SONATA ARCTICA: European Headline Tour Dates Announced

SONATA ARCTICA have announced a European tour for November / December. Dates are as follows, with more details to be announced soon.

November
12 - Club Roxy - Prague, Czech Republic
13 - Masters of Rock Cafe - Zlín, Czech Republic
14 - Cassosport Hall - Kosice, Slovakia
15 - SKC - Belgrade, Serbia
17 - Petõfi Csarnok - Budapest, Hungary
18 - Boogaloo - Zagreb, Croatia
19 - Szene - Vienna, Austria
20 - Backstage - Munich, Germany
22 - Z7 - Pratteln, Switzerland
23 - Longhorn - Stuttgart, Germany
24 - Löwensaal - Nuremberg, Germany
25 - Alcatraz - Milan, Italy
27 - Razzmatazz 2 - Barcelona, Spain
28 - Heineken - Madrid, Spain
29 - Theatre Barbey - Bordeaux, France
30 - Elysée Montmartre -Paris, France

December
2 - FZW - Dortmund, Germany
3 - Carling Academy Islington - London, UK
4 - Hard Rock Hell Fest - Prestatyn, UK
5 - JB's - Dudley, UK
6 - Hof Ter Lo - Antwerp, Belgium
8 - Capitol - Hannover, Germany
9 - 013 - Tilburg, The Netherlands
10 - Paradiso - Amsterdam, The Netherlands
14 - Trädgårn - Gothenburg, Sweden
15 - Klubben - Stockholm, Sweden

As previously reported, keyboardist Henrik Klingenberg recently checked in with the following update:

"By the end of May everything should be recorded and we're ready to mix and master. I know a lot of you are really eager to hear what the album sounds like and probably the speculations have already started on the forums, etc. I can only say that it's a bit darker and maybe not so complex as Unia. Nevertheless, it's definitely not a back-to-the-roots album with fast power-metal. All the trademark Sonata stuff is on there, solos, lots of singing some slower songs. Actually, I can hardly wait to hear how it turns out myself.

Next fall we start to tour again, it will once again be a massive effort and going all over the world... at least once. We'll be starting the world tour in.....shit, I can't say that yet. Anyway, there'll be a lot of new places and even more of places we've already been to."

Cheers,
Lance

Also Tony Kakko, the vocalist for Sonata Arctica wrote an update for the new album:

So. The recordings for the next Sonata Arctica studio album are now officially on their way. Tommy has already a few songs down. I work mostly at home, alone. Still got some songs to write, re-arrange and some lyrics to write. But all in all the album is in excellent shape already. Can't wait to get this project in a point where I can enjoy the ride...that's gonna be on the tour. Yeah, there's no rest for the wicked.

Noticed the other day that people actually read these blogs, take Henkka's f.ex. His entry infact made it to many official news places. He says the albums a bit more simple and darker. I beg to differ a bit here. In some ways the album will be more simple, yes, but I don't know if it's actually gonna be darker or more gloomy. Heavier maybe. Well, I suppose it's in the ear of the...beholder?

The song we aim to have as the 1st single is actually quite chipper. But definitely we're not repeating ourselves. The album will be fresh and different, something new without estranging us from what Sonata is all about. And the Stalker we know as Caleb returns to meet his maker...or let's see how that one turns out.

We are like a tree, we have roots and we are happy and proud about all that we've done. But the growth happens above surface. Up, up, towards the sun and new challenges and all that.

Where as some people considered "Unia" a rather drastic change, I think this "yet unnamed"-album will be easier to swallow for some. Or maybe not. I aim to confuse, surprise and make people's lifes tad more interesting. Especially myself and my own.
And doing something I have done already many times over is not the way to go. This is going to be one helluva great Sonata album!

Now I leave you, wondering if someone will quote this somewhere.

Kisses, hugs and brotherly taps on the shoulder.
Have a fulfilling day.
~Tony