CD Review: Sonata Arctica – “The Days of Grays”

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CD Review

This review was originally written by Jose Bernardo for www.theweeklyriff.com between 2008 and 2010.

These were Jose’s first impressions of the songs and were not written after multiple spins.

Artist : Sonata Arctica
Album : The Days of Grays (2009 Nuclear Blast)
Tracks : 12

Artist website : http://www.sonataarctica.info/

OVERVIEW

This is the sixth album from Finnish power metal band, Sonata Arctica. This band has definitely evolved over time. They are not just simply a power metal anymore, and haven’t been for a while. This album is powerful and ranges stylistically between symphonic metal, power metal, and progressive metal.

Practically every song on this album was composed by singer, Tony Kakko.

HIGHLIGHTS : 

Deathaura, Zeroes, The Dead Skin, As If The World Wasn’t Ending

PLAY BY PLAY

Track 1 – Everything Fades To Gray (Instrumental)
It is an interesting concept to have an album bookended by a short version of a song that comes up as a full version at the end of the album. The composition is solid and really pretty. This is an absolutely perfect album opener.

Track 2 – Deathaura
Absolutely huge sounding. The word “epic” describes this song well.

Track 3 – The Last Amazing Grays
Really nice tune. Not intense and more of a rock feel than metal.

Track 4 – Flag In The Ground
This track is more in the direction of power metal. I did not dig this track and wonder why this was chosen as a single. I felt this was a weak track.

Track 5 – Breathing
Pretty track. Mellow ballad.

Track 6 – Zeroes
This song has some awesome ideas in it. Fresh. Dramatic. Progressive. Very cool track.

Track 7 – The Dead Skin
Very catchy, uptempo tune. It’s kind of surprising that this track is even on this album. Surprising, as it is just something I wouldn’t think of finding on an album like this. It’s different. Then about half way through it becomes more of a metal track. Cool track.

Track 8 – Juliet
I really didn’t dig this track at first. However, it is quite an interesting composition with lots of cool little dramatic ideas.

Track 9 – No Dream Can Heal A Broken Heart
This one’s an uptempo track. Cool track. Average.

Track 10 – As If The World Wasn’t Ending
Really pretty themes here. It is kind of dramatic in a theatrical sense. Pseudo rock opera. Pretty huge sounding. The chords are pretty big.

Track 11 – The Truth Is Out There
Cool track.

Track 12 – Everything Fades To Gray (Full Version)
This full version of the opening track actually detracts from the instrumental version heard at the start of the album. I felt that it was no more complete with the additional parts and worked better in its shorter, instrumental, form.

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Posted in CD Reviews, The Weekly Riff (2008-2010) Reprinted.