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Artist
Sonata Arctica
12+ albums
Power metalsymphonic metalmelodic metalfinnishmetal
about
Sonata Arctica is a Finnish power metal band formed in Kemi. The group originally began as a hard rock band under the name “Tricky Beans”, later changing to “Tricky Means”, before adopting the name Sonata Arctica when they shifted toward a power metal style. The band’s lineup has changed over time, but key members have included vocalist Tony Kakko, drummer Tommy Portimo, keyboardist Henrik Klingenberg, guitarist Elias Viljanen, and bassist Pasi Kauppinen. All members except Portimo have also contributed backing vocals at various points. The band was formed in the mid-1990s by drummer Tommy Portimo and guitarists Jani Liimatainen and Marko Paasikoski, with vocalist Tony Kakko joining later. Initially, the group played hard rock and recorded early demos that were not submitted to record labels. After early lineup changes, including the departure of bassist Pentti Peura and guitarist Marko Paasikoski, the band shifted stylistically toward melodic power metal with a strong emphasis on keyboards and melodic guitar work. Influences included other Finnish power metal bands such as Stratovarius. The band adopted the name Sonata Arctica before signing a three-album deal with Spinefarm Records. Sonata Arctica’s early recorded output included a 1997 demo titled “FullMoon”, which led to a recording contract. Their debut single “UnOpened” was released in 1999, followed by their debut album “Ecliptica” later that year. The album gained international attention and established the band wit
