SONATA ARCTICA — Talviyö (review)

SONATA ARCTICA — Talviyö album cover Album · 2019 · Power Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
3/5 ·
Kev Rowland
Here is the tenth studio album by Finnish Power Metal act Sonata Arctica, and by now we all know what to expect and they yet again deliver that with loads of harmonies and hooks. Apparently, they wanted a more live approach to this album, so bass and drums were recorded together as opposed to independently so there was a strong rhythm section sound. Also, all the songs had been written and discussed by the band before going into the studio, so they knew what they needed to achieve. The result is an album where the band shifts between different musical styles – sometimes very heavy indeed and others far lighter and keyboard oriented – yet somehow fails to ultimately inspire.

When I realised there was a new album from Sonata Arctica I was excited, and was looking forward to playing it, but by the time I had been all the way through a few times I realised nothing was sticking with me, and although it was okay while it was playing there was nothing there which was really compelling me to go back and listen to it again, apart from knowing I had to write about it. The production from Mikko Tegelman is top rate, while the musicianship and singing is all of the quality one expects from this band who have had a consistent line-up for some time. Indeed, this is the third album with the same guys, and apart from new boy Pasi Kauppinen (bass) they have been together since 2007, so they know what they are doing. But while it would be unfair and incorrect to say they are going through the motions, the best I can say about this is that it is a Sonata Arctica album. If you enjoy melodic rock then you already know who they are, and if you are a fan you may well get a great deal from this, but as for me it’s solid but rarely more than that.
Share this review
more

Review Comments

Post a public comment below | Send private message to the reviewer
Please login to post a shout
No shouts posted yet. Be the first member to do so above!

Review Index

Member Zone

Username:
Password:
Stay signed in

Metal Subgenres

Artists Alpha-index

MMA TOP 5 Metal ALBUMS

Rating by members, ranked by custom algorithm
Albums with 30 ratings and more
Master of Puppets Thrash Metal
METALLICA
Buy this album from our partners
Paranoid Heavy Metal
BLACK SABBATH
Buy this album from our partners
Moving Pictures Hard Rock
RUSH
Buy this album from our partners
Powerslave NWoBHM
IRON MAIDEN
Buy this album from our partners
Rising Heavy Metal
RAINBOW
Buy this album from our partners

New Metal Artists

New Metal Releases

Hin helga kvöl Atmospheric Sludge Metal
SÓLSTAFIR
Buy this album from MMA partners
The Cycles of Suffering Black Metal
BURIAL OATH
Buy this album from MMA partners
The Suns of Perdition - Chapter IV: To Shadow Zion Black Metal
PANZERFAUST
Buy this album from MMA partners
Facilis Descensus Averno Death Metal
SAEVUS FINIS
Buy this album from MMA partners
Merciless Crossover Thrash
BODY COUNT
Buy this album from MMA partners
More new releases

New Metal Online Videos

DAWN OF REVENGE - Sanctuary [official music video]
DAWN OF REVENGE
Bosh66· 5 days ago
DAWN OF REVENGE - Farewell [official music video]
DAWN OF REVENGE
Bosh66· 5 days ago
DAWN OF REVENGE - Curtain of Death - [official music video]
DAWN OF REVENGE
Bosh66· 5 days ago
DAWN OF REVENGE - Vengeance [official music video]
DAWN OF REVENGE
Bosh66· 5 days ago
DAWN OF REVENGE - I Need You [official music video]
DAWN OF REVENGE
Bosh66· 5 days ago
More videos

New MMA Metal Forum Topics

More in the forums

New Site interactions

More...

Latest Metal News

members-submitted

More in the forums

Social Media

Follow us
Follow us on Twitter Become a Facebook fan RSS Feed