Then comes “Tallulah.” This song is self-explanatory for any Finn, but for those of you who have never been to Finland, this reason this song is such a big deal in Finland may come as a surprise. This instrumental would not be out of place on an early NIGHTWISH album due to the clear Tuomas Holopainen influence in the forefronted synth sounds. Jani Liimatainen‘s solo is laid-back yet creative and the song ends on a creepy lyric before uproariously bursting into “Revontulet”. “Sing in Silence” is another step away from the fast-paced norm, with more eerie and ominous lyrics set to a softer, more melodic beat. Naturally, this has the “ohh-ohh” part, but drummer Tommy Portimo never once slows down – what a fabulous change from the bored drums of more recent albums! This is one of the great classic shreddy power metal songs, fast and a little wanky in those slick shred battles, but in a good way. Another happy-go-lucky song to celebrate life and love is “San Sebastian,” which is good fun live.
Admittedly, Bear was also fond of this song back in the early 2000s, but disagrees about it being their best ballad. “Last Drop Falls” is, according to Simo, SONATA ARTICA‘s best ballad, though he admits that it’s nostalgic as hell for a young Finnish metalhead and is associated with a lot of great memories. Kakko‘s voice is at the max for a lot of the song, but back then, why not use what you’ve got, right? Bear always appreciated that Tony Kakko has/had more nuance to his singing than just hitting high notes this really shows in this album, as his voice covers a melodic spectrum that isn’t focused on screaming at the top of his lungs. This track also stands out for one of the interesting middle parts that may have snuck past casual listeners like Bear in the past. “Land of the Free” is a little bit more interesting, with an almost NIGHTWISH-y intro. Hard to disagree with that, as the soloing is really stylish and skillful.
SONATA ARCTICA SILENCE WALLPAPER FULL
It’s back to full blast with one of the most iconic SONATA riffs, with “Black Sheep.” While Bear found this song pretty basic/simple for most of her life and was never very into it, Simo argues that it’s catchy and the riffing is what brings it to life and makes it great. In fact, songs like this also show what a creative writer Kakko is – he may not have spoken English extremely fluently, but he shows a poetic soul nonetheless and did a great job with what he had. “the Caleb saga” was “The End of This Chapter,” which is notable for its very creepy intro, a slower pace than a lot of the driven power metal that permeates this album, as well as one of the best lines: “while you are sleeping / I steal your earring / light you one candle / this anger I handle.” So creepy! This was the basis of so many great songs to come, so naturally this track has a special place in the hearts of many (despite it’s cute Finglish lines). The beginning of the band’s legendary stalker saga a.k.a. Also of note, “False News Travels Fast” features some of Timo Kotipelto‘s high wailing towards the end, as he was a guest vocalist on this release – can you tell the two legendary vocalists apart? While many of the songs on this album are a bit straightforward, it’s the strong vocal performance by Tony Kakko, as well as the truly incredible fills and solos that draw the listener in and keep them hooked, making SONATA ARCTICA into far more than a one-trick pony.
Opening on a spoken word intro by Nik Van-Eckmann, “…Of Silence,” this rather poignant piece draws attention to the importance of silence before leading the listener into “Weballergy.” In researching this article, we discovered that this track was meant to be the sequel to “Blank File” from the band’s debut.
“Silence” remains one of SONATA ARCTICA‘s most popular albums due to the strength of the pure power metal sound and furor.
It is clear and balanced and no one is masked, but it’s also worth noticing that everyone is at peak performance both style and energy -wise no one is hiding or half-assing it. Perhaps known as the band’s best era by many fans, one of the major differences in “Silence,” compared to now, is the production value.
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