UNIA- A REVIEW BY ADDY
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
SPECS
Released May 25, 2007
Recorded December 2006-January 2007
Genre Power metal
Length 58:34
Label Nuclear Blast
THE BAND
NAME: Tony Kakko
INSTRUMENT: Vocals, Keyboards
DATE OF BIRTH: May 16th 1975
PRESENTLY LIVING IN: Finland
JOINED SONATA ARCTICA: 1996
NAME: Tommy Portimo
INSTRUMENT: Drums
DATE OF BIRTH: September 5th 1981
PRESENTLY LIVING IN: Kemi
JOINED SONATA ARCTICA: Original member
NAME: Marko Paasikoski
INSTRUMENT: Bass
DATE OF BIRTH: June 10th 1978
PRESENTLY LIVING IN: Kemi, Finland
JOINED SONATA ARCTICA: Summer 2000
NAME: Henrik "Lance" Klingenberg
INSTRUMENT: Keyboards
DATE OF BIRTH: October 21st 1978
PRESENTLY LIVING IN: Kokkola
NAME: Elias "E.Vil" Viljanen
INSTRUMENT: Guitar
DATE OF BIRTH: 8th of July 1975
PRESENTLY LIVING IN: Pirkkala
TRACK LISTINGS
"In Black and White" − 5:03
"Paid in Full" − 4:24
"For the Sake of Revenge" − 3:23
"It Won't Fade" − 5:58
"Under Your Tree" − 5:14
"Caleb" − 6:16
"The Vice" − 4:08
"My Dream's but a Drop of Fuel for a Nightmare" − 6:13
"The Harvest" − 4:18
"To Create a Warlike Feel" − 5:03
"The Worlds Forgotten, the Words Forbidden" − 2:57
"Fly with the Black Swan" − 5:08
"Good Enough Is Good Enough" − 5:32
"They Follow" − 4:50
"Out in the Fields (Gary Moore cover)" − 4:06
"My Dream's but a Drop of Fuel for a Nightmare - Instrumental" − 7:11
MY OPINION
I admit i may be being a little harsh, but i was disappointed quite by this album. The fact of the matter is that Sonata Arctica are my favourite band and i love all their other albums. Yet, sadly this album is different from all the rest. Unlike the bands other albums this one seems darker, harder and even much more moodier. I adore the diversity of the power metal ballads and more uptempo tracks from prior albums with tracks such as "Full Moon", "Last Drop Falls" and "Tallulah" but this album is just so different.
It may feel wonderful to Sonata Arctica to be re-inventing themselves, but i am of the opinion "if it isn't broken, don't fix it" I rushed to buy this album but if you feel you must own it, pay as cheap as possible. If you are a great fan of the older Sonata Arctica stuff be warned you may be disappointed. In its own right it is ok as an album and thus those buying this as a first Sonata Arcitica album and not being familiar with their other work will likely enjoy it, but for me a big thumbs down.
Thanks for reading/rating, Addy
© 2007, updated May 2008
Pictures of Unia - Sonata Arctica
29.05.2008 10:11
Good review...the lead singer looks a forct to be reckoned with LOL...Thanks. J.
17.05.2008 11:52
Nicely updated
03.05.2008 12:05
Good review but think more details could be added here to imrpove your ratings, please let me know if you update