Sonata Arctica

830,816 plays
104 SHARES
433 FAVS
109 fans

albums

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- Unia
- Released 2007

- Silence
- Released 2001

- Reckoning Night
- Released 2005

- Ecliptica
- Released 2003

biography

Finnish prog metal quartet Sonata Arctica specializes in a soaring, orchestral variation on European heavy metal, fusing the sweeping, romantic bombast of bands like Europe with the over-the-top instrumental chops of Dream Theater. Born in 1996, the band, which included vocalist Tony Kakko, guitarist Jani Liimatainen, drummer Tommy Portimo, keyboardist Mikko Harkin, and bassist Janne Kivilahti, recorded a handful of demos before releasing their first single, "UnOpened," on Spinefarm Records in July of 1999. Producer Mikko Karmila (Children of Bodom, Stratovarius, Nightwish) recorded and mixed Sonata Arctica's full-length debut, Eliptica, and the album was released in 2000 by Spinefarm and Century Media Records. Following a successful tour with Rhapsody and Stratovarius, the group put out a six-song EP, Successor-MCD, which featured live tracks, a pair of covers, and other previously unreleased material. Sonata Arctica were rewarded with various awards and honors around this time: Hard N' Heavy magazine voted them Newcomer of the Year, as did Emma, the Finnish Music Awards. Kivilahti quit the band in late 2000 and was replaced by Marko Paasikoski before work began on the band's second full-length album. With producer Ahti Kortelainen behind the boards, Sonata Arctica recorded Silence at Tico-Tico studios in time for a 2001 release. ~ Andy Hinds, All Music Guide

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- Lacrimosa

- Change of Heart

- Therion

comments

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- - more like Epic Band... PERIOD
  - - By Zelikien
    - 9/14/2009 03:31:41
  - This band is just plain awesome. Every song from every album. Also, they have been becoming more technically proficient lately, utilizing more complex rhythms and song structures (as in Unia and The Days of Grays), and I for one really like their new sound. I found myself getting a little bored with their same old, same old powermetal (as were the band members themselves, look up the interviews with them). The infusion of prog really shook things up and while a lot of fans are bitching about it, I say that if the band is having fun, and if it sounds awesome... I'm all for it. Sonata rocks. Period.
  - 1 out of 2 people
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- - Epic band... BUT
  - - By Dracokhi
    - 9/13/2009 22:09:43
  - i just yhave to say i love these guys. but recently they started loosing their touch. my fav album was End of this chapter ,but after unia.. i just didnt feel anything anymore. their last album saw less power metal than the others and more prog. srry this is just what im getting from them. and btw the bio is wrong.
  - 0 out of 2 people
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- - Zune Social is Crap lol
  - - By Deathhoarder
    - 7/9/2009 01:14:56
  - The BIO is wrong they tag my music wrong and mix bands together. At Least LASTFM is better about it. And you can edit if its wrong. I'd love to send some fix suggestions to MS.
  - 0 out of 3 people
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- - sure...
  - - By Singerella
    - 6/14/2009 19:00:56
  - the Bio on this page.... it's completely incorrect. They're nothing like dream theater. and they are not prog. Sonata Arctica is Power Metal. They were founded by Tony Kakko, after listening to Visions, the epic Stratovarius album... not.. prog... ever......
  - 0 out of 3 people
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- - Majestic
  - - By Ainata
    - 6/13/2009 04:33:24
  - This band is in a league of their own. A unique style infused with talent as well as a heart of gold. The band members themselves are fantastic as it is. It's been a pleasure to hear their songs, for content and for sound. Definitely my all-time favorite and number one recommendation.
  - 3 out of 3 people
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