One more in the row of great gigs this season has found its place in great ambient of Belgrade’s SKC, and this time for spectacle were responsible Finnish power metallers Sonata Arctica.
In the beginning number of attendants was very small, so during Winterborn’s performance only few first rows were filled, while the rest of the hall was empty. They have done well their half hour of fame, and nothing better than well. Not a surpsise. Actually, i didn’t even notice that the band is on stage until they started to play, because i thought that it is some group of technicians, still preparing for the show. But, that was the band.
After them came typical female-fronted metal band from Neatherlands – Delain, lead by pretty Charlotte Wesseles. This band has tried hard to get the atmosphere going, while during their concert people were arriving on the gig, and slightly the hall was filling.
Instrumentally very quality band, but i don’t personally like this type of female vocals, too high for my taste, which aren’t operetic, because of which i really didn’t liked it. Not like she sings badly but, too much „screaming“ for my taste, which reminded me back on the Indica on their performance as a support Nightwish band in Zagreb, simply irritating. Band really did their best, it is seen that they have a wish and a potential, with some growling parts from bassist/guitarist, only one advice for future – make female vocals a bit lower and everything will be OK.
Then starts what we all have been waiting for. With first chords from the newest album The Days Of Grays intro Everything Fades to Gray, unbeliveable euphoria started, even bigger when the bandmembers finally appeared on stage and started the song Flag In The Ground, the first single from already mentioned album. Paid in Full, Caleb and The Last Amazing Grays follow and then legendary Fullmoon, which was sung by the whole venue from the bottom of their hearts, and gotten the compliments from mr. lead singer Tony Kakko who said that „this was the best Fullmoon on this tour“. As If The World Wasn’t Ending was calming the situation, as a warm up for the song 8th Commandment, for which was said that is also „the best 8th Commandemant“ of this tour. After Last Drop Falls and White Pearls, Black Oceans keybardist and guitarist show their talent on their insturments what impresses every one from audience, preparing them for legendary „Replica“ as the culmination of the gig, during which you could hardly hear the band play and sing, because the crowd was singing it too loud. Juliet, as the other songs from the new album, very less people knew and sung along but mood gets better during song The Cage, and unites the souls again in a capella Tony’s and audience’s duet We Will Rock You. For the end, Finns gave us Black and White, and Don’t Say A Word, and traditional Vodka, with which they ended their performance with many thank you’s and compliments to Belgrade audience.
Sonata Arctica has once again, shown why they are the best Finnish power metal band, who managed to bring cold Finnish warmness to Belgrade’s audience by the energy they have inside them that makes them able to influente on their fans in such a great way.

Report: Maja Trstenjak (maja@venia-mag.net)
Photo: Miloš Ristić – Jeskanen (misha@venia-mag.net)