Some people I know and whose relation to European Power Metal is restricted to bands like Helloween, say that Sonata Arctica play "smurf-metal. Personally, I happen to enjoy all those excessive keys, joyful melodies and screams in such bands' albums. Therefore, I also liked Sonata Arctica when I first learned about them through "Victoria's Secret.
This single, which went to the 1st place of the official Finnish Singles Chart a week after its release, contains 4 songs that, according to the band, open a new creative era. Tony Kakko (vocalist) says that "Reckoning Night is their most intelligent album. To be frank, I didn't spot any particular differences to their previous albums, other than the fact that the guitars are a bit heavier.
"Don't Say A Word has the potential to be a hit. It's catchy but not over-simplified. It's a multiform song that combines various musical themes and gives Tony the opportunity to exhibit the wide range of his voice. It sounds as if at least 3 people donated their vocals for this result. The symphonic aspects are much and the whole thing brings Nightwish in mind. "Misplaced is a more conventional case. Really speedy and with the typically great keys, it sounds a lot like Stratovarius. "Shamandalie is a slow song based on piano, rather indifferent. "Wildfire goes darker with narrative parts, rhythm transitions and chorus that reminds of Blind Guardian.
OK, Sonata Arctica are not an innovative band, but they are lucky enough to have a remarkably talented guitarist (Jani Liimatainen) and a refined singer at their disposition. They admit that their background is not Metal and the reason why they are now playing this kind of music is their admiration for Stratovarius. Their decency restrains us from accusing them of simple imitation. In general: average ideas - very good performance.