko, guitarist Jani Liimatainen, bassist Janne Kivilahti and drummer Tommy Portimo. The demo was sent to the Spinefarm label and the band permanently changed their name to Sonata Arctica. A recording contract came soon after.

Later that same year the group's first single, titled UnOpened, was released in Finland, which caused a great impact, entering the top 20 best sellers in its first week after going on sale.. Due to this initial success, the band had soon closed several contracts with labels around the world, with a view to the release of their debut album. The album was called Ecliptica and was later released worldwide at the end of 1999, obtaining good reviews from the specialized press. For all this, Tony Kakko decided to concentrate on singing and began looking for a new member for the band: Mikko Harkin (formerly in Kenziner), was invited and selected to play the keyboard.

At the beginning of 2000, Sonata Arctica was chosen to support the already established Stratovarius throughout their tour of Europe together with Rhapsody. Janne Kivilahti left the band and was replaced by Marko Paasikoski, one of the founders of 'Tricky Beans'.

Silence and Winterheart's Guild (2001-2003)

From late 2000 to 2001, the band worked on writing and recording their next album, Silence, finally released in June 2001. An extensive tour followed, performing a series of concerts throughout Europe (along with Gamma Ray) and Japan. In 2002 Sonata Arctica made its first foray into America, performing in Brazil and Chile. On this tour, due to an injury, Jani was replaced by the Argentine guitarist Martín Lacrouts. According to what was later expressed by some of the musicians in the band, that was one of their best tours to date ^{[citation required]} - the other being the tour in Japan in 2003-. In addition, the live album titled Songs Of Silence was released just later that same year.

In late 2002, keyboardist Mikko Harkin left the band for personal reasons. Thus, their third album - Winterheart's Guild - was recorded with the help of famed Stratovarius keyboardist Jens Johansson, who recorded The Cage tracks with Tony Kakko. Keyboardist Henrik Klingenberg joined the band just in time to go on a tour to promote their new album. The "Sold Out" sign was hung at most of the concerts.

Reckoning Night and For The Sake Of Revenge (2004-2006)

Arctic Sonata present themselves live at the Tuska Festival 2006, Finland

After their contract with the Spinefarm label ended, the band received invitations from most of the record labels in Europe, ultimately opting for Nuclear Blast. In early 2004, the band was chosen as the opening act for Iron Maiden's Japan tour. In March of that same year, Tommy Portimo became his father when his wife gave birth to a girl.

Reckoning Night was recorded in three months and released in October. The promotional single and EP for this album was Don't Say A Word, which remained in the Top of the most listened to in Finland for 6 weeks. A promotional tour followed, but they made an unexpected change of plans when they received an invitation from the popular band Nightwish to join them on their tour through Europe. The concerts in which they participated had an influx of up to ten thousand people.

At the beginning of 2006 Reckoning Night had already sold more than 100,000 copies worldwide and was certified gold in Finland by selling more than 19,000 units in that country. This makes it Sonata Arctica's best-selling record to date.

In April 2006, For The Sake Of Revenge was released, their second live album, recorded during their tour in Tokyo, Japan. This edition is available on both CD and DVD.

For this same year, the band participates in the creation of a computer game called Winterheart's Guild. This game, made by Zelian Games, will be an RPG set in the distant future in which the world has been devastated by an intense winter.

The game, according to its creators, has been created in order to eliminate corruption and have a freer world.

Unia (2007-2008)

A new album, titled Unia, was released on May 25, 2007; her promotional single was Paid in Full, which she had released a few months earlier. This album has more aggressive guitars, a greater proliferation of keyboards, although with less prominence in the instrumental parts. Constant vocal games and various operatic touches shape the band's first work away from power metal. Focusing on making a whole prog metal record.

All songs on the album were mixed at Finnvox Studios and mastered at the Cutting Room in Stockholm, Sweden. The sound of the album is more acoustic, pure and polished than his previous productions. Being more noticeable the quality of production in the drums of the drums and the voice of Tony Kakko.

The album has generated various reactions among the group's fans, among those who believe that Unia is the least successful work of the band, and those who believe that it is among the best, if not the best of their works.

In May 2007, Jani Liimatainen, was not part of Unia's tour, which formulated various rumors about her dismissal, which was effective with an official message from the band on August 6, 2007, on their page web. Guitarist Elias Viljanen, who initially takes his place temporarily on the tour, is confirmed as a permanent member. Liimatainen's condition as a member of the group is now history, since members of the band have commented in various interviews on the irrevocability of the decision, including the affected person himself.

In less than two months Unia became a gold record in Finland on July 11, 2007, selling more than 24,000 copies in her native country. Thus, Unia also becomes the band's best-selling album in the United States. It is estimated that the album sold more than 80,000 copies worldwide.

In September 2007 the band returns to Latin America, although only this time to Mexico, to the cities of Monterrey, Guadalajara and Mexico City. Then, at the beginning of 2008, between the months of February and March, Sonata Arctica toured Latin America again, this time through Chile, Brazil and Mexico, the first 3 Latin American countries they visited, and which would be their 2nd., also for Argentina and Peru, which would be his first time in both countries.

The Days Of Grays (2009)

Sonata Arctica during The Days of Grays Tour 2011.

After an intense world tour promoting the album Unia and an appearance at the Heavy Metal festival "Wacken Open Air" In Germany, the band returned to Finland to work on their new record production, which would be the first studio album without Jani Liimatainen on guitar, thus being the first with Elias Viljanen in the ensemble.

On July 9, 2009, the release of the sixth studio album entitled The Days Of Grays is announced on its official website, with release dates on September 16 in Finland, on September 22 in the United States and on September 18, via Nuclear Blast, for Europe and the rest of the world (excluding Asia). A contest is held on July 22 for the promotional single Flag in the Ground, which consists of making the cover art for said single, whose winner was announced through MySpace official of the band.

As the album was being produced, both Henrik Klingenberg and Tony Kakko were commenting on their personal blogs about what the record would sound like. Among the comments they highlighted that it would be something totally new, and both also commented that the album would no longer be as complex as Unia was. Henrik Klingenberg calls the album a bit more "darker", and that the tracks would be medium tempo or slower. Both maintained that the band is full of optimism with the result, at the end of the recordings. In an interview with the French multimedia La Grosse Radio, Tony Kakko gave details of the album such as the inclusion of female voices on two tracks, by Johanna Kurkela, and the most symphonic and dark sound in the songs. In addition, he ended the conflict with Jani Liimatainen, announcing that "they ended on good terms", that he really liked what he heard from Cain's Offering and that his participation in the album was even expected, which did not happen because he was busy at the time.

During their European tour, called The Days of Grays Tour 2011, they opened for the Italian band Labyrinth and the Norwegian band Triosphere.

Stones Grow Her Name (2012)

Stones Grow Her Name is the seventh studio album by Finnish power metal band Sonata Arctica. It was released on May 16, 2012 in Finland, May 18 for the rest of Europe, May 22 for North America, and May 23 for Japan. The band's vocalist Tony Kakko commented that they have added new things to the album in order to "keep it alive and interesting" the music of Sonata Arctica. It will combine some sounds from the previous albums, such as Reckoning Night and Winterheart's Guild and even Unia and The Days Of Grays with a heavier and more innovative style of music from Sonata Arctica.

Sonata Arctica presented the new album Stones Grow Her Name 2012.

Our new adventure is just a few retouchings to be ready. The recordings were extremely well and the mix is already scheduled. I have to say I'm enjoying it a lot. I've worked very hard for two years writing the songs, while doing the tour of our previous album "The Days Of Grays". But it's all worth it! Again we are including new ideas for music to remain alive and interesting. New elements, styles and moods, talented guest artists and ideas for the faithful friends of our music to enjoy. I can't wait for you to put your hands and ears on "Stones Grow Her Name"! I hope to see you again on the tour!

Tony Kakko, band vocalist

The album has already been shown to the media and Gunnar Sauermann from Metal Hammer Germany magazine commented:

"Sonata Arctica was never as versatile and exciting as in "Stones Grow Her Name". Every song is a milestone!“ What a great mix of your well-known and stick music with new musical challenges! 'Stones Grow Her Name' will surprise you! They've never been so epic and stimulating. It will guide you on an irresistible journey through incredible songs to sing, country touches and a very great ending!

Gunnar Sauermann, journalist of Metal Hammer

Pariah's Child (2014)

After touring extensively in Latin America, Europe and the United States, the group began recording their eighth album in mid-2013. Recording took place between October and December 2013, leaving a few weeks for mastering. At the beginning of 2014, the release of Pariah's Child, title of the new album, was announced. It was released on March 28 and marked a return to the style based on "Ecliptic" and "Silence". According to their vocalist Tony Kakko, this new album will come loaded with a style more oriented to their beginnings as a band. He mentions in an interview that through the last albums, they have put aside the great symbol of the wolf and the roots on which the old Sonata Arctica was founded, so they want to make this album a reunion with everything that led them to be what they are today. The single from this new album called The Wolves Die Young, was released on February 7, 2014 prior to the release of their eighth album.

However Pariah's Child follows a similar line to the previous Stones Grow Her Name but with a more complex composition based on Power metal. The Sound of most of the songs stands out as being more "Happy" than that of the previous albums and have a more winter setting.

It should be noted that for the recording of their new album they had the presence of their new bassist Passi Kauppinen since Marko Paasikoski (former member) decided to leave the band saying:

"I've come to a point in my life where being part of a touring band is no longer an option for me and it's time to explore other things. I want to thank all the fans and my bandmates for all the good times, great shows and adventures we've had over the last decade..."

Passi has been involved with the band for many years and he has mixed the Sonata Arctica DVDs as well as recorded parts of the latest studio albums.

Members

Jani Liimatainen exguitarrista de la banda

• Tony Kakko (1995 - present) (voices, acoustic guitar and keyboard)
• Tommy. (1995 - present) (battery and percussion)
• Henrik Klingenberg (2003 - present) (technical, acoustic and second voices)
• Elias Viljanen (2007 - present) (guitars and second voices)
• Pasi Kauppinen (2013 - present) (low)

Previous

• Pentti Peura (1995 - 1999) (low)
• Marko Paasikoski (1995; 2000 - 2013) (guitar [first stage]; bass, acoustic guitar and second voices [second stage])
• Janne Kivilahti (1999 - 2000) (low)
• Mikko Härkin (2000 - 2002) (crying)
• Jani Liimatainen (1995 - 2007) (guitar and second voices)

Timeline

	Ecliptica	Silence	Winterheart's Guild	Reckoning Night	Unia	The Days of Grays	Stones Grow Her Name	Pariah's Child	The Ninth Hour	Talviyö
1995/ 1998	1999/ 2000	2001/ 2002	2003	2004/ 2006	2007/ 2008	2009/ 2011	2012/ 2013	2014/ 2015	2016/ 2018	2019
Tony Kakko
Tommy.
Jani Liimatainen						Elias Viljanen
Pentti Peura	Janne Kivilahti	Marko Paasikoski						Pasi Kauppinen
Tony Kakko		Mikko Härkin	Henrik Klingenberg

Album edited

Voz

Low

Guest Musicians

• Raisa Aine - flute (in "Letter to Dana")
• Nik Van-Eckmann - passages spoken (in "...of Silence", "The End of This Chapter", "Last Drop Falls" and "The Power of One" by Silence and "Don't Say a Word", "White Pearl, Black Oceans..." and "Wildfire" by Reckoning Night)
• Timo Kotipelto - Voice (in "False News Travel Fast", "Only The Broken Hearts (Make You Beautiful), "Shitload of Money", "I Have A Right" and "Alone in Heaven")
• Renay González - female passage (in "The End of This Chapter")
• Jens Johansson - electronic keyboard solos (in "The Cage," Silver Tongue," Victoria's Secret "y" Champagne Bath ")
• Peter Engberg - acoustic guitar, bouzouki, chromaharp, cavaquinho and Q-chord (in "They Follow", "Under Your Tree", "The Harvest", "It Won't Fade" and "Fly With the Black Swan")
• Johanna Kurkela - female voice (in "Deathaura" and No Dream Can Heal to Broken Heart")
• Perttu Kivilaakso - Cello Only (in "The Truth Is Out") There

Discography

Studio Albums

Live Albums

EPs and compilations

Simple

DVD

• For the Sake of Revenge (2006)
• Live In Finland (2011)

Bootlegs

• Live at SFP Metal Birthday (Tavastia Club) Finland (1999)
• Live at Pakkahuone Tampere Finland (2000)
• Live At Provinssirock Finland (2000)
• Live At Vila Non Da Caía (2000)
• Letter To Stuttgart (2000)
• Live At La Riviera With Rhapsody (2000)
• Only Way You Can - Live in Osaka (2001)
• Acoustica live in Paris (2001)
• Live in Kouvola (2002)
• Tuska Festival (2002)
• Tammerfest (2003)
• Hiroshima (2003)
• Live At The Zip - Sendai, Japan (2003)
• Live at AX Shibuya (2003)
• Wacken Open Air, Germany (2003)
• Howl and Dream - Saitama (2004)
• Acoustic Live Tokyo (2004)
• Tavastia (2004)
• Untamed and Free - Osaka (2004)
• "Rocking Night" Live In Milano (2004)
• By The Gates of Metal - Live in Hultsfred (2004)
• Symphony Of Angels - 2004 - Cologne/Germany - (with Nightwish) (2004)
• Live At Finish Metal-Expo (2005)
• Live In AnkkaRock (2005)
• "Trapped In a Maze" (2005)
• "Out Of Time and Place" (2005)
• Christmas In Havana (2005)
• Live At Worchester, Mass (2006)
• "If you had a King Kong..." (2006)
• Live at La Locomotive, France (2006)
• Live at Trabendo, France (2006)
• Live at Circo Volador, Mexico City (2007)
• Blue Wolves ~ Live in Argentina (2008)
• Live In Caupolican, Santiago (2008)
• Crazy (2009)
• North Tales (2009)
• Live In Caupolican, Santiago, CHILE (2010)
• Live In Caupolican, Santiago, CHILE (2013)
• The Last Amazing Night - Live in Argentina (2013)
• Sonata Arctica Live!, Compiled from bootlegs by Sonata Arctica LatinoAmerica (2013)
• 15th Anniversary Tour - Live in Buenos Aires, Argentina (2014)

Tours

Tours with more shows

• The Days of Grays World Tour (08/08/2009-14/08/2011): 183 shows
• Reckoning Night World Tour+Once Upon A Tour (13/10/2004-26/08/2006): 161 shows
• Unia World Tour+Dark Passion Play (27/04/2007-29/11/2008): 158 shows
• The Ninth Hour World Tour (07/10/2016-09/09/2017): 132 shows
• Pariah's Child World Tour (10/04/2014-22/08/2015): 117 shows
• Stones Grow Her Name World Tour (07/04/2012-15/08/2013): 95 shows
• Talviyö Tour (06/09/2019-present): 75 shows
• Silence Tour (12/07/2001-27/07/2002): 72 shows
• Ecliptica Tour (08/08/1999-30/06/2000): 59 shows
• Winterheart's Guild Tour+Dance Of Death (21/02/2003-09/10/2004): 56 shows
• Worldwide Tour 2016 (19/02/2016-03/09/2016): 49 shows
• The Winter Chapter Tour 2018 (18/01/2018-26/08/2018): 28 shows
• Acoustic Adventures World Tour 2019 (09/02/2019-30/03/2019): 27 shows

Versions

These are the songs covered by Sonata Arctica, both the official ones, which appear in the band's discography, and the unofficial ones, which have been played live:

Officers

• I Want Out (Helloween) (2000)
• Still Loving You (Scorpions) (2000)
• Die With Your Boots On (Iron Maiden) (2001)
• The Wind Beneath My Wings (Bette Midler) (2001)
• Fade To Black (Metallic) (2003)
• World In My Eyes (Depeche Mode) (2004)
• Two Minds One Soul (Vanishing Point) (2004)
• Out In The Fields (Gary Moore) (2007)
• Hell is Living Without you (Alice Cooper) (2011)

Others (Unofficial)

• Black Diamond (Stratovarius) included in the DVD Infinite Visions by Stratovarius
• Silent Jealousy (X Japan)
• We Will Rock You (Queen) on the part of the human battery, during the South American tours of Unia and The Days Of Grays .
• Crash & Burn (Yngwie Malmsteen)
• Excuse Me While I Kill Myself (Sentenced)
• I Was Made for Lovin' You (Kiss) include the choir when playing my land in the live at tavastia
• Smoke on the Water (Deep Purple)
• Child in Time (Deep Purple)
• Gaston and I'm on the phone. (Nino Ferrer) this song was used as an intro in some shows during the European Reckoning Night Tour
• One (Metallic)
• Master of Puppets (Metallic)
• No More Tears (Ozzy Osbourne)
• The Trooper (Iron Maiden)
• My Heart Will Go On (Celine Dion)
• Speed of Light (Stratevarius) on the topic False News Travel Fast and Blank File included in the live album Songs of Silence - Live in Tokyo.