Sonata Arctica - Clear Cold Beyond (2024)

Sonata Arctica fans rejoice! Clear Cold Beyond came just in time for the band’s 25th anniversary and as Tony Kakko declared, they wanted to return back to their Power Metal roots. This is not a statement just to attract attention, but the band actually delivered!

My first listen to the album was such a rollercoaster, so let’s try to breakdown the adventure! The welcoming First in Line and California, are fast songs full of keyboards with catchy choruses and an atmosphere so happy, that make Stratovarius sound sad in comparison. Shah Mat continues on the same path, but with more contained happiness in favor of some epic vibes.

Until now you have the impression that the album will continue on that path, but the highlight Dark Empath marks the beginning of differentiation. It is a less speedy track, more symphonic with great choirs and has many changes during its duration. Very inspired, emotional and adventurous composition. A Cure for Everything brings the speed back, but more like Shat Mat than the first two songs. A Monster you Can’t See starts as a ballad with unbelievably good vocal lines, but adds the metal instruments to the mix for a kind-of mid tempo approach, and with memorable melodies remaining prevalent. Expect a chorus that will stay in your head you rent-free.

Teardrops has a very warm performance from Tony, adds few choirs to the mix and ties together everything with some epic touches. Angel Defiled cannot be described with words but I will try! It is crazy and wild, it starts with a great keyboard riff, it is fast but not too much, its chorus is delirious and overall it ended up as my favorite from Clear Cold Beyond. The Best Things is the mandatory for the genre ballad. For closure we have the title track, that unlike everything we have heard in this record, is dark, slow and atmospheric.

Not knowing what to expect (I hadn’t heard any of the singles), I barely formed any opinion after the first listen. After devoting time to it and letting all melodies sink in, I understood that we have been given a very good release. The band has for sure some new bangers to add to their setlists, achieving what they wanted to do. But beyond that, Clear Cold Beyond reminded me of the early, glorious days of Power Metal. Not in the sense that it created something new to inspire next generations. But by paying its tribute with the best possible way. Going in blind without knowing what to expect and getting out with a result like this, brought me back to the days of visiting the record store and returning home with diamonds in my hands.