The Days of Grays
Encyclopedia
The Days of Grays is the sixth full-length studio album
by Finnish power metal
band Sonata Arctica
. The album was released on September 16 in Finland, September 18 in Europe and September 22 in North America through Nuclear Blast
. The special edition
of the album includes the album along with an orchestral CD as a digipak
.
described the album as:
The first single
from the album is "The Last Amazing Grays
." It was released by Nuclear Blast Records only in Finland on August 26. The band ran a fan art contest to choose the artwork for their second announced single, "Flag in the Ground
" which the press release calls "an uplifting story about a young couple fighting their way to freedom and their own land in North America back in early 1800s." The winner of the contest was Simo Heikkinen from Finland.
The song "Flag in the Ground" is a reworked version of "BlackOut" from the demo Friend 'till the End. Tony rewrote the lyrics and gave the song a more modern sound to match the albums style without losing its original feel. The bonus track "Nothing More" is also a bit more old-school than the rest of the album. The other songs on the album were reworked leftovers from Unia
or songs written during/after the Unia world tour, making it a mix between the melodic metal from Reckoning Night
and the progressive, wild style from Unia and a touch of new elements such as female vocals, more screamed vocals by Tony Kakko
and several other musical differences, mostly notable by Elias Viljanen
joining the band on guitar. The fans have reacted on the lack of guitar solos, and the fact that the album is a lot slower and less energetic than the others. The only guitar solos on the album appears in "Deathaura", "Flag in the Ground", "Breathing", "The Truth Is Out There" and also on the bonus track "Nothing More". Keyboard solos appear in the songs; "Flag in the Ground", "Zeroes", "As if the World Wasn't Ending" and on the bonus track "Nothing More".
The name for The Days of Grays apparently took a very long time to come to as the band had a name for the record that was deemed more appropriate "for a death metal
band or something" according to Henrik Klingenberg
. In a French interview, Tony Kakko stated that the original name was Deathaura, the name of a song on the album. However, when lead singer Tony Kakko
was playing World of Warcraft
with some of his friends, a friend of the band suggested the name, and the rest of the band liked it. This name became the album's official name.
except "Nothing More" by Henrik Klingenberg
, all lyrics by Tony Kakko, songs arranged by Sonata Arctica
.
Limited Edition 'Orchestral Bonus CD'
U.S. Edition bonus track
Japanese Edition bonus tracks
Japanese Edition 'Live Bonus CD' - Official bootleg live around Europe 2008
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
by Finnish power metal
Power metal
Power metal is a style of heavy metal combining characteristics of traditional metal with speed metal, often within symphonic context. The term refers to two different but related styles: the first pioneered and largely practiced in North America with a harder sound similar to speed metal, and a...
band Sonata Arctica
Sonata Arctica
Sonata Arctica are a Finnish power metal band from the town of Kemi, originally assembled in 1995. Their later works contain several elements typical of progressive metal.....
. The album was released on September 16 in Finland, September 18 in Europe and September 22 in North America through Nuclear Blast
Nuclear Blast
Nuclear Blast is an independent record label and mail order record distributor with subsidiaries in Germany, the United States and Brazil. The record label was founded in 1987 by Markus Staiger in Germany. Originally releasing hardcore punk records, the label moved on to releasing albums by melodic...
. The special edition
Special edition
The terms special edition, limited edition and variants such as deluxe edition, collector's edition and others, are used as a marketing incentive for various kinds of products, originally published products related to the arts, such as books, prints or recorded music and films, but now including...
of the album includes the album along with an orchestral CD as a digipak
Digipak
Digipak is a patented style of CD, DVD or BD packaging, and is a registered trademark of AGI World Ltd., an Atlas Holdings company.-Features:...
.
History
Sonata Arctica keyboardist Henrik KlingenbergHenrik Klingenberg
Henrik "Henkka" Klingenberg is a keyboardist and singer. He joined the Finnish power metal band Sonata Arctica in late 2002 and currently resides in Kemi, Finland, when not on tour....
described the album as:
The first single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
from the album is "The Last Amazing Grays
The Last Amazing Grays
"The Last Amazing Grays" is the first single from Sonata Arctica's album The Days of Grays, released in Finland exclusively on August 26, 2009 via Nuclear Blast Records. It features the video edit of the song "Flag in the Ground" which is the first video from the album...
." It was released by Nuclear Blast Records only in Finland on August 26. The band ran a fan art contest to choose the artwork for their second announced single, "Flag in the Ground
Flag In The Ground
"Flag in the Ground" is the second single from Sonata Arctica's album The Days of Grays. The single was only given out to the winner of the Flag in the Ground Fan Art Contest which had prizes of several merchandise of the band for first place and runner-ups, second and third...
" which the press release calls "an uplifting story about a young couple fighting their way to freedom and their own land in North America back in early 1800s." The winner of the contest was Simo Heikkinen from Finland.
The song "Flag in the Ground" is a reworked version of "BlackOut" from the demo Friend 'till the End. Tony rewrote the lyrics and gave the song a more modern sound to match the albums style without losing its original feel. The bonus track "Nothing More" is also a bit more old-school than the rest of the album. The other songs on the album were reworked leftovers from Unia
Unia
Unia , 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. The album has more progressive metal styles than their previous work...
or songs written during/after the Unia world tour, making it a mix between the melodic metal from Reckoning Night
Reckoning Night
Reckoning Night is the fourth full-length studio album by the Finnish power metal band Sonata Arctica, as well as the first to feature keyboardist Henrik Klingenberg.-Track listing:...
and the progressive, wild style from Unia and a touch of new elements such as female vocals, more screamed vocals by Tony Kakko
Tony Kakko
Toni Kristian "Tony" Kakko is a Finnish musician, composer and vocalist. He is mainly known as the vocalist, primary songwriter, and creative force in the band Sonata Arctica since 1996.-Biography:...
and several other musical differences, mostly notable by Elias Viljanen
Elias Viljanen
Elias 'E.Vil' Viljanen is a Finnish musician, known for being the guitarist for Sonata Arctica since 2007. Viljanen joined Sonata Arctica in spring 2007 in order to replace Jani Liimatainen, who left the band in August 2007 to fulfill his civil duties in Finland...
joining the band on guitar. The fans have reacted on the lack of guitar solos, and the fact that the album is a lot slower and less energetic than the others. The only guitar solos on the album appears in "Deathaura", "Flag in the Ground", "Breathing", "The Truth Is Out There" and also on the bonus track "Nothing More". Keyboard solos appear in the songs; "Flag in the Ground", "Zeroes", "As if the World Wasn't Ending" and on the bonus track "Nothing More".
The name for The Days of Grays apparently took a very long time to come to as the band had a name for the record that was deemed more appropriate "for a death metal
Death metal
Death metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal. It typically employs heavily distorted guitars, tremolo picking, deep growling vocals, blast beat drumming, minor keys or atonality, and complex song structures with multiple tempo changes....
band or something" according to Henrik Klingenberg
Henrik Klingenberg
Henrik "Henkka" Klingenberg is a keyboardist and singer. He joined the Finnish power metal band Sonata Arctica in late 2002 and currently resides in Kemi, Finland, when not on tour....
. In a French interview, Tony Kakko stated that the original name was Deathaura, the name of a song on the album. However, when lead singer Tony Kakko
Tony Kakko
Toni Kristian "Tony" Kakko is a Finnish musician, composer and vocalist. He is mainly known as the vocalist, primary songwriter, and creative force in the band Sonata Arctica since 1996.-Biography:...
was playing World of Warcraft
World of Warcraft
World of Warcraft is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game by Blizzard Entertainment. It is the fourth released game set in the fantasy Warcraft universe, which was first introduced by Warcraft: Orcs & Humans in 1994...
with some of his friends, a friend of the band suggested the name, and the rest of the band liked it. This name became the album's official name.
Track listing
All music by Tony KakkoTony Kakko
Toni Kristian "Tony" Kakko is a Finnish musician, composer and vocalist. He is mainly known as the vocalist, primary songwriter, and creative force in the band Sonata Arctica since 1996.-Biography:...
except "Nothing More" by Henrik Klingenberg
Henrik Klingenberg
Henrik "Henkka" Klingenberg is a keyboardist and singer. He joined the Finnish power metal band Sonata Arctica in late 2002 and currently resides in Kemi, Finland, when not on tour....
, all lyrics by Tony Kakko, songs arranged by Sonata Arctica
Sonata Arctica
Sonata Arctica are a Finnish power metal band from the town of Kemi, originally assembled in 1995. Their later works contain several elements typical of progressive metal.....
.
Limited Edition 'Orchestral Bonus CD'
- "Deathaura" – 7:57
- "The Last Amazing Grays" – 5:10
- "Flag in the Ground " – 3:55
- "Juliet" – 6:02
- "As If the World Wasn't Ending" – 3:56
- "The Truth Is Out There" – 5:07
- "In the Dark" – 5:22
U.S. Edition bonus track
- 13. "In My Eyes You're a Giant" – 4:42
Japanese Edition bonus tracks
- 13. "Nothing More" – 3:55
- 14. "In My Eyes You're a Giant" – 4:42
Japanese Edition 'Live Bonus CD' - Official bootleg live around Europe 2008
- "Paid in Full (Live in France)" – 4:26
- "Black Sheep (Live in Italy)" – 5:56
- "Draw Me (Live in Switzerland)" – 4:06
- "It Won't Fade (Live in France) " – 6:22
- "Replica (Live in Switzerland)" – 4:38
- "Don't Say a Word (Live in Switzerland) " – 6:08
Charts
| Chart (2009) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Finnish Albums Chart | 2 |
Personnel
- Tony KakkoTony KakkoToni Kristian "Tony" Kakko is a Finnish musician, composer and vocalist. He is mainly known as the vocalist, primary songwriter, and creative force in the band Sonata Arctica since 1996.-Biography:...
– vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
, additional keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments... - Elias ViljanenElias ViljanenElias 'E.Vil' Viljanen is a Finnish musician, known for being the guitarist for Sonata Arctica since 2007. Viljanen joined Sonata Arctica in spring 2007 in order to replace Jani Liimatainen, who left the band in August 2007 to fulfill his civil duties in Finland...
– guitarElectric guitarAn electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker... - Marko Paasikoski – bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
- Henrik KlingenbergHenrik KlingenbergHenrik "Henkka" Klingenberg is a keyboardist and singer. He joined the Finnish power metal band Sonata Arctica in late 2002 and currently resides in Kemi, Finland, when not on tour....
– keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, HammondHammond organThe Hammond organ is an electric organ invented by Laurens Hammond in 1934 and manufactured by the Hammond Organ Company. While the Hammond organ was originally sold to churches as a lower-cost alternative to the wind-driven pipe organ, in the 1960s and 1970s it became a standard keyboard... - Tommy Portimo – drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
- Johanna KurkelaJohanna KurkelaJohanna Kurkela is a Finnish singer. Her first published work was a duet Tahdon tanssia kanssasi with Tomi Metsäketo in 2004. Kurkela released her first album Hetki hiljaa in 2005. She got a lot of publicity in Finnish Preselection final for Eurovision Song Contest 2007, presenting the song Olet...
– female vocals (on 2, 9) - Perttu KivilaaksoPerttu KivilaaksoPerttu Päivö Kullervo Kivilaakso is a cello player for Finnish band Apocalyptica. Like fellow band members Eicca Toppinen and Paavo Lötjönen, he attended Sibelius Academy in Helsinki. He plays a German 19th century cello; he started playing the cello when he was 5 years old and joined Apocalyptica...
(ApocalypticaApocalypticaApocalyptica is a band from Helsinki, Finland, formed in 1993. The band is composed of classically trained cellists Eicca Toppinen, Paavo Lötjönen, and Perttu Kivilaakso and drummer Mikko Sirén...
) – CelloCelloThe cello is a bowed string instrument with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is a member of the violin family of musical instruments, which also includes the violin, viola, and double bass. Old forms of the instrument in the Baroque era are baryton and viol .A person who plays a cello is...
(on 1, 6, 11, 12 and "In My Eyes You're a Giant")
Release history
| Region | Date |
|---|---|
| South America | September 8, 2009 |
| Finland | September 16, 2009 |
| Japan | September 16, 2009 |
| Europe | September 18, 2009 |
| North America | September 22, 2009 |