Sonata Arctica's Reviews
Silence (Average Rating: 9.34 out of 10)
Solid, tasty work (Rated this album with 8 out of 10)
Reviewed by
sinp
from Upstate NY, USA
Many people have already written excellent reviews of this release, so I'm not adding any stunning new insights here. Mostly I want people who came here wondering whether this is a good purchase to say, "Yeah, I think I'll give this one a try." I did, and I'm pleased. Okay, the drummer needs to throw away his double-bass pedal and the production is so polished it's almost robotic, but this is great music for a rush-hour commute. I don't care to label it; it's not really like other material I own, and I have a pretty diverse collection of rock, metal, and all points in between. Sonata Arctica has a strong, solid recording here. Good tunes that rock -- what more do you want???One thing bugs me, though: I can't read the lyrics inside. Their font and color choice is atrocious. Too bad, because some of these lyrics are excellent. Not all, but don't believe some of these reviewers who dismiss this entire recording as juvenile or silly. It's neither, tho a few tracks might seem rather weak. I happen to think "The End of This Chapter" is one of the best tracks here. I also happen to think the intro is very appropriate, and only as melodramatic as what you find on King Diamond releases. It helps set the scene, and it's thoroughly creepy. Another reviewer described how this isn't about some crazy stalker, it's a man who's torn so much by his pain that he's unable to accept the loss of his love. These are first-rate lyrics, folks, and powerful. Maybe most of us can't really relate, which is good, but I'll bet it's not so far off, either. And then there's "Tallulah," which isn't a common name for American listeners but it doesn't matter, not when the lyrics are so good. What this man sings could be stage directions from a play, or the dialogue from a Kevin Smith film. You can visualize what's happening, you can understand exactly what this character is thinking and feeling. For a few minutes, you're right there with him. Maybe you've lost a love like this, maybe you haven't, but Sonata Arctica has given us a gem of a song that will grab your attention. This is an incredible song, not only the best on this release but one of the best single tracks I've heard ever. I just wish I didn't have to keep listening to figure out the last scraps of lyrics that haven't been memorized yet; the song is so emotional it starts to hurt to listen. Maybe the next release won't use such unreadable liner notes. Everyone tells you "Buy this, you won't be sorry!" I can't tell you they're right, but I can tell that I took the chance and was glad. Lord Chimp and wickerman wrote honest reviews for Sonata Arctica; use their comments to guide your decision, as I did, and you might discover another band to add to your rotation. This is good rock.
Buy this album on Amazon at $14.99
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