Sonata Arctica working on new album!
WORDS: Dean Martin
SONATA ARCTICA have a new album in the works! And an upcoming London show!
After the success of ‘Pariah’s Child’ (2014), the Finnish melodic metal quintet are now working on their newest, currently untitled, album. As with ‘Pariah’s Child’ they’re once again recording at Studio 57. It’s due for release in October via Nuclear Blast. More information is to come.
Also in October, SONATA ARCTICA are returning to the UK shores for one UK date at London’s Shepherds Bush Empire, amongst a larger European tour. Completing the line up are TWILIGHT FORCE, a Swedish symphonic power metal band.
You can get tickets for the show here:
15th October – London, Shepherds Bush Empire
About the upcoming tour and album, the band had this to say:
“We’re all really looking forward to finishing our new studio album and taking the songs on the road. This time we’ll start in Europe and the UK before heading on to the rest of the world. As always, you can expect an energetic show with new material as well as some old favourites.”
Keyboard player Henrik ‘Henkka’ Klingenberg commented:
“At the moment we’re taking a break from the recording of our 9th studio album and heading out with NIGHTWISH for a couple of months in North America. When we get back we’re more or less going straight into the studio to continue working on the album”
Henrik went on to say:
“As far as the musical direction of the album, it’s really too early to say how it will turn out. Having said that, I expect the usual SONATA ARCTICA trademarks to be found on it. We will however get this album completed in time for an autumn release and we’ll tell you all more as things progress…”
SONATA ARCTICA were formed in the north Finish city of Kemi in 1996, originally called Tricky Beans. After some line-up changes in 1997, they changed their name to Tricky Means, releasing demo ‘Full Moon’ in 1999. This new demo was the first effort for the band within heavy metal waters. Their new trademarks were a faster and more melodic sound; keyboard oriented heavy metal with clear and high vocals. It was how destiny wanted it, and with help from Athi Kortelainen and the Tico Tico Studios their demo ‘Full Moon’ gained the band their first successes. Tricky Means soon became Sonata Arctica.
The release of their first true full length and legendary album ‘Ecliptica’ came in the autumn of 1999. At first it was only sold in Finland, but other countries soon followed. Shortly after this release Tony Kakko decided to concentrate more intensely on singing, as opposed to singing and playing keyboards at the same time. Their successes continued when ‘Winterheart’s Guild’ was released in 2003, the band signing to Nuclear Blast shortly after.
SONATA ARCTICA have since released five new studio albums through Nuclear Blast: ‘Reckoning Night’ (2004), ‘Unia’ (2007), ‘The Days Of Grays’ (2009), ‘Stones Grow Her Name’ (2012) and most recently ‘Pariah’s Child’ (2014).
This latest release saw SONATA ARCTICA returning to their metal roots – moving away from the more hard rock approach of its predecessor. Some might say the record is a good definition of the band past and present, predominantly showcasing their straight up melodic metal style.
