Pariah's Child

After the first couple of spins of Pariah's Child I had to ask myself a question: "Why don't I like this album?" With a couple more spins I realize that, in fact, I do like it. Nonetheless, for my taste it has some weaknesses.Since I do like the work, let's get the things that troubled me off the list early. This album is dominated by the lyrics. The instrumental work has been mixed somewhat lower than in most metallic music, while the words to the songs are of primary importance. The result is that initially I overlooked the musical brilliance I had come to expect from SA. It is often there, it's just deeper in the mix. The second problem for me was the overuse of sound effects, voiceovers, and other gimmicks. Some might like that, but here I found it sometimes to be a cover for tedious music (*cough* Cloud Factory, X Marks the Spot). Finally, there were a couple of songs here that were basically good, but had drum parts that could have been created by Meg White (Half a Marathon Man). Portimo is a terrific drummer - I have come to expect more from his parts.Fortunately, that is not the whole story. On careful listening, the album often does have the very clever use of time and key signatures that I have always loved in Sonata Arctica - a 4/4 verse with a waltz chorus in the The Wolves Die Young; a delightful 5/4 passage in Take One Breath... The musicians are playing, for the most part, as well as they ever have. Kakko's vocals are outstanding as always, albeit a little too high in the mix for my own taste. This is the SA we all know and love - it's just that it is easy to overlook the fact in all the jokes and sound effects.I like this album more every time I listen. I deducted a star because I have to hit the "skip" button every time X Marks the Spot comes up, but on the whole it is solid work from a mature band. Long-time SA fans will need it, but if you are new to their work, start with a different album.Edit: After a couple more listens I have realized that the drum work on "...Marathon Man" is intentionally monotonous - it mimics the pounding of a runner's feet on the pavement, hour after hour. As usual... clever.

Absolutely amazing new album! When I heard that Sonata Arctica were making a new album, I was so excited. Right when it came out, I booted up my laptop first thing in the morning, logged into my amazon.com account, and immediately downloaded this album without delay. Now having listened to the whole thing several times, I have absolutely no regrets at all.Sonata Arctica deliver the sheer punch-packing, epic emotional sound for which they are known in one way or another all across the album, never once disappointing the listener. The virtuosic guitar solos are still there, the crooning, lush keyboards are still there, the wild and intense drumming is still there, the smooth and flowing bass is still there, Tony's emotional, high note-belting voice is still there.... honestly, who could ask for more? These guys have always reminded me of a mix of Iron Maiden, Queen, Boston and Dream Theater, among many others. It is pretty obvious that they, along with other bands in their genre, look up to the great classics of the past. Overall, Sonata Arctica have once again proven themselves to be one of the best and most talented bands in the last 15 years, hands down. Right up there with Kamelot, Voyager, Borealis, Symphony X, Seventh Wonder, Mindwarp Chamber, Xandria, plus countless others, they rule at every level, and prove themselves to be true musicians who are in it for the art, and do not care in the least bit about money.Seriously, who needs any of those no-talent mainstream hack bands like Nickelback, Limp Bizkit, Linkin Park, Fall Out Boy, All That Remains, August Burns Red, Green Day or Weezer when you have amazingly talented bands like Sonata Arctica, plus all those others I mentioned, who actually make music to make music, and not just for the money, and who have a fanbase, however small, who are not brainwashed by the media, and who actually know what GREAT MUSIC is really all about.Also not to mention - I got VIP tickets to see these guys in September! Not only that, but both Delain and Xandria, two of my other favorite bands, are opening up for them! Three for the price of one - HOW can you beat that??!!!Anyways, just buy this album already, if you have what might be called a soul. You know you want to :)

This is an absolutely fantastic album which I've been playing to death ever since it came out. Their previous couple of albums had lost some long term fans but this sees them stick a toe back into the power metal pool without abandoning the more rock opera styling of recent years. In fact it's the sheer variety on offer here that keeps me coming back, the album shifts from power metal to rock opera to ballad to hard rock to a song almost bordering on pop with consummate ease and flair. A current candidate for album of the year.

Oh Sonata Arctica,to be honest I am not a fan of this album at all, I don't like the direction the band has taken compared to their earlier albums that seemed to be have better composition and theme. Unfortunately, I can't recommend this one and would instead suggest their earlier power metal albums such as Silence or Ecliptica, it almost seems like they are struggling for an identity at the moment.

another solid album from the scandanivan masters good solid songs from first to the last well worth buying this album

he plays it all the time

Great album, but not stellar. A good recovery from the disappointing "Stones Grow Her Name". Tony Kakko is awesome as ever :)