Talviyö
Finnish power metal band Sonata Artica have released their tenth album ‘Talviyö’ and what an absolute treat it is. The album is a follow up to the 2016 album ‘The ninth hour’, now you may think three years is quite a long time between album, but this is a technical masterpiece, both musically and lyrically, and as such, I think we’ll let them off.
Led by creative mastermind Tony Kakko, who is also vocalist and keys player, Sonata Artica is made up of guitarist Elias Viljanen, Pasi Kauppinen on bass, Henrik Klingenberg on keyboards and Tommy Portimo drums. What the band have created with this album is just pure brilliance.
The album opens with a glorious choral turnaround, with distant guitars in the background which slowly build up and then finally Tony’s vocals come in. What a voice. He has such power. This entire album is a masterclass in writing. This first track ‘Message from the Sun’ is about the myths surrounding the Northern lights. It really does have a mystical feel. This opening track lays bare everything that we love about the genre and Sonata Artica in particular. Its just epic.
The album is a collection of stories, so it was very refreshing to hear an instrumental track in the mix. ‘Ismo’s Got Good Reactors’ is a real treat. I’m sure we’ll get to the bottom of the curious title one day. The track has speed guitar meeting folky choral chants and this really conjures a feeling of travelling on horseback through dark Viking lands. You have your sword primed and ready to ward off any attackers and you will emerge from the battle victorious, because you have all the Gods on your side. And then the track comes to a close and you realise you’re back in your living room and it’s raining outside!
Another fantastic track is ‘The Raven Still Flies With You’, with its opening lyric “Slowly snow is falling on black wings”. It is another piece of mighty fine story telling and at over seven and a half minutes it really does draw you in. A story about the devastation and worry of a child going missing. The chorus declaring to the child “I believe the raven still flies with you”.
The album finale comes in the form of ‘The Garden’. A relaxed piece where you feel everything has returned to normality. After the chaos, speed and excitement that has been present throughout the album, ‘The Garden’ just returns you to a sanctuary and allows you to get off the ride.
What a staggeringly good album. It really does take you on a mythical and mystical journey. I absolutely loved it. Sonata Artica have really produced something special with Talviyö and have ensured that they remain genre leaders with this fantastic effort
Released by: Nuclear Blast
Released on 6th September 2019
