Artist: SONATA ARCTICA
Album: WINTERHEARTS GUILD (CD)

Release date: 2003
Media type: CD

Kemi based Symphonic Metal band SONATA ARCTICA have made a great impression on the European Metal scene not only with their grandiose sense of style but in that uniquely the band employs two keyboard players live for an extra double dose of pomposity. The band was founded in 1995 playing much Poppier music under the original band name of TRICKY BEANS! Although the band would issue demo recordings under that name the members soon got wise to a name change to SONATA ARCTICA and progress subsequently proved rapid from that point.

As TRICKY BEANS the band, pursuing an experimental Pop direction, would issue three demo sessions in 'Friend Till The End', 'Agre Pamppers' and 'Peacemaker'. Line-up shuffles during 1997 forced a subtle name re-arrangement, to that of TRICKY MEANS, and a further promotional recording entitled 'Full Moon'. Here they indulged in open Tolkki-enesque STRATOVARIUS worship, perfectly timed to exploit the blossoming symphonic metal phenomenon sweeping Europe.

The Spinefarm label showed interest just as a title switch to SONATA ARCTICA was adopted and the band debuted with the 1999 'Unopened' single. The debut album, 'Ecliptica' produced by Ahti Kortelainen and recorded at Tico Tico studios, saw issue in September 1999. However, the initial batch of CDs proved faulty, in actual fact featuring slowed down recordings, and were duly recalled. Revised variants would though succeed in gaining the band laudable press coverage across Europe. 'Ecliptica' immediately made an impression, reviewers acknowledging a maturity of songwriting capabilities and the blazing lead guitar work of Jani Liimatainen, whilst lambasting the band for their genre stereotypical cringe worthy collection of lyrics. Japanese copies added the extra song ' Mary-Lou'.

With SONATA ARCTICA in ascendancy frontman Tony Kakko opted to enroll another keyboard player in order to concentrate on his lead vocal role. KENZINER's Mikko Hдrkin duly took the role on as SONATA ARCTICA gained a valuable support slot to the 2000 STRATOVARIUS and RHAPSODY European tour.

The band contributed their version of 'I Want Out' to the HELLOWEEN tribute album 'Keepers Of Jericho'. SONATA ARCTICA's August 2000 Japanese 'Successor' EP included the HELLOWEEN cover plus a SCORPIONS cover version 'Still Loving You' and live tracks recorded at the Seinдjoki 'Provinssirock' Festival. Various international versions would add extra live tracks, Japanese variants having 'Unopened' and 'Full Moon', French releases having '8th Commandment' and 'Letter To Dana' whilst South American issues had all these plus 'Kingdom For A Heart'.

In early 2001 bass player Janne Kivilahti would bow out and the band drafted Marko Paasikoski to the position, actually an earlier holder of the post. The 'Silence' album, reprising the Ahti Kortelainen and Tico Tico formula, arrived in June 2001 and gave the band its highest Japanese chart position at number 16. SONATA ARCTICA stuck rigidly to their blueprint, appeasing fans with another dose of precise, overwrought metal. Further live work would find the band landing a prestigious slot at the Helsinki 'Monsters Of The Millennium' festival alongside RATT, DIO and ALICE COOPER. The band also toured Europe as a co-billing with GAMMA RAY Ray and hit Japan. A show held on September 4th in Tokyo would be captured on tape for live album 'Songs Of Silence - Live In Tokyo'. Meantime, vocalist Tony Kakko would guest on the NIGHTWISH single 'Over The Hills And Far Away'.

Liimatainen would venture out with a side concern ALTARIA in 2001. Joining him on this project would be the erstwhile BLINDSIDE rhythm section of bassist Marko Pukkila and drummer Tony Smedjebacka along with singer Johan Mattjus. This quartet debuted in November with the three track 'Sleeping Visions' promotional EP.

SONATA ARCTICA's 'Last Drop Falls' single would include a version of IRON MAIDEN's 'Die With Your Boots On'. This track, alongside an adventurous rendition of BETTE MIDLER's 'Wind Beneath My Wings' also made an appearance on the Japanese 'Orientation' EP. The band also cut a rendition of 'Fade To Black' for a Nuclear Blast METALLICA tribute collection.

The band opened 2002 in fine style as 'Victoria's Secret' landed at no. 1 on the Finnish singles charts. Keyboard player Mikko Hдrkin announced his departure in September. His position was duly filled by erstwhile SILENT VOICES and REQUIEM man Henrik Klingenberg for recording of the 'Winterheart's Guild' slated for February 2003 release with Japanese dates scheduled for April. Guesting on four tracks would be STRATOVARIUS man Jens Johansson on keyboards. Naturally Japanese fans received an extra song, this time ' The Rest Of The Sun Belongs To Me'.

Outside activity found Jani Liimatainen donating guitar solo sessions to HUMAN TEMPLE's debut 2004 album 'Insomnia'. Meantime SONATA ARCTICA set 'Reckoning Night' as the title of their fourth record. Two cover versions, VANISHING POINT's 'Two Minds One Soul' and DEPECHE MODE's 'World In My Eyes', would be laid down in the same sessions. SONATA ARCTICA's lead single for 'Reckoning Night', the song 'Don't Say A Word', topped the Finnish charts in August. The album duly debuted at no. 2 in October. The band toured across Europe throughout November as support to NIGHTWISH but cancelled gigs in Madrid, Spain and Montpellier, France when singer Tony Kakko came down with a fever. The band would still be making a heavy impact as the year closed, the single 'Shamadalie' entering the Finnish national charts at no. 3 in December.

Touring in April of 2005 saw SONATA ARCTICA scheduled as support to NIGHTWISH once again in the USA, pre-empting this by a guest slot to OVERKILL. However, the NIGHTWISH shows would be curtailed. A Japanese territory compilation, 'The End Of This Chapter', saw release in August. The band was back on Finnish territory in November for headlining gigs. Tony Kakko also found time to contribute guest vocals to the 2006 ETERNAL TEARS OF SORROW album 'Before The Bleeding Sun'.

First product in 2006 would be the live CD / DVD 'For The Sake Of Revenge'. US and Canadian shows saw the band traversing the nation throughout February. However, SONATA ARCTICA's 22nd February gig at the Webster Theater in Hartford, Connecticut was cancelled when Tony Kakko was hospitalised suffering from an "irritated throat". Touring across Europe in April and May witnessed support gigs to DORO with fellow Finns ALTARIA as opening act.

TRACKLIST:

1. Abandoned, Pleased, Brainwashed, Exploited
2. Graveimage
3. The Cage
4. Silver Tongue
5. The Misery
6. Victoria's Secret
7. Champagne Bath
8. Broken
9. The Rest Of The Sun Belongs To Me
10. The Ruins Of My Life

LINE-UP:

Tony Kakko (vocals / keyboards)
Jani Liimatainen (guitar)
Janne Kivilahti (bass)
Henrik Klingenberg (keyboards)
Tommy Portimo (drums)