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May 2024

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April 2024

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February 2024

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Sonata Arctica: Clear Cold Beyond

Melodic/Heavy/Power Metal

4.0/5.0

Official Facebook X Instagram YouTube
Atomic Fire Records
Words: Craig Hartranft
Added: 06.03.2024 | Released: 08.03.2024

Celebrating their 25th anniversary in the metal business, Finnish power metal icons Sonata Arctica return with their latest studio album, Clear Cold Beyond. The album comes on the heels of 2022's two volume Acoustic Adventures which lead vocalist and songwriter Tony Kakko described as a reset, a chance to slow down, and reflect. After which he adds the band was eager to get "back to the metal."

Sonata Arctica

Clear Cold Beyond finds the quintet returning to their heavy power metal roots. There are several things you can expect then: speedy gallop and groove from the rhythm section, bright and significant keyboards, solid vocal arrangements, and generous, tandem keyboard and guitar solos. All things are then wrapped up in song melody and harmony, often with memorable sing-a-long refrains.

Speaking to the songs, Sonata Arctica stomps the power metal pedal at the start with First In Line, California, and Shah Mat. However, several songs take a different turn. The title cut is a more somber and steady melodic metal song with a strong emphasis upon the vocal arrangement. The Best Things is also melodic metal, yet wrapped in an anthemic ballad with an AOR arena ready groove. Both Teardrops and Cure For Everything throw curves with softer starts, only to pick up the pace quickly with the latter song racing along like a Ferrari. Angel Defiled brings back Sonata Arctica's favorite keyboard nuance, the sound of a harpsichord for another power metal romp.

All said, Clear Cold Beyond finds Finnish metal heroes Sonata Arctica returning to their melodic power metal roots with generous gallop and groove and their trademark abundant and sparkling keyboards. If you dig the band and the genre, you will enjoy this album. Recommended.

Note: All Amazon advertising in this review first benefits the artist, then Craig Hartranft also receives a residual. Click, and thanks for your support.

All said, Clear Cold Beyond finds Finnish metal heroes Sonata Arctica returning to their melodic power metal roots with generous gallop and groove and their trademark abundant and sparkling keyboards. If you dig the band and the genre, you will enjoy this album.

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Next year, American metal band Riot V, founded by the late guitarist Mark Reale (d. 2012), will celebrate their 50th anniversary in the metal business. Though we haven't had a new studio album from the band ... [ Read More ]

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