Customer Reviews

Silence

5 star:		(41)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Before I get into the "meat" of this review, one thing needs to be said. I hate power metal. ...

"This guy hates power metal - why is he reviewing this album?" you ask. I'd heard a lot of good things about this band, and my amigo Korey (a.k.a. the_wickerman) laid plenty of praise on their first album Ecliptica. So I thought I'd try it. I like taking risks.

I am VERY impressed by this disc. Like other power metal bands, Sonata Arctica blends sweeping keyboard orchestrations with bone-crunching, driving guitars. Like other power metal bands, their vocalist takes on the conventional operatic delivery with plenty of romantic flair. Like other power metal bands, the lyrics meet with some very awkward articulation.

But.

This band writes _great_ songs. Adjectives fail me...and I mean that positively. The opener (after the prelude, anyway), "Weballergy," is outstanding, uplifting speedy power metal. The melodies are soaring, the musicianship stunning. The dueling keyboard/guitar soloing frenzies will bewilder you. The multi-tracked vocals may place the accent on the wrong syllable sometimes, but this guy (Tony Kakko) sings with great conviction and power.

Silence [draws] you in a doesn't let go. On the standard, fast power metal songs such as "Weballergy" and "Land of the Free" the melodies will take you soaring through the skies. Other, more elaborate tracks, invite one's attention and admiration. "The End of This Chapter," despite the entirely goofy acting at the beginning, is awesome. The 7-minute track opens with a graceful piano nocturne, and excitingly builds to a fine piece of power metal songwriting -- fabulous melodies, grinding riffs, and earnest emotional bombast. The band's ballads are power metal's best, with powerful vocals and melodies. "Last Drop Falls" and "Tallulah" are simply wonderful ballads. In particular, "Last Drop Falls" is delivered with indignation that makes my blood run cold. I'd be surprised if Kakko _wasn't_ writing from experience, because he really gets involved emotionally in what he's singing.

I once thought Silence was a concept album about some twisted man's obsession with his old girlfriend. However, judging from interviews this doesn't appear to be the case. Still, many of the lyrics are fairly personal and deal with relationships. Although Kakko's lyrics aren't always good from the point of diction, they do a great job conveying the emotions involved. On "Tallulah", a ballad about a break-up. In the chorus, Kakko writes, "It's easier to live alone than fear the time it's over." I knew someone who thought the exact same way after being disillusioned with relationships that ended in sadness. (Is a relationship worth the pain that may result?) Clever! I like when a band hits on something you've experienced, vicariously or directly.

One of the main reasons I don't think it's a concept album is that for the life of me I can't figure out how "The Power of One" would fit into the story. But it's an awesome song. Unlike most power metal bands, Sonata Arctica shows considerable restraint with this song. It closes the album on a very strong note. Lots of tempo changes, furious soloing, and a great finale with acoustic guitar.

In the end, Sonata Arctica beats their peers in several important areas. They have:

> WAY better songwriting
> Diverse songs
> Melodic guitar/keyboard solos (rather than fast, boring runs)
> Ballads that aren't lame
> Lyrics that _don't_ make me want to light the CD on fire

I don't like power metal, but this is still an outstanding album. Take that approbation for what it's worth. If you like power metal, I guess you'll like this. If you don't? Well, who knows?

After buying the debut album "Ecliptica", and being immensely impressed by it, I was eager to get more albums from this band. So, finally, I get around to buying this one, the brand new sophomore effort from Sonata Arctica. Wow! Another great one! It seems that SA is going to be another Iced Earth, and put out one perfect album after another. I'm not yet sure how this compares to the debut, but it's definitely more epic. There are tons of great songs, and a fairly strong degree of variety. You've got fast-paced rockers like "Weballergy" and "Land of the Free", and great ballads like "Last Drop Falls" and "Tallulah".
One song in particular really stuck with me. That song is "The End of this Chapter". It's a ballad about a guy who is apparently stalking a woman he is in love with. The lyrics are downright spinechilling, and oddly touching. We often forget that these kinds of situations are not simply two-sided, a victim and a freak, it's often more complex than that. The person has feelings and desires that he can't deal with, and it pretty much drives him insane. I was amazed at how well this song captured the essence of that in just a few minutes. Anyway, moving on. Tony Kakko (they finally included their last names) is an amazing vocalist with tremendous range. He seems to be phasing out his accent more here than on the debut, which is a great improvement, and his lyrics have improved as well. For once, he's conveying emotion effectively, instead of almost coming off as cheesy (due in part, I'm sure, to his becoming more comfortable with English). That's the great thing about this band, they are one of the few power metal bands that write meaningful, touching lyrics, instead of just songs about dragons and stuff (which isn't bad, it's just sort of one-dimensional). On top of that, they're all top-notch musicians. Jani's solos are very fast and melodic, sort of a combination of Joe Satriani and Yngwie Malmsteen. Tommy Portimo is one of the great drummers, up there with Mike Portnoy and Neil Peart. The bass is still lost in the mix, but oh well. The album ends in a 10-minute epic, "The Power of One". The is an excellent track, with really cool lyrics. All in all, a great album, one I can't wait to listen to over and over. Great musicianship, great lyrics, and very cool packaging. A must-have.

Also, I have to say this: Stop comparing this band to Stratovarius! That band is very overrated (see my friend Lord Chimp's review of "Destiny"), and SA is far more talented and far more intelligent than that band ever has and ever will be. Period!

After being immensely disappointed by Edguy and Stratovarius, I thought to myself, "Hmm, where can I find some decent power metal?". Ta da! Sonata Arctica has provided me with the power metal experience the aforementioned bands denied me. Great riffs, excellent solos, godly vocals, and nice atmospheres. It will amaze you how fast and hard, yet strikingly catchy "Weballergy" and "San Sebastian" are. "Wolf and Raven" is really powerful as well, even featuring a touch of death vocals, and a weird hip hopish drum interlude. I can't believe that song was released as a single in Europe, you'd certainly never hear anything like it over here.

The ballads are done very well, far above the standard power metal ballad. "Tallulah" and "Last Drop Falls" are really touching relationshipy songs, and "The End of this Chapter" is a chilling tale of love turned to obsession. "The Power of One" is quite simply one of the best metal songs I've heard in a while. Great buildup, nice atmospheres, incredible vocals, it's just perfect. Gotta love that Maiden riff thrown in there as well.

The only bad thing is the lyrics have kind of awkward English at times ("These news travel fast", "Love due to expire too long time ago"), but man, the music is so good, you won't even care. Plus, the lyrical content is otherwise pretty meaningful (as opposed to goofy, like Stratovarius), which makes up for it. That, and Tony is quite simply one of the greatest vocalists alive (as opposed to Timo from Stratovarius, who, uh, isn't). Why are you still reading this? Just buy it! I really want to get "Ecliptica", but I wish it didn't cost so much.

Still reading? Buy this now!

Sonata Arctica has been among my favorite bands ever since their debut, "Ecliptica", in 1999. "Silence" is their second album, not counting the various EPs that have been released. Their style draws heavily from Stratovarius, but they manage to be something totally different at the same time. The songwriting is much better than the generic medeival/cheeseball lyrics that plague most of the power metal scene today.

"Silence" follows the same style as Ecliptica but has more ballads and mid paced songs. It kicks off into "Weballergy", a solid, fast song in the Traditional Sonata style. "The End of This Chapter" is a mid paced song and one of the best songs on the album, disregarding the goofy intro. All the songs are great if not amazing. It ends perfectly with the 13 minute "The Power of One" which has an awesome guitar/keyboard solo in the middle that gave me goosebumps the first time I heard it This band is the greatest.... I only pray that they will someday tour in the states.

Sonata Arctica's sophomore effort, 'Silence' (2001) shows true signs of maturity for such a young group. True, they did show this on their debout, 'Ecliptica' (1999), but it's shown just as well here. Though this is not quite up to par with the 2003 masterpiece 'Winterheart's Guild,' 'Silence' showcases the band's most synth-driven album to date (at least of the ones that are available here currently-'Reckoning Night' (2004) isn't scheduled for a US release until February 2005.)
The band is one of the most talented progressive/power metal bands Europe has seen in a long time, and it is easy to see a major influence from fellow Finns Stratovarius and a bit of Children of Bodom as well (who are also Finnish.) Singer Tony Kakko is amazing, he sounds like the perfect balance of Timo Kotipelto and an classically trained tenor. Guitarist Jani Liimatainen may dish out some very fast and simplistic riffs, but his solos are top notch. Bassist Marko Paasikoski is extremely quick much of the time (mainly because he plays with a pick), but he is still extremely good. Keyboardist Mikko Harkkin's fast fingers are practically the melodies that the band depend on for this album. His solos are amazing, as are the sound they produce. Drummer Tommy Portimo is lightning fast on that double bass part, and his snare, cymbal, etc. techniques are great too.
And now, of course the highlights: "Weballergy" may be the fastest song Sonata Arctica ever did, and the synth part is amazing...but the solos (guitar and keyboard) are really where it's at. "Black Sheep" is not quite as fast as "Weballergy," but the harmonizing method between the keys and guitar is insane. And "Wolf and Raven" is also extremely fast, and the intro/midpoint shredding technique is astounding, by far my favorite on the record. Fans of bands like Stratovarius, Children of Bodom, Thunderstone, Nightwish, and Kotipelto (among others) should definetely give this a try.

"Rock Forever!"-Judas Priest

I received this album for Christmas from my parents, after playing a few Sonata songs to my Dad. I'm now trying to receive Successor from my local CD store. Anyway, this album is definatley the best album in my CD collection, it's never out of the CD player! Along with the excellent guitar solos, excellent lyrics, excellent vocals and excellent keyboard, well, what can I say, everything about Sonata is just perfect and Excellent!! the excellent Intro of ..Of Silence which swiftly and very technically moves into Weballergy kicks off the start to an excellent 13 tracks of music! False News is and excellent song because of the guitars, where-as The End Of This Chapter is very moving and melodic, but at the same time, marvellous and excellent music!! Theres not one song on this CD I could doubt for one minute! and it all nicely ends with The Power Of One! come on people! buy this CD and spread the word of Sonata Arctica!!

Sonata Arctica --- Silence (2001)

The group's first album, 1998's Ecliptica, hit the hammer right on the head of the power-metal nail. ...

Sonata Arctica's next and sophomore effort, Silence, shows a little improvement. But that improvement and maturity was just enough to put them over the top... and into their own little niche.

The music flows very well. The vocals and keyboards tie up loose end that were chaffing in Ecliptica. Both of which are lush and full in Silence. The music features style variances throughout the album so as to not put the spotlight on one performer for too long and allow each member to flex some technical muscle, which there is plenty of. I was also impressed by the emotion which sounded real and intense and not like typical cheesed up power-ballad fluff. These guys also possess youth, so I can only hope they continue to improve with each release so I can continue to burn... er... buy their albums.

This is an oustanding sophomore release. Yes, it is a bit overpolished, but it works. I think Finland will have it's own battle of the titans between Stratovarius and Sonata Arctica. My money is on the younger and fresher Sonata Arctica. Bar none, the most tasteful and deep-emotioned power-metal album ever (i.e. - I like it much more than I let on).

Where Dream Theater meets Blind Guardian. Stratovarius going through a wormhole. Video game music from a much cooler universe.

I'm trying to come up with a way to accurately describe the music on "Silence," a 62-minute (well, 62 minutes and 2 seconds to be precise) offering of . . . something . . . from Finnish metal masters Sonata Arctica. This album is brilliant. Where should I begin?

Should I talk about the top-notch musicianship? The soaring, emotion-drenched vocals? The seizure-inducing lead guitar work? The solid rhythm section and stunning synth soundscapes that underly every track? The personal, real-world lyrics (which come as a breath of fresh air for this genre; don't get me wrong, I absolutely love Blind Guardian, but the fantasy lyrics can get kind of goofy after a while)?

This album is everything prog- and power-metal should be. Complex, emotional, intense, and melodic. The surprisingly young Jani Liimatainen is one of the most impressive guitarists I've heard so far. If you don't believe me, check out "Black Sheep" and "Wolf & Raven."

And where would any power-prog band be without a soft side? Sonata Arctica is one of the few bands I've listened to lately that can play a really emotional piano-ballad without sounding really, really cheesy. That's an accomplishment in and of itself.

There is one minor blemish on this otherwise amazing listening experience: the intro to "The End Of This Chapter" may very well be one of the corniest, cheesiest, downright stupidest things I've ever heard on a recording. But DO NOT let that deter you from buying this album. 30 seconds of cheese to 61:32 of genius ain't a bad ratio.

After a very solid debut album these stars in the making not only avoided the sophomore jinx, they managed to top their initial release with an album that is probably in the top five for 2001 & 2002. Silence is a marvelous album that will elevate Sonata Arctica to the upper tier of melodic / power metal artists. They have what it takes to create beautiful, catchy melodies embellished with key ingrediants (double bass, driving riffs soaring keyboards). Sonata also has great singing as well as talentd songwriting. Although they are relatively young they are accomplished musicians whose arrangements and abilities belie their age. All the songs are good but I especially like 'Of silence', 'Weballergy', 'Land of the free', 'Sing in silence' and, the crowning achievement, 'The power of one'. The power of one is a 10 minute epic that is worth the cost of the cd alone. If you like heroic epic power metal you need this CD!

Sonata Arctica is a great band. It is anything but 'silence' that makes this band. You have got to listen carefully to fully appreciate one of the most talented Power Metal artists out there. This is a very good album. In fact, I like all of this bands albums about the same. Sonata is like a cross between Rhapsody and Nightwish. Can you picture that? It is fast-paced, happy and moving. The guitars, lyrical quality and variety of style is all excellent. If you are a fan of Heavy Metal, you must give this a listen... or two. It truly is a lot to take in. Fans of Iron Maiden, Dream Evil, Stratovarius, Blind Guardian, Rhapsody or Nightwish should have this album. It is a masterpiece.