Sonata Arctica - Clear Cold Beyond (2024)

Over the years, Sonata Arctica continues to defy time by keeping their sound engaging and fresh. With “Clear Cold Beyond”, the band delivers their signature high-octane Power Metal with ten tracks and nearly one hour of superbly catchy music. Delivering a mixture of playfulness and masterful musical execution, this release is certainly a fun one from this Finnish outfit.

The album kicks off with the lively “First in Line” and its playful keyboards perfectly paired with Tony’s staple vocals and a very upbeat and engaging tempo. The band’s ability to crank out catchy and yet technically engaging songs is clearly showcases on pieces like “California”, “Shah Mat” and “Dark Empath”. We have always loved how the band’s music is upbeat and sometimes to some degree a bit cheesy, but equally enjoyable.

Things can also get moody on songs like “A Monster You Can Only See”, “The Best Things”, and “Cure for Everything” as the band wraps playful lyrics with intense instrumentation and crafty tempo changes. We particularly enjoy how well crafted the drumming is alongside excellent guitar melodies and racing keyboard arrangements.

As a whole, “Clear Cold Beyond” is another signature Sonata Arctica release full of memorable moments and epic musical arrangements. Tony Kakko and company continue to deliver playful songs that are diverse and fresh sounding, keeping things interesting and engaging from start to end. If you are a fan of the band, this release will certainly fulfil your expectations, and if you haven’t heard of these guys before, this is a great place to start your journey.

Label: Atomic Fire Records

Release: March 8th, 2024

Genre: Power Metal

Country: Finland