By the end of November, Slovakia was visited by Finnish masters of melodic metal, SONATA ARCTICA. We had the opportunity to speak with them right before their show in Zvolen. Henrik and Pasi shared insights about their newest album, as well as thoughts on the current tour and the band’s overall direction.

This is your third time in Slovakia. For the first time it was in 2009 with your sixth studio album. Why haven’t you been touring in Slovakia for such a long time?

Henrik: I don’t know, but I’m happy to be back. Our agent sets up the tours, so we can’t influence it much. I’m glad we could return, and hopefully, it won’t be such a long time between visits in the future.

Your first Slovak show took place in Košice, then a festival in Banská Bystrica, and now Zvolen. Have you had a chance to see these cities?

Henrik: I don’t remember the previous ones, but for Zvolen, we walked around. We arrived yesterday, had a day off, got something to eat, and explored a little. It’s a nice city.
Pasi: We visited the castle, had a meal together, and really enjoyed our time here.
Henrik: And we had some beers!

This is the ninth show of the tour, but you’ve been performing almost every month since February. Do you get enough rest?

Henrik: I think we do. Before this album, we took it easy for one or two years, with only a few tours and festivals. We always take breaks between tours, and even when the tour is long, we manage. So far, it’s okay.
Pasi: That’s right. Even though it seems like we have shows every month, we still have time at home between tours. After this tour, we’ll have over a month off.
Henrik: We rest enough.

How has this tour been for you? Any memorable experiences so far?

Pasi: Usually, yes, but it’s hard to recall during the hectic schedule. Afterwards, we always remember the highlights.

For many fans, Sonata Arctica’s imagery has always been about winter and wolves. Then came the album Unia, with no wolves or winter, and a changed logo, marking a second era. Why was this change made?

Henrik: Tony writes the songs, and he got tired of power metal, wanting to try something else. The music changed, so we slightly altered the logo as well. But now we’ve returned to our original logo. Perhaps changing it was a mistake, but it was a little adventure for the band. Wolves are back now, and we’ve found our path again.

The last three albums are considered the third era of Sonata Arctica, both graphically and musically similar to the first four albums. What are the main differences?

Henrik: We’re older. The music is a bit slower and less high-pitched. Tony used to sing very high, but his voice has deepened with age.
Pasi: The music has also evolved. Structures are more complex, less straightforward than before.

Can fans expect more eras of Sonata Arctica in the future?

Henrik: Anything can happen. When we start a new album, Tony brings demos, and we explore them. It’s always exciting.
Pasi: After touring, there comes a new album. It always feels like a new era, especially when hearing new demos for the next one.
Henrik: We won’t make the same albums repeatedly. There’s always something new.

This is the second time the album title is in Finnish. Why choose Finnish, and why are there no Finnish lyrics?

Henrik: Naming an album is always hard. Tony suggested “Talvi” (winter), but we thought it was too simple. Then he proposed “Talviö,” which we liked.
Pasi: I think the cover art came first, depicting a winter night.
Henrik: English would be boring. Regarding lyrics, people ask why we don’t sing in Finnish. Maybe one day we will, but not a full album.

Some bands make bilingual albums, like Opeth. Have you considered this?

Henrik: Not seriously. I’m not sure if Tony has thought about it.

For this album, were bass and drums recorded together?

Pasi: Yes, we had an external producer and played live together with Tommy.

Was it harder or easier than usual?

Pasi: Easier and more interesting. You can communicate with the drummer while playing, which is better for me.

Two songs on the new album, “Storm The Armada” and “Who Failed The Most,” deal with environmental issues. Are you trying to raise awareness?

Henrik: Tony writes about what he cares for. We all enjoy nature in Finland, so there are some concerns. But as a band, our main goal is to entertain, let people take a break, and enjoy the show. Some songs touch on environmental issues, but it’s Tony’s choice.