Sonata Arctica - The Days of Grays

November 3, 2009

Reviewer: Peter

For those who have been into the Power metal scene for years, Sonata Arctica needs no introduction.  In the beginning, they were often compared to fellow Finns Stratovarius.  However, as time has passed, they have progressively gone a little further away from those comparisons, forging their own path in the metal scene, while along the way, surpassing their heroes in terms of music.  Now, with a new album in The Days of Grays, the band continues to gain new fans while doing enough to keep their long time fans happy.  While it won’t be considered their best album ever, it does continue the Sonata Arctica tradition of releasing solid albums that will induce repeated listens.

The Days of Grays opens with an instrumental in “Everything Fades to Gray.”  It doesn’t necessarily prepare the listener for what is to come on the album.  In fact, along with “Deathaura,” Sonata Arctica seems to ease the listener into the album, as it sounds rather safe compared to how the band had opened their previous albums.  The gradual easing continues with “The Last Amazing Grays,” which is actually one of their more catchy songs on the album.  Things pick up on “Flag in the Ground,” as it sounds more like the Sonata Arctica that many people are familiar with.  For the most part, though, the songs on the album are closer to the last three songs on the Winterhearts Guild album in a sense that they are slower and evoke strong emotions from the listener.  In fact, The Days of Grays is a continuation of Unia, an album that saw the band venture outside of its comfort zone to a great degree.  While it isn’t quite as adventurous, it does smooth out the rough edges of its predecessor and is actually one of the more listenable albums for those who haven’t been able to get into Sonata Arctica.

Overall, The Days of Grays isn’t going to be considered Sonata Arctica’s best effort, but it does carry some replay value and will even be the most likely to bring in new listeners.  While it is true that the band is venturing farther away from its beginnings, it isn’t as though the band forgot where they came from, as their trademark sound is still present, albeit with a few tweaks here and there.  Longtime fans that got lost with Unia are likely to find their way back on The Days of Grays, as it sounds closer to the previous albums while refining the new wrinkles in the sound that were introduced on Unia.  Solid album all around, even if it is one of the safer albums that Sonata Arctica has put out.

Release Date: September 22, 2009
Label: Nuclear Blast Records

TRACK LISTING

1.  Everything Fades To Gray
      (Instrumental)
2.  Deathaura
3.  The Last Amazing Grays
4.  Flag In The Ground
5.  Breathing
6.  Zeroes
7.  The Dead Skin
8.  Juliet
9.  No Dream Can Heal
     A Broken Heart
10.  As If The World
       Wasn't Ending
11.  The Truth Is Out There
12.  Everything Fades To Gray
       (Full Version)

Total playing time: 59:24

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