Created in 1996 in the city of Kemi, Finland, initially under the name Tricky Beans, Sonata Arctica quickly evolved its sound towards power metal, changing its name to the current one in 1999. Their debut album, Ecliptica, brought a mix of melodic metal, distinctive keyboard melodies, and powerful vocals.
“We recorded our first demo, and when Stratovarius became big in Finland, that drew attention to us as well. From then on, it became much easier to land a record deal because labels started looking for bands in the genre,” vocalist Tony Kakko explained to Roadie Crew magazine.
Thus, the band—featuring Elias Viljanen (guitar), Pasi Kauppinen (bass), Tommy Portimo (drums), and Henrik Klingenberg (keyboard)— quickly gained international acclaim with albums like Silence (2001) and Winterheart’s Guild (2003), featuring the hit Victoria’s Secret.
Their dynamic stage presence expanded with increasingly intense live performances and festival appearances. The band’s journey, now promoting Clear Cold Beyond (2024), has included extensive tours across multiple continents, solidifying their status as one of the leading power metal bands today.
Tony Kakko commented on Brazil, where the band has been a major draw since their first visit in 2002:
“The experience of playing in Brazil is something unique; it’s unlike anywhere else in the world. The energy we get there is fantastic, and the fans are incredibly passionate.“
Saturday, May 3
SONATA ARCTICA
Founded in 1996 in the city of Kemi, Finland, initially under the name Tricky Beans, Sonata Arctica quickly evolved its sound towards power metal, changing its name to the current one in 1999. Their debut album, Ecliptica, brought a mix of melodic metal, distinctive keyboard melodies, and powerful vocals.
“We started by following in Stratovarius’ footsteps. We recorded our first demo, and when Stratovarius became big in Finland, that drew attention to us as well. From then on, it became much easier to land a record deal because labels started looking for bands in the genre,” explained vocalist Tony Kakko.
Thus, the band—completed by Elias Viljanen (guitar), Pasi Kauppinen (bass), Tommy Portimo (drums), and Henrik Klingenberg (keyboard)—quickly gained international acclaim with albums like Silence (2001) and Winterheart’s Guild (2003), featuring the hit Victoria’s Secret.
Their dynamic stage presence expanded with increasingly intense live performances and festival appearances. The band’s journey, now promoting Clear Cold Beyond (2024), has included extensive tours across multiple continents, solidifying their status as one of the leading power metal bands today. Over the years, they’ve kept fans hooked worldwide with albums like Reckoning Night (2004), with the single Don’t Say A Word reaching #1 on Finland’s charts.
Subsequent works, including Unia (2007), The Days of Grays (2009), Stones Grow Her Name (2012), Pariah’s Child (2014), The Ninth Hour (2016), Talviyö (2019), and the latest, Clear Cold Beyond (2024), have expanded Sonata Arctica’s fan base, particularly in Brazil, where they have been a major draw since their first visit in 2002.
“The experience of playing in Brazil is something unique; it’s unlike anywhere else in the world. The energy we get there is fantastic, and the fans are incredibly passionate,” Tony Kakko stated in an interview with Roadie Crew magazine.
On achieving everything he dreamed of and taking his band forward, Kakko reflected:
“Of course, you always dream of success—of one day having the chance to record albums, touring all over the world, and all that. And today, I see that most of the dreams I had have come true. I feel great about everything I’ve achieved with Sonata Arctica—I consider myself a lucky one.“
