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I've realized this is not the old Sonata Arctica that I've come to love. Now I'm trying to enjoy it for what it is, trying to ignore the band name on the cover and focusing instead on the music.

Not the Sonata I love either, but this is still a good album. Caleb is up there with Wolf & Raven IMO. I just think they need to stop trying to separate themselves from all the other power metal bands. Play what you know best KAKKO!!!

i think at least ONE forum member will disagree with the score

I do. I'd say its more around 70/100.

I like some of Sonata Arctica but I couldn't even listen all the way through this album. The parts I like about SA just aren't there anymore.

This got a 55 and Ghost Opera got a 90? Both are mediocre albums from two bands who had a lot to live up to, but IMO Unia is the better album of the two. Its not speedy, its not catchy, its not Ecliptica, but none of their albums have been since their debut. They've always pushed more of a progressive and melodic element since Silence, and this is just another step in that direction, granted a giant one.

I think a lot of people are still expecting Sonata to make another Ecliptica, and its obvious they're not going to, you have to embrace their melodies, their ballads, their emotional songs. I love the speed too, and I do miss it from this album(Harvest is my favourite song), but I can understand what they're doing here. Tony said he just wanted to write and not feel like he was forced to make a speedy song for the sake of it. But I have very little doubt that their next album will return to that former pattern.

It took only a few listens for me to get into this and now I have it with all the other Sonata Arctica albums in my 'favourite albums' pile. Same with Ghost Opera.
I'm pretty sure that a lot of people wanted to be disappointed at this album, as Sonata is kind of a dirty little secret for many people - being as cheesy as it is. Though I could be wrong, as I frequently am. Another reason could be the disillusionment that is rampant these days in all parts of life and when all you really wanted was Ecliptica II, getting something very different is a final straw.

From the perspective of someone who listens to almost any music (hardcore dance, most modern RnB, and country can fuck off) this is a great album and further diversifies Sonata Arctica's sound.

great way to ruin the joke, Gollum!

i listened to this album a few times when i first got it a few weeks ago and although as i listen to it more & more & get used to it im sure ill like it alright, but this has got to be their worst cd, the reviewer was right in that it has too much going on and its like reckoning night amped up 10x with all the choirs & everything is so involved. i cant even remember a lot of it offhand cause i havent listened to it for a couple weeks now, but they just need to go back making "simpler" or more typical S.A. songs!! i can only hope that when they come out with their next cd they will say its a return to form and that this cd was not a typical S.A. cd! you would never think after listening to this cd that S.A. made fullmoon, maybe my fav song of all time, or basically any other of their songs up to this cd! i am pretty sure they will never make a cd that is mostly like ecliptica again, but something between silence to reckoning night would be nice! it seemed like this cd took forever to come out and now its disappointing, hopefully they can make a new cd by the end of next year or something. i dont particularly like how the guitars are so crunchy on this cd too, melodic/power/speed metal should have more intricate guitars, ala all their previous cds ;)

I couldn't disagee with the reviewer more. But then again, the reviewer clearly states he's been a huge fan of the band in the past. I've not been. Never did care much for Sonata...mostly boring and uninspired music to my ears, with a few gems tossed in here and there.

Unia, now this is pure brilliance! Probably not for the traditional SA or power/speed metal fan, but for those with broader spectrums and an appreciation for the proggy side of metal, this is a gem. The songwriting is so unique, I am amazed everytime I hear it.

Therion is still top of the heap for 2007, IMO (and I doubt anyone is going to to knock it off its pedastal). But Unia and the new Symphony X are close behind.

I was never a huge fan of SA, but I have listened to plenty of them. I like a few select songs from their past stuff, but I was actually surprised to hear this new album. To me, it still isn't that great of an album as a whole, but I like that they tried to do something different. I thought their brand of power metal was incredibly lame and generic before, so at least attempting to be a bit more progressive was a good move in my book.

I will be seeing them live in August, simply out of wanting to hear Tony Kakko live. But yeah, I could never get into a full album from this band. But I can make a pretty awesome mix to listen to.

60/100

I think SA getting a 55 killed Fridge's brain actually...

I'm surprised Fridge hasn't showed up and wished bad things on the reviwers entire family yet.

I dont wanna sound like an idiot, but what does Cacophonic mean? I've never heard of that word before.

Is this new album as bad as a 55/100? I mean really? Their last two were fairly solid, but nothing spectacular. What's this album really like?

Cacophonic Or Cacophony is the use of harsh or discordant sounds so it's basically singing in a harsh tone.

I'll need to listen to this for while before deciding how I feel as I wasn't a big fan of their last release at first but it grew on me a lot. Sad to see yet another band not naming any other Edguy oops that have changed the market is saturated with this stuff give us some speed. Roll on new Gamma Ray show the others what a true power metal cd should sound like.

This one really came as a surprise to me, I wasn't expecting such a slow paced album from Sonata Arctica, I wonder if this was a conscious decision or just an unispired phase

They are trying not to sound like power metal. Tony hates being called a power metal band, so this is his grudge.