SONATA ARCTICA: Returning To North America; Searching For Johnnie Walker Sponsorship

Nuclear Blast has sent METALEATER this press release:

Known not only for making their fans sing themselves hoarse during their live shows, the members of Finland's SONATA ARCTICA are also infamous for the large quantities of Johnnie Walker Scotch Whisky their highly tolerant livers can process. No strangers to the nuances between the red, black, green, gold, blue, King George V™, and 1805 blends, SONATA ARCTICA's preferred elixir while on the road is Johnnie Walker Blue Label® (recreated from an authentic 19th century recipe). Keyboardist Henrik Klingenberg - who is no doubt already a lifetime member of The Striding Man Society™ - goes about the difficult task of predicting the alcohol consumption for the upcoming 15-show tour (featuring fellow Finn Elias Viljanen on guitar), which launches in Hartford, Connecticut on February 1:

"I don't know how many bottles we'll empty on this tour, but personally, I'm going to try one bottle of any type of Johnnie Walker a night. My guess would usually be higher, but I'm not 20-years-old anymore, you know... (laughter) Maybe someday we can get them to sponsor us...?"

Recorded and mixed at Finnvox Studios in Helsinki, SONATA ARCTICA's latest album, "Unia" - released in North America last May - landed on international album charts in Finland (#1), Japan (#7), Sweden (#27), Germany (#35), Switzerland (#40), and Austria (#62). The "Paid In Full" single also secured the #1 Single slot in their mother land. The "Paid In Full" video is complete with snow explosions!

Here are the band's upcoming North American tour dates:

Feb. 1 - Hartford, CT - Webster Theatre
Feb. 2 - Bedford, NH - Mark's Place
Feb. 3 - Sayreville, NJ - Starland Ballroom
Feb. 5 - Quebec City, QC - Imperial de Quebec
Feb. 6 - London, ON - Embassy
Feb. 8 - Winnipeg, MB - West End Cultural Centre
Feb. 9 - Regina, SK - The Exchange
Feb. 10 - Edmonton, AB - Starlite Room
Feb. 11 - Calgary, AB - The Warehouse
Feb. 12 - Vancouver, BC - Plaza Club
Feb. 14 - Seattle, WA - El Corazón
Feb. 15 - Portland, OR - Hawthorne Theater
Feb. 16 - Orangevale, CA - The Boardwalk
Feb. 18 - San Francisco, CA - Slim's
Feb. 19 - San Diego, CA - House Of Blues