Sonata Arctica

Silence

If I hated this band, the box art would have sufficed

Review Score:

(10/10)
Before, if you had asked me what type of music I liked, I would answer rock, a tiny bit of metal, and a microscopic amount of rap. Now, ever since buying this CD, that tiny amount of metal has grown to a fair size.

The only metal I could sit and listen to was half of System Of A Down's <i>Toxicity</i> CD. Sonata Arctica is something totally different. These guys play metal that doesn't sounds like the singer is trying to send some evil dark messages in code. I had only known of "Weballergy" when I chose to buy Silence. As soon as I got home I put this CD on and began to listen to it. Although not the quality I expected (maybe I should have heard it without friends over...) it was still very good. Then afterwards I heard it again. Slowly, as the days went by, I heard it a little more. Then, at around maybe the fifth time I heard it, it hit me. This CD was incredible.

Sonata Arctica plays their music pretty fast. All their songs are highly instrumental (Think "It's My Life" by Bon Jovi). They can play very well and it shows, all of their songs are varied. Now: the lyrics. Most of the metal I'm used to has the music really loud and would drown out the voice of the singer, if it wasn't for the fact that the guy was screaming (Slipknot and Korn come to mind), but you can't hear them anyway, and everything that you understand sounds disturbing. That was my illusion and it was something only 1/2 of System of a Down proved wrong.

Weballergy is a very fast paced song and it isn't quiet, but it sure as heck doesn't hurt your ears. Hearing the lyrics actually surprised me. Now if you listen to rock a lot and are used to being able to understand the words inmediately, thyen you'll still have some trouble. These guys are Finnish and their accent and grammar really get in the way of one another. What they actually do say is interesting but nothing spectacular. I spend my time admiring all the instruments present, the music is overwhelming.

Listening to this CD is a very pleasant experience, and it doesn't just end. The 13 tracks last a LONG time. Do yourself a favor and go buy this, whether you listen to rock or metal.

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