06-08-2007
- Official statement concerning Jani
As many already know, our guitarist Jani Liimatainen has been absent from the line-up this spring and summer.
The reason was his messing around with his compulsory military/civil/prison duty, or rather,
complete failure to take care of it.
This matter, and everything that goes with it, caused a split between Jani and the other band members.
This split was impossible to mend without Jani's help and co-operation.
Therefore we would like to make known the following:
During fall of '06 and spring of '07, Jani's personal matters and actions drove us to a situation
where we had no option but to ask Jani to leave the band.
Jani was notified of this in May, and the separation was amicable. We wanted to give Jani the
chance to get his life together before making this public, which is why we didn't make this
announcement earlier. We wish Jani well on his chosen path.
"Show must go on", so, facing the facts, we hereby humbly announce that Elias Viljanen
is from this day forward a full and official member of Sonata Arctica.
Throughout this summer, on many occasions, Elias has shown himself to be able to fill
the big boots Jani left behind.
We hope our friends and our fans understand that this was the only choice left for us to make so
that our band could continue. Sonata Arctica has always been, and always will be, more than the
sum of its parts. The band has become for us a way of life, a lifeline that simply can not be cut off.
A long "Unia" -tour lies in front of us.
We extend Elias a warm welcome to the Sonata family, and we hope the fans will, too.
Sonata Arctica is whole again.
See you on the road!
Best regards,
~Tony, Tommy, Marko, and Henrik
The reason was his messing around with his compulsory military/civil/prison duty, or rather,
complete failure to take care of it.
This matter, and everything that goes with it, caused a split between Jani and the other band members.
This split was impossible to mend without Jani's help and co-operation.
Therefore we would like to make known the following:
During fall of '06 and spring of '07, Jani's personal matters and actions drove us to a situation
where we had no option but to ask Jani to leave the band.
Jani was notified of this in May, and the separation was amicable. We wanted to give Jani the
chance to get his life together before making this public, which is why we didn't make this
announcement earlier. We wish Jani well on his chosen path.
"Show must go on", so, facing the facts, we hereby humbly announce that Elias Viljanen
is from this day forward a full and official member of Sonata Arctica.
Throughout this summer, on many occasions, Elias has shown himself to be able to fill
the big boots Jani left behind.
We hope our friends and our fans understand that this was the only choice left for us to make so
that our band could continue. Sonata Arctica has always been, and always will be, more than the
sum of its parts. The band has become for us a way of life, a lifeline that simply can not be cut off.
A long "Unia" -tour lies in front of us.
We extend Elias a warm welcome to the Sonata family, and we hope the fans will, too.
Sonata Arctica is whole again.
See you on the road!
Best regards,
~Tony, Tommy, Marko, and Henrik
09-05-2007
- Unia samples
Samples of the all the tracks featured on the new frull-lenght, Unia, can be listened at this address.
01-05-2007
- Updates
Some sections have been updated:
Videos
The "Paid In Full" video has been added as well as re-encoded versions of the other videos.
The "Paid in Full" clip suffer of a low video quality, btt unfrtuantely is the same as the one published on the official site.
Inteviews
Two new interviews made during the month of April have been added.
Photos
Added the photos shooted for promoting Unia. I've also decided to delete some of the others galleries cause I find useless to keep them up to date with the ones of the official site. I'll keep a couple of galleries for every year the band have been touring.
Videos
The "Paid In Full" video has been added as well as re-encoded versions of the other videos.
The "Paid in Full" clip suffer of a low video quality, btt unfrtuantely is the same as the one published on the official site.
Inteviews
Two new interviews made during the month of April have been added.
Photos
Added the photos shooted for promoting Unia. I've also decided to delete some of the others galleries cause I find useless to keep them up to date with the ones of the official site. I'll keep a couple of galleries for every year the band have been touring.
29-04-2007
- Paid In Full Video
21-04-2007
- Site update
Sonata will do a mini-tour of four shows, in Japan during the month of Jiuly.
The interviews section has been updated with two, recently made, interviews with Tony, where he gives some details on the new album.
The interviews section has been updated with two, recently made, interviews with Tony, where he gives some details on the new album.
10-04-2007
- Sonata in Italy and new european tour
Sonata Arctica will be back in Italy for a single show in Milan on the 19th of Novembre. which will be part of the new European Tour of the band.
05-03-2007
- New album and single details
Unia (Album)
Release Date: 25/05/2007
Tracklist:
01. In Black And White
02. Paid In Full
03. For The Sake Of Revenge
04. It Won't Fade
05. Under Your Tree
06. Caleb
07. The Vice
08. My Dream's But A Drop Of Fuel For A Nightmare
09. The Harvest
10. The Worlds Forgotten, The Words Forbidden
11. Fly With The Black Swan
12. Good Enough Is Good Enough
Artwork
Paid In Full (Single)
Release Date: 27/04/2007
Tracklist:
01. Paid in Full (radio edit)
02. Out in the Fields (Gary Moore cover)
03. Paid in Full
Artwork
04-03-2007
- Jani to sit out upcoming dates
Jani won't be able to take part in some of the gigs scheduled by the band. The following statemente by the guitarist has been published on the official site.
"Unfortunately, we have come to a situation in where I'm unable to play SONATA ARCTICA's scheduled gigs this spring. The reason for this is that I have to fulfill my civic duties. The band will, in any case, perform the agreed gigs with a substitute guitarist and I'm sure he will meet the high standards the fans expect from SONATA ARCTICA's gigs. I hope I'll be able to return to the band as soon as possible, because the tour break has already taken too long and I miss the sweaty nights on stage and the sweaty days in the tour bus! I want to wish a nice spring to all fans; hopefully we will meet soon!"
"Unfortunately, we have come to a situation in where I'm unable to play SONATA ARCTICA's scheduled gigs this spring. The reason for this is that I have to fulfill my civic duties. The band will, in any case, perform the agreed gigs with a substitute guitarist and I'm sure he will meet the high standards the fans expect from SONATA ARCTICA's gigs. I hope I'll be able to return to the band as soon as possible, because the tour break has already taken too long and I miss the sweaty nights on stage and the sweaty days in the tour bus! I want to wish a nice spring to all fans; hopefully we will meet soon!"
01-02-2007
- New album title
The new album from Sonata Arctica, to be released on 25th of May for Nuclear Blast, will be titled "Unia".
16-10-2006
- "The Collection" - the new Sonata Best Of
The new Sonata Arctica Best Of will be released on the 15th on November.
There will be two version of it, the limited one containing a bonus DVD with some video clip.
Tracklist:
CD
1. The Ruins of My Life
2. 8th Commandment
3. Don't Say A Word
4. Victoria's Secret
5. Tallulah
6. Wolf & Raven
7. Black Sheep
8. Broken
9. Kingdom for a Heart
10. FullMoon
11. My Land (2006 re-make)
12. The Cage
13. Last Drop Falls
14. UnOpened
15. San Sebastian (Revisited)
16. Ain't Your Fairytale
17. Replica (2006 re-make)
DVD
* Wolf & Raven (promotional video)
* 8th Commandment (live at Tavastia)
* My Land (live at Tavastia)
The album can be pre-ordered from the Official webshop.
There will be two version of it, the limited one containing a bonus DVD with some video clip.
Tracklist:
CD
1. The Ruins of My Life
2. 8th Commandment
3. Don't Say A Word
4. Victoria's Secret
5. Tallulah
6. Wolf & Raven
7. Black Sheep
8. Broken
9. Kingdom for a Heart
10. FullMoon
11. My Land (2006 re-make)
12. The Cage
13. Last Drop Falls
14. UnOpened
15. San Sebastian (Revisited)
16. Ain't Your Fairytale
17. Replica (2006 re-make)
DVD
* Wolf & Raven (promotional video)
* 8th Commandment (live at Tavastia)
* My Land (live at Tavastia)
The album can be pre-ordered from the Official webshop.
