SONATA ARCTICA — Reckoning Night (review)

SONATA ARCTICA — Reckoning Night album cover Album · 2004 · Power Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
4.5/5 ·
RuneWalsh2112
I first became aware of Sonata Arctica back in 2003 when I was in the army serving in the northern Sweden. The local folk, up in the north, are a lot more into melodic music which is why cheesy pop music and melodic metal is especially popular in the northern regions of the world. At first, I wasn't actually much of a fan even though bands that I listened to at the time weren't exactly much different in comparison (i.e. Dream Theater, Rush, Sympony X etc.) even if I wanted to believe that they were.

The snippets of "Silence" and "Ecliptica" that I've got to hear during my 10 month in the service felt very tedious and straining at first but eventually I got off my high horse and began to appreciate the simplicity and high energy that existed in the European Power Metal. It didn't mean that I was completely sold on the whole concept, rather that I was more open-minded about it.

By the time "Reckoning Night" came around I've almost completely forgotten about ever listening to Sonata Arctica but this definitely changed once I've read the highly praising AllMusic review of the album and its creative edge over the band's repertoire up to this point. I basically said why not? ... and purchased the album. The music that I was met with wasn't exactly too different compared to what I previously heard from the band but the major difference was in the fact that the material was a whole lot more consistent compared to their first two releases. The album revealed a lot of the hidden qualities that I have not experienced on any other Power Metal albums until now. I'm referring to the completely gorgeous melodies that weren't necessary cheesy, or at least I didn't see them as such. Most importantly, this particular album didn't feel like junk food --- an analogy that works surprisingly well with most Power Metal albums. Most of the Power Metal albums that I've experienced thus far have all felt like brainless fun that really had no, or very little, consistency to it making them ideal for a spin or two and them dropping them completely off my playlist for many months and sometimes even years!

Simply put, this is one of the few Power Metal albums that managed to click with me. Just like with most other music from this genre, it only works when I'm in that weird kind of mood, but it sure feels great to have a right album for the occasion!

***** star songs: Misplaced (4:42) Ain't Your Fairytale (5:26) White Pearl, Black Oceans... (8:47) Shamandalie (4:04)

**** star songs: Blinded No More (5:33) The Boy Who Wanted To Be A Real Puppet (4:44) My Selene (5:28) Wildfire (4:36) Don't Say A Word (5:49)

** star songs: Reckoning Day, Reckoning Night... (3:21)
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