Unia
| Unia | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by Sonata Arctica | ||||
| Released | May 25, 2007 | |||
| Recorded | December 2006-January 2007 | |||
| Genre | Power metal, symphonic metal, progressive metal | |||
| Length | 58:34 | |||
| Label | Nuclear Blast | |||
| Producer | Tony Kakko | |||
| Sonata Arctica chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Unia | ||||
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| Professional ratings | |
|---|---|
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   [1] |
| Lords of Metal | (9.7/10) [2] |
| Sea of Tranquility | [3] |
Unia (English: Dreams), released on May 25, 2007, is the fifth full-length studio album by the power metal band Sonata Arctica, following the album Reckoning Night. The first single from the album was "Paid in Full", released on April 27, 2007. This is also the last album that features Jani Liimatainen, who was later replaced by Elias Viljanen after the album was released.
The album was mixed at Finnvox Studios, and mastered at Cutting Room Studios in Stockholm, Sweden. The album was also released as a limited edition noble book in 7" size (1000 copies), exclusively available via mailorder from Nuclear Blast records. The limited edition came with a differing track listing and bonus tracks "They Follow" and "Out in the Fields".[citation needed]
Track listing
All songs written by Tony Kakko, songs arranged by Sonata Arctica
| No. | Title | Length | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "In Black and White" | 5:03 | |
| 2. | "Paid in Full" | 4:24 | |
| 3. | "For the Sake of Revenge" | 3:23 | |
| 4. | "It Won't Fade" | 5:58 | |
| 5. | "Under Your Tree" | 5:14 | |
| 6. | "Caleb" | 6:16 | |
| 7. | "The Vice" | 4:08 | |
| 8. | "My Dream's but a Drop of Fuel for a Nightmare" | 6:13 | |
| 9. | "The Harvest" | 4:18 | |
| 10. | "To Create a Warlike Feel" (European bonus track) | 5:03 | |
| 11. | "The Worlds Forgotten, the Words Forbidden" | 2:57 | |
| 12. | "Fly with the Black Swan" | 5:08 | |
| 13. | "Good Enough Is Good Enough" | 5:32 | |
| 14. | "They Follow" (Japanese bonus track) | 4:50 | |
| 15. | "Out in the Fields" (Gary Moore cover) (Japanese and North American Bonus Track) | 4:06 | |
| 16. | "My Dream's but a Drop of Fuel for a Nightmare (Instrumental)" (Japanese bonus track) | 7:11 |
Sound and themes
Unia is much darker and more aggressive than Sonata Arctica's earlier work, and has been described as a significant "turning point" for the band due to the depth of its engagement with progressive metal. The pop inspired melodies that featured prominently in the band's previous work are almost entirely absent, save for the lead single, "Paid in Full". Instead, the band opted to use experimental electronics and song structures, uncommon in most power metal. To match the album's edgier sound, Tony Kakko's lyricism takes a hostile tone. Many tracks are centered around the speaker's anger or contempt towards other characters. "Caleb" is notable for being the starting point of the song cycle continued in "Don't Say a Word," "The End of this Chapter" and "Juliet."
Given the more abstract lyrics, there is some debate among fans as to whether or not there is one designated wolf song or multiple. "The Vice," "Harvest" and "It Won't Fade" are all speculated to be about wolves.
Personnel
Sonata Arctica
- Tony Kakko − vocals, additional keyboards
- Jani Liimatainen − guitars, acoustic guitars (on tracks 11, 14)
- Marko Paasikoski − bass guitar
- Henrik Klingenberg − lead keyboards, hammond organ, piano (on track 2)
- Tommy Portimo − drums
Additional personnel
- Selestina Choir on "In Black and White", "Under Your Tree", "To Create a Warlike Feel" and "Caleb" conducted by Tarja Vanhala.
- Acoustic guitars, Bouzouki, Chromaharp, Cavaquinho and Q-chord on "They Follow", "Under Your Tree", "The Harvest", "It Won't Fade" and "Fly with the Black Swan" by Peter Engberg.
- Finnish vocals in "To Create a Warlike Feel" by Jarkko Martikainen
- Opening narration in "Caleb" by Milla V
- Vocals, "whatevergod..." ("Caleb") and backing vocals, "just passion and rage" ("In Black and White") performed by Starbuck.
- Tuomas Airola − cello (on track 13)
- Elar Kuiv − violin (on track 13)
- Kati Niemelä − violin/viola (on track 13)
- Anna-Leena Kangas − viola (on track 13)
- Oskari Hannula − double bass (on track 13)
Bowed string instruments on track 13 arranged and conducted by Tuomas Airola.
References
- ↑ Rivadavia, Eduardo. Unia at AllMusic
- ↑ Lords of Metal review
- ↑ Sea of Tranquility |class=album |url=http://www.seaoftranquility.org/reviews.php?op=showcontent&id=5308
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