Sonata Arctica's Debut: Ecliptica: A Lesson For All Other Power Metal Bands

"What the hell am I waiting here for,
Expecting you to come and give away your life…

Just for a moment of my time,
Have a hole where I should have a heart,
I'm made of wood,
I'm falling apart,
I would give a kingdom for one more day."

Tony Kakko of Sonata Arctica from the song "Kingdom For a Heart" from the album Ecliptica, 1999.

The debut of Sonata Arctica’s first album, Ecliptica, is a lesson for every Power Metal performer.

A smashing package with a handful of “singles” that are catchy and fast. The lyrics are entertaining to a degree, but the playing is fast, furious, and articulate. I fully understand how “articulate” sounds, but these guys are technically masters of their instruments.

Blank File opens the album with the traditional Arctica high vocals and quick paced guitars.

My Land slows it down a bit to capture the heavy metal bass riffs and thundering drums with the guitars filling the air with their cutting jabs.

The next four songs capture the essence of the band and have become concert standards.

8th Commandment, the first “hit” is a song of angst that ties the band together perfectly. The bold vocals, the dicey guitar solos that soar, the keyboard solos that add a touch of flair against the background of the steady rhythm section of drums and bass are the components of a strong song. The song is about the angst of having a partner that lies and the revenge that will ensue. The opening riff sets the standard for all Power Metal that remains today.

Replica (the second hit) slows it down but the lyrics of mankind’s angst reign on this quasi-ballad.

Kingdom For a Heart (the third hit) is, in my most humbled opinion, is the best song on the album. So catchy, so reminiscent of the past; and yet so fresh. The lyrics, the changing tempos, and the music blend so perfectly in this one song.

Full Moon (the fourth hit) is another amazing moment that calls back to the realm of folklore as it is a song about a man turning into a wolf—the wolf being a later signature image of the band.

Letter To Dana is one of the weaker moments of the album. With the opening flute, it almost sounds Jethro Tull-like.

Unopened (the fifth hit) stands as one of the greatest songs in the Power Metal genre. Honestly, it is amazing that this band has so many signature tunes on one album. This one is so catchy it is unreal. The only knock is perhaps for the overuse of “tickling” keyboards. You would understand that last line if you heard the bridge of the song. It is simply about unopened letters and unrequited love.

Picturing the Past and Destruction Preventer are standard fill-in material; but no less fascinating for a band of such amazing talent.

This is an excellent debut album by a band of such promise as Sonata Arctica—and they have never failed to deliver.

The Myths and Legends of Kamelot

“There's a way from it all,

Though the chances are small,

We'll come back again...

Won't you think it over...

Life is a pendulous fall...

But maybe worth the pain... And soon enough we'll go... Where nobody can touch us…”

--Youngblood and Khan “Pendulous Fall” from the CD The Myths & Legends of Kamelot, 2007.



In a somewhat common ploy for the completest collectors out there, Kamelot’s management and the band have released a European only CD of their B-Sides and added tracks called The Myths and Legends of Kamelot.

In my haste, I bid on two of them from eBay and won them both. One will be going up for auction later so I can recoup some of the money.

Before one runs madly out in a dash to search this collection (which is very good); I would offer this advice: check the bonus tracks on your CD’s. The majority of this collection is available elsewhere.

The following is the song list with their original location:

Track 1: Future King: Bonus Track from the Japanese Karma
Track 2: Like The Shadows: Bonus from Japanese Epica
Track 3: Ne Pleure Pas: Bonus from Karma (Don’t You Cry in Italian)
Track 4: Soul Society: Radio Edit from Black Halo
Track 5: Epilogue: Bonus from Japanese Black Halo
Track 6: We Are Not Separate: Bonus Track from The Expedition
Track 7: We Three Kings: Bonus Track from The Expedition
Track 8: One Day: Bonus Track from The Expedition and Japanese Siege Perilous
Track 9: The Haunting: Radio Edit From Black Halo
Track 10: March of Mephisto: Radio Edit From Black Halo
Track 11: Can You Remember: Bonus from Japanese Fourth Legacy
Track 12: Snow: Bonus Track from Epica
Track 13: Season’s End: Bonus Track from Japanese Ghost Opera
Track 14: The Pendulous Fall: Bonus Track from Ghost Opera
Track 15: Epilogue (Live): Bonus Track from Japanese One Cold Winter’s Night

Since I own many of these on the CD’s, there were a few I did not have: namely Future King, Like The Shadows, Epilogue, and Season’s End. The rest I had in some form or another.

It makes me think that the Japanese CD’s are THAT much better. No wonder they always sell on eBay.

The tracks offered herein are relatively reflective and more of the orchestrated offerings of the band. This is not meant as a put down of sorts, but they are the tracks most likely to be cast off an album for a power metal band. They capture Khan’s voice and Thomas Youngblood’s guitars and writing style. They also always capture the magnificence of keyboard player Oliver Palotai, bassist Glenn Barry, and drummer Casey Grillo.

Any offering from Kamelot is, of course, excellent. Still it is interesting to note that SPV has chosen this as a European release and has ignored the American market where so many of these tracks remain unavailable.

Seek it out, but before so, check the various songs on the various Kamelot collections owned.

Sonata Arctica Reckoning Night--A Therapy Session

"I am your poison candygram,

The love that's meant to fade away.

Vade retro, alter ego, move aside, I'm choking on this life...

I think I tolerate your hate, as long as you're afraid.

All I wanted was to be with you and suffer every day...”

Apparently Tony Kakko, lyricist of Sonata Arctica must have been going through some rough patches on an emotional rollercoaster as the Reckoning Night CD might show. That or he was breaking the bonds with someone for whom he once cared. Whatever the case, Reckoning Night was as much of a listening pleasure as it has been theraputic for me.

I love the orange cover and the signature “Wolves art/homage” that Sonata Arctica is known for. The ship in a sea of turmoil fits the verbal imagery perfectly.

Misplaced, Blinded No More, Ain’t Your Fairytale, Don’t Say A Word, My Selene, Wildfire, and Shamandalie are all pretty much about the bitterness of unrequited, unfulfilled, and rejected love.

That said, this album has some of the bands best songs.

Ain’t Your Fairytale and Don’t Say A Word (actually using the word “whore” throughout the song) standout as the classic Sonata Arctica standards. Misplaced, Blinded No More and Wildfire are among my favorites though. This one is the one that really rocked for the band, followed by the often criticized Unia. There were the greatest hits and best of packages that followed along with the For The Sake of Revenge CD/DVD live combo. Still, I think this one has their best playing as a band. Yes, please ignore the Boy Who Wanted To Be A Puppet. I cannot believe they made a single out of that one; lyrically lame but kind of catchy.

The band has an edge that takes them to a higher level as a Power Metal Band. The vocals have bite, the keyboards are incredible, and the guitars are crisp. The rhythm section could use more thunder and power for me, but a minor complaint as on this album—they shine. This album’s production is a bit muddy, but I am no expert here.

Reckoning Night has it all, a purpose in the lyrics, speed and flash in the guitars, clever tunes and true melodic power. It also was the first Sonata Arctica I owned, and I have revisited it a few times in the recent weeks (for reasons look at the first paragraph of the text) and it has also given me a bond to share.

"Reckoning Night" (2004)

Misplaced

Blinded No More

Ain't Your Fairytale

Reckoning Day, Reckoning Night

Don't Say A Word

The Boy Who Wanted To Be A Real Puppet

My Selene

Wildfire

White Pearl, Black Oceans

Shamandalie

Wrecking The Sphere

World In My Eyes

Two Minds One Soul