SONATA ARCTICA: HIGHEST 1st WEEK SALES EVER

After hearing that SONATA ARCTICA’s latest album, Stones Grow Her Name, achieved “highest 1^st week sales” status in North America with 2,225 copies sold, vocalist/songwriter Tony Kakko checked in from his home in Finland with the following message:

"North America! Awesome! Our best ever 1st week sales with Stones Grow Her Name! Thank you so much! Feels good to hear this kind of news from the other side of the great puddle. Especially now, when the times are what they are... You guys rock! Sure hope to get all the tour plans ready as soon as possible, so we can announce out next great North American adventure. See you guys hopefully soon! Miss ya! Cheers!”

Last week, Stones Grow Her Name achieved Gold status in SONATA’s native country for the ninth Finnish Gold disc of their career. The album also debuted at #9 on England’s rock album charts.

Featuring guest backing vocals by Timo Kotipelto, orchestrations that include trumpets, violins, viola caipiras and the banjo, plus an homage to naturalist & film maker Sir David Attenborough, Stones Grow Her Name was released in North America on May 22nd. The album was recorded in several studios all over Finland, mixed at Sonic Pump Studios by Mikko Karmila, and mastered at Chartmakers by Svante Forsbäck.

Watch the video for “I Have A Right” on SONATA’s YouTube channel.

Watch Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3 of "The Making Of: Stones Grow Her Name" on SONATA ARCTICA’s YouTube channel.

SONATA ARCTICA: NEW ALBUM DETAILS REVEALED!

Finland’s SONATA ARCTICA have named their seventh studio album Stones Grow Her Name. Recorded in several studios all over Finland, mixed at Sonic Pump Studios by Mikko Karmila and mastered at Chartmakers by Svante Forsbäck, the album will be released in Europe on May 18th and in North America on May 22nd.

SONATA ARCTICA vocalist Tony Kakko comments:

"Our newest adventure is only a final touch short of being ready. The recordings went extremely well and the mixing is in schedule. Have to say I am enjoying myself greatly. I've had a very hard and work- filled two year period writing the songs while touring extensively with our previous album The Days Of Grays, but it has all been worth it! Yet again, we are introducing new things to keep the music alive and interesting. New elements, styles and new moods, talented guest artists and ideas for the enjoyment of the loyal friends of our music. Can't wait for you to get your hands and ears on Stones Grow Her Name! Hope to see you all again on tour! Be well!“

The track listing for the standard jewel case version will be:

01. Only The Broken Hearts (Make You Beautiful)

02. Shitload Of Money

03. Losing My Insanity

04. Somewhere Close To You

05. I Have A Right

06. Alone In Heaven

07. The Day

08. Cinderblox

09. Don't Be Mean

10. Wildfire II

11. Wildfire III

SONATA ARCTICA DVD TRAILER NOW AVAILABLE

A video trailer for the upcoming live DVD by Finnish metal‘s arctic wolves SONATA ARCTICA is available for viewing here.

Live In Finland is a 2 DVD + 2 CD set that captures the band's April 15th, 2011 concert at Club Teatria in Oulu, Finland and will be available in North America on November 15th. Complete with bonus DVD material and bonus audio CDs, this release will surely satiate the needs of SONATA ARCTICA fans and collectors from around the world. 

The tracklisting for Live In Finland is as follows:

DVD1:

01. Intro (Everything Fades To Gray)
02. Flag In the Ground
03. Last Amazing Grays
04. Juliet
05. Replica
06. Blank File
07. As If The World Wasn’t Ending
08. Paid In Full
09. Victoria’s Secret
10. Instrumental Exhibition
11. The Misery
12. Full Moon
13. In Black & White
14. Mary-Lou
15. Shy
16. Letter to Dana
17. Caleb
18. Don´t Say A Word
19. Outro (Vodka / Everything Fades To Gray)

DVD2:

SONATA ARCTICA Open Air 2 in Kemi, Finland - August 8th, 2009

01. White Pearl, Black Oceans
02. Draw Me
03. In Black & White
04. Don't Say A Word

Bonus Content & Extra Features:

- Making of “Live in Finland”
- Making of “Flag In The Ground”
- Latin-American (Tour Documentary)
- Made in Finland (Tour Documentary)

Music Videos:

- Don’t Say A Word
- Paid In Full
- Flag In The Ground

Acoustic live set at Alcatraz, Milano

The “FITG” cover Contest

Photo Gallery

CD1: SONATA ARCTICA Live in Finland

01. Intro (Everything Fades To Gray)
02. Flag In The Ground
03. The Last Amazing Grays
04. Juliet
05. Replica
06. Blank File
07. As If The World Wasn't Ending
08. Paid In Full
09. Instrumental Exhibition
10. The Misery
11. In Black & White
12. Letter To Dana
13. Caleb
14. Don't Say A World / Everything Fades To Gray

CD2 Bonus: SONATA ARCTICA Open Air

01. Paid In Full
02. 8th Commandment
03. Replica
04. Tallulah
05. Caleb
06. White Pearl, Black Oceans
07. Draw Me
08. Fullmoon

SONATA's keyboard player Henrik Klingenberg has previously stated the following about the band’s forthcoming DVD:

"[It] will be the complete guide to what we've been up to these past two years and showcases SONATA ARCTICA towards the end of the Days of Grays World Tour which started back in 2009. We played a total of over 180 shows in almost 40 countries. I'm very happy that we’ve managed to capture all the ups and downs on film."

The Days Of Grays, SONATA ARCTICA’s latest studio album, debuted on the Billboard Top New Artist “Heatseekers” chart at #19 the week following its release.