Sonata Arctica - Pariah's Child - review
Sonata Arctica - Pariah's Child - review
Tracklist
01. The Wolves Die Young02. Running Lights
03. Take One Breath
04. Cloud Factory
05. Blood
06. What Did You Do In The War, Dad?
07. Half A Marathon Man
08. X Marks The Spot
09. Love
10. Larger Than Life
11. No Pain [Japanese bonus]
A review by
R Lewis March 09, 2014
Let's just say that if you are one of those fans who would have only been satisfied with a new Ecliptica or something of that sort, feel free to stop reading this; you'll be disappointed. Pariah's Child isn't the album the fans expected, and is by no means a complete return to the band's classic style.
The last three albums have been testing ones for the band, and Pariah's Child is no exception. This said, let's admit the band has balls, since the guys surely know this will be an album that will undergo many harsh criticisms. Moreover, differently from the previous releases, this one doesn't feature a "Flag In The Ground" or a "Losing My Insanity", meant as tracks "put there" to please fans but which don't absolutely fit the album's mood: Pariah's Child remains coherent.
Overall this is a simple and catchy release: something inherited from the controversial Stones Grow Her Name, but Pariah's Child also brings back some of that Reckoning Night-esque melodic power, even if a more modern approach impregnates the whole album. I mean, there's a song about drifting - and not drifting on wolves (that'd be cool, yeah) but in real cars, for humans.
Pariah's Child is, compared to the usual band's standards, a slow album. The double bass power metal rides have been replaced by quieter mid-tempos, with Henkka's keys bossing the show, while new entry Pasi Kauppinen satisfies, who was, since 2007, waiting for another Unia to hear more bass. With nice ideas, good musicianship (please note I didn't say technical, I said good), a variegated Tony Kakko and an epic, "Larger Than Life", that so badly tries to be "White Pearl, Black Ocean" part II, this had all the features needed to become, if not a Sonata Arctica classic, a good make-up album, but not everything went in the right direction.
The band's music has never been so elaborate, but in the last two albums an exaggerated oversimplification and perhaps too playful tendencies have taken the lead. An example is "X Marks The Spot": an enjoyable, potentially epic tune, with Tony in great shape, isn't fully exploited due to... well, you'll hear and judge by yourselves. Therefore, where this release falls short is in its predictability: after the first seconds of almost every track it's pretty easy to imagine how the whole song will develop.
Pariah's Child trusts the emotional power Sonata Arctica always had, and thanks to this it has its moments, as the moving "What Did You Do In The War, Dad?" or "Love", that righteously gains a place among the band's immortal ballads such as "Shy" or "Tallullah".
This album is a step up from the disappointing Stones Grow Her Name, but will it be enough to please fans that have felt betrayed for too many years?
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Posts: 59  |
Posts: 59
I was expecting something different from the last years but will have to wait a bit longer then. Still gonna hear it but I doubt it''s going to be something I will like.
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Posts: 936 Written by Prometheus on 09.03.2014 at 14:30 As a pretty renowned metal webzine, we receive many albums before their official release date, to review them before they hit the stores, so that bands can use the reviews as promo.
---- We could be so much more than we are. Stop.
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Posts: 115
I think based on the two singles released so far that this album will be better than Stones Grow Her Name, although it won't be as good as their older stuff. But I'm not questioning my fanhood of Sonata Arctica yet; I'm also a fan of Turisas, so if bands changing their styles turned me off, I wouldn't be left with many bands to listen to.
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Posts: 971
Can you divulge how long the "epic" of the album, "Larger Than Life", is?
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Posts: 936 Written by Azarath on 09.03.2014 at 22:04 I don't remember it precisely, but it's around 9 minutes, like, again, "White Pearl, Black Oceans".
---- We could be so much more than we are. Stop.
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 Posts: 3565 |
Posts: 3565
Is "Larger Than Life" a Backstreet Boys cover? That's what Paragon covered on their "Screenslaves" album hahaha
---- Kick Ass, Die Young Less is More Stay Pure Stay Poor Music was my life, music brought me to life and music is how I will be remembered long after I leave this life. When I die there will be a final waltz in my head that only I can hear.
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Posts: 111
Reckoning Night style huh? That's about what I expected. I'm all for it.
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Posts: 64  |
Posts: 64
The hypest release, can't wait.
---- Need to make a living somehow... http://creamandpowder.com/
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Posts: 125  |
Posts: 125
I want another Winterheart's Guild That was my favorite release and I haven't enjoyed any of their albums since that one Reckoning Night was okay but that was their last not awful album
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Posts: 216
"Pariah's Child trusts the emotional power Sonata Arctica always had, and thanks to this it has its moments, as the moving "What Did You Do In The War, Dad?" or "Love", that righteously gains a place among the band's immortal ballads such as "Shy" or "Tallullah"." Ok, if that information is acctually true, it's going to be one of the best albums of the year IMO. Yes, I am that cheap.
---- "Seize the day or die regretting the time you lost..."
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Posts: 4331 Written by BenWasHere on 10.03.2014 at 05:15 This is exactly my thoughts. First 3 albums were solid Power Metal, Reckoning was ok, had one or two of their best songs, but a lot of average ones too. Haven't liked a single song since.
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Posts: 936 Written by LeChron James on 10.03.2014 at 01:55 No, thanks God it isn't.
---- We could be so much more than we are. Stop.
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Posts: 971
Ok, so we've established that it's not a cover, but is it actually better than this? And does it have the potential for an equally rad video?
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Posts: 936 Written by Azarath on 10.03.2014 at 20:06 Yes, it's better and, while not being a masterpiece, is one of the best songs in here. AND it's serious: no jokes, no strange intruments... no SGHN in general.
---- We could be so much more than we are. Stop.
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Posts: 936 Written by breno on 10.03.2014 at 22:37 I kidnapped the band and forced 'em to play the whole album in my living room. And, since I boast about being the best reviewer in da place (in da place? of da whole WORLD) and I need to listen to every album at least ten times before reviewing it (that's true, btw), they had to play ten hours non-stop. No, seriously, have you ever heard about promo media? 
---- We could be so much more than we are. Stop.
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Posts: 615  |
Posts: 615
You, sir, got me stoked about this release! Aside from Unia, Silence, and The Days of Grays, Reckoning Night was one of the best albums I've ever heard from these guys. If this album is a retrace of the old Reckoning Night style hardmixed with their latest sound, I'd definitely tap that. 
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Posts: 971 Written by R Lewis on 10.03.2014 at 20:13 You know, I wouldn't mind if they'd haul out the banjo and organ again.
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Posts: 1439
I will never understand why people loathe so much Unia & The Days Of Grays. IMHO those ones were nice albums (not as good as the 3 first ones but I enjoyed them very much). SGHN really was a huge letdown if you let me say it 
---- BARDS WE ARE, BARDS WE WILL BE!
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Posts: 4331 Written by SoUnDs LiKe PoP on 14.03.2014 at 22:18 For me it's: 1. Silence 2. Ecliptica 3. Winterheart's Guild 4. Reckoning Night 5. The rest.....
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Posts: 942
For me: Silence Ecliptica WinterHeart´s Guild Reckoning Night The Days of Grays Unia Stones Grow Her Name I like them all btw, but my preferences are clear.
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Posts: 25
Looks like SA is all set to deliver more wankery . I am all for the classic SA sound. I am not holding my breath for this album, given the last 2 turds delivered by SA:sleep:
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Posts: 576  |
Posts: 576
It's definitely better than Stones..., some of the lyrics are pretty daft, like on Running Lights, but the melodies are pretty awesome. Blood is a brilliant song, very reminiscent of older Sonata
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