Sonata Arctica

Sonata Arctica is a power metal band founded in 1995 by drummer Tommy Portimo, guitarist Jani Liimatainen, and bassist Marko Paasikoski. In the early years, Sonata Arctica's style was more of a hard rock, but transformed into the straight up power metal sound that their early albums are known for. But over the years, Sonata Arctica's style has changed even more, combining their power metal sound with elements of progressive metal, and even ocassionally symphonic metal (most notably on the bonus disc for The Days of Grays). After a few line-up changes, including the departure of Jani Liimatainen and keyboardist Mikko Härkin, the band's style began to undergo these changes. Sonata Arctica is a very notable band in the power metal genre because their dynamic style has given us some albums that are truely wonderful and unique. This is definitely one of those bands that has a slightly different sound each album. Being one of the most popular and accesible bands in the genre, Sonata Arctica is a fantastic gateway into power metal.

Recommended Works
Ecliptica (LP)
The band's first album. Ecliptica is a power metal masterpiece. It features fast and agressive songs as well as slower and more melodious songs. It's definitely the best place to start with this band.

Reckoning Night (LP)
This is the album that transitions the band into a more progressive style. It's a mixture of the early and later albums.

The Days of Grays (LP)
Building on the band's newer style introduced in Reckoning Night, The Days of Grays is a fantastic album. This album was released in 2009 and was incredibly impressive, as it showed that the band had matured a lot in their songwriting. The songs are much more complex, albeit harder to get into for newcomers to the genre. Regardless, it is amazing after a few listens.

Current Members
Tony Kakko
Elias Viljanen
Tommy Portimo
Marko Paasikoski
Henrik Klingenberg

Former Members
Jani Liimatainen
Mikko Härkin
Janne Kivilahti
Pentti Peura
William Weatherall

Essential Tracks
Unopened
Fullmoon
The Cage
Paid in Full
Flag in the Ground

Links
Metal Archives
Wikipedia
Last.fm

"Keep in mind what you have heard today
You might find that you are not so brave"