Silence
Melody comes first on Silence. Sonata Arctica play quickly and have plenty of technical skill, but the vocal lines provide the strongest reason to return. Tony Kakko sounds eager, sometimes almost desperate, and the additional voices expand the choruses without making the songs difficult to follow. The Finnish band understand how much pleasure a well-placed keyboard part can bring.
Weballergy puts the album into motion after its spoken introduction. Guitar and keyboards push each other forward while the singing provides a clear point of connection. San Sebastian (Revisited) has a similar appeal: all that instrumental activity eventually leads to a melody that is easy to remember. Jani Liimatainen and Mikko Härkin have obvious ability, although their partnership matters more than any contest over speed.
The End Of This Chapter introduces a darker tension. Its spoken opening and dramatic singing give the song more narrative weight than a straightforward power-metal celebration. The quieter material provides a different contrast, with Tallulah among the clearest examples. Kakko puts his emotions right in front of the listener. That suits the album, although the strong sentiment will be too much for some tastes.
Across thirteen tracks, Silence does struggle to stay equally focused. The faster passages often follow familiar patterns, and the collection of ballads could be shorter. The long closing track, The Power Of One, also asks for more patience than the most immediate songs. Those stretches slow the record down without cancelling the appeal of its strongest melodies.
Enthusiasm, capable playing and a slightly melancholy undertone give Silence its character. This is openly melodic metal, including all the sweetness that description suggests. If that sounds inviting, there are enough memorable choruses here to make the less essential minutes easy to forgive.
