Sonata Arctica are a finnish power metal band. They have released 5 albums, 4 studio, 1 live. They are currently touring North America. (Damn you Mike).
Jani Liimatainen - Guitar
Tommy Portimo - Drums
Tony Kakko - Vocals
Marko Paasikosku - Bass
Henrik Klingenberg - Keyboards
Anyway, Silence is their second album, Ecliptica being their first. This album has it all. It starts out with:
...Of Silence:
This song is a short 1:17 song, obviously talking about Silence. It is just a keyboard with these spoken lyrics:
It truly makes the most beautiful music
Everything it has to give
It's everywhere hiding the listener
Without it I could not live
...Silence
Weballergy:
I like this song alot. A fast song, with some good keyboard. It's a "happy song" as my mom would put it. A great guitar and keyboard solo. Awesome drums.
4/5
False News Travels Fast:
This is a great song. Cool double bass, and has some strong vocals. The guitar in this song is 'edgy'. I like how the guitar repeats the vocal melody in the chorus. It has a cool breakdown-type thing, then goes into an awesome guitar solo. A great keyboard solo follows it. It gets intense after the solos.
4/5
The End Of This Chapter:
Starts off with a phone ringing, then a girl picks up.
1=Girl
2=Guy on other end of phone line.
1 "Hello?"
2 "Well well, it looks like I found you."
1 "Who is this?"
2 "You know very well who this is..."
1 "Stop it, who is this!?"
2 "You almost got away from me didn't you?"
1 ":gasps: Oh My God...It can't be...it can't be!"
2 ":chuckles:"
Starts out with a piano playing a sad riff in Ab Minor. I really like the piano, it stands out alot. Tony does some cool one worded growls in this song. This song is one of my favorites on the album.
4.5/5
Black Sheep:
This song is near perfect. It has a great drum beat, not too fast, not too slow. It has an awesome guitar and keyboard line. Good vocals by Tony too. When it gets near the solo, there is a guitar and keyboard playing the same fast beat for awhile, then it goes into one hell of a keyboard solo. Then he gives it to Jani, with one of the best guitar solos ever. The song is the perfect length too. Great live video, thanks Mike!
I have to give it a 5/5
Land Of The Free: I can't really think of anything to write about this song. It's a decent song with some great guitar and keyboard solos. Then afterward the do some stupid chanting shit. I swear this is the lame-est thing I have ever heard Sonata Arctica do. They yell "HEY!" like 8 times. Then it goes back into the verse and finishes.
3/5
Last Drop Falls: This is a pretty good ballad. I like it, I like all of SA's ballads. Tony sings really great in this song. The bass really stands out to me too.
3.5/5
San Sebastian (Revisited)
Very very fast song, great keyboard riff. I love the guitar in this song, I love everything in this song. This is the kind of song that reminds me that Sonata Arctica are my favorite band. (Well they're tied with Nightwish) This song fits great with the album. The drums are very impressive in this song too.
5/5
Sing In Silence:
Another ballad, a steady medium paced drum beat starts about halfway through the song. Tony keeps talking about some monkey on someone's back. Has a cool chorus too. The song itself is pretty short. (3:51)
3/5
Revontulet:
This song is an instrumental. It comes in with just the guitar playing a really fast riff. Then the drums follow it. It is really hard to explain, but it is just a 1:32 instrumental song. You have to hear it...it's great though.
5/5
Tallulah:
Starts off with a minor sounding pinano. Tony comes in with some great vocals. Another slow, love song. It continues with just vocals and piano for about 1:30. Then the bass and drums come in, followed by some clean guitar on the chorus effect. Once again this is another ballad. It's not bad though. Has a good guitar solo. After that it gets really emotional. Tony obviously had a heartbreak before writing this song.
3.5/5
Wolf And Raven:
One of the highlights of the album. This song is really fast with a very complicated guitar riff. This song only slows down twice, for about 5 seconds each. This is a great song to get pumped up on. Has a great guitar solo, and some good vocals. Really funny music video also.
5/5
The Power Of One:
This is my favorite song on the album. This song once again reminds me why Sonata is my favorite band. This song changes alot. It goes from really slow and clean, to really fast and heavy. Probably the best keyboard and guitar work SA has ever done. This song is just...great. This song has affected my life too. It makes me think about things more, and I notice more things and little details now. I love this song! Fantasic. It has some guy talking about the hope of mankind. Then it fades out with the sound clip of a thunderstorm.
6/5
Thus one of the best power metal albums ever written ends...
I have to rate this album 4.5/5. Every single song on it is just fantastic.
Downside = too many ballads.
This is my first review, please post what would be good to do next time.
(There might be some typos in there.)
