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Track Listings
| 1. Everything Fades to Gray Instrumental |
| 2. Deathaura |
| 3. The Last Amazing Grays |
| 4. Flag in the Ground |
| 5. Breathing |
| 6. Zeroes |
| 7. The Dead Skin |
| 8. Juliet |
| 9. No Dream Can Heal a Broken Heart |
| 10. As If the World Wasn't Ending |
| 11. The Truth Is out There |
| 12. Everything Fades to Gray |
| 13. In My Eyes You're a Giant |
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
THe last few years have been pretty rough on the Arctica boys. Not so long ago these Finns were hailed as one of the premier teams in the power metal league, and after their initial hat trick of 'Ecliptica', 'Silence', and the outright classic 'Winterheart's Guild', they had pretty much annihilated the competition. However, since then, the band has been struggling to break free of the confines of the genre they mastered. Their last album, Unia, dropped for the most part the double-bass speed-fests and heralded a drastic change to their trademark sound, becoming much darker, quirkier and experimenting with proggressive structures, stattaco rythyms and more modern rock elements. Many fans deserted them in shock, while many others desided to put the band on the back burner until they returned to their original style.
Well, Days of Grays is definitly not a 'back to roots' affair. Despite the lead single 'Flag in the ground' it sees SA furthering their evolution along the proggressive metal/rock lines of Unia. So we have mainly slow to mid paced songs, with lots of time changes and different tempos along the way with a more drawn out apporach to song writing which requires multiple listens to really get into.
Now, the thing about Days of Grays is the way you rate it really depends on where you are at in relation to the Sonata. If you are someone who derived an eternity of enjoyment form their first four offerings and didn;t like Unia, then there's probably not that much you're going to like about Days of Grays, and you might want to take a star off. If you did enjoy Unia and also like more recent albums from, say, Blind Guardian or another other bands that have broke the power metal mold, then there's a good chance you'll like this and might want to add a star or two. Similarly, if you like slow, proggressive rock/metal songs that are rather laid back yet also with strong melodies and orchestral textures, you might like this too.
As for me? Well, i'm one of those guys who loved their older works and while i did like a lot of what was on Unia, it wasn't really my cup of tea. as for Days of Grays, well, i think there's a lot of good ideas, and there's plenty of quirky and interesting elements... well, if i'm honest i liked the melodies and Tony Kakko has one of the most captivating voices in metal, but i just found the whole thing a bit boring. However, i recognise that a lot of talent and hard work went into this. It's strange in that i can really appreciate this album musically, but i just don't really want to listen to it a lot. Its just not my thing. But it might be yours...
Well, Days of Grays is definitly not a 'back to roots' affair. Despite the lead single 'Flag in the ground' it sees SA furthering their evolution along the proggressive metal/rock lines of Unia. So we have mainly slow to mid paced songs, with lots of time changes and different tempos along the way with a more drawn out apporach to song writing which requires multiple listens to really get into.
Now, the thing about Days of Grays is the way you rate it really depends on where you are at in relation to the Sonata. If you are someone who derived an eternity of enjoyment form their first four offerings and didn;t like Unia, then there's probably not that much you're going to like about Days of Grays, and you might want to take a star off. If you did enjoy Unia and also like more recent albums from, say, Blind Guardian or another other bands that have broke the power metal mold, then there's a good chance you'll like this and might want to add a star or two. Similarly, if you like slow, proggressive rock/metal songs that are rather laid back yet also with strong melodies and orchestral textures, you might like this too.
As for me? Well, i'm one of those guys who loved their older works and while i did like a lot of what was on Unia, it wasn't really my cup of tea. as for Days of Grays, well, i think there's a lot of good ideas, and there's plenty of quirky and interesting elements... well, if i'm honest i liked the melodies and Tony Kakko has one of the most captivating voices in metal, but i just found the whole thing a bit boring. However, i recognise that a lot of talent and hard work went into this. It's strange in that i can really appreciate this album musically, but i just don't really want to listen to it a lot. Its just not my thing. But it might be yours...
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
When I originally bought Sonata Arctica's last album Unia, I hated it. I thought that the band had lost the plot and Tony Kakko had gone off on some kind of ego trip. I revisited it some time ago and after repeated listening, it became my favourite. The days of grays is a progression, with less high speed guitar and drumming and more layered harmonies and complicated arrangements. Once again, it's taken a few listens to really appreciate the brilliance on offer, but it is well worth the extra effort. Highly recommended.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Interweaving melodies, subtle hooks, slow-building dynamics, orchestral power and the superb songwriting of Tony Kakko all blend together to create a mini-masterpiece, something (at times) more akin to a West End musical than a regular metal CD. Don't expect every song to hit you immediately on the first listen. This isn't a pop album, and if you want instant gratification, there's plenty of bands out there to provide that.
If you were expecting a catchy power metal album like their debut "Ecliptica" or "Silence", you might be disappointed with The Days of Grays. This is a complex, gritty album, with much more to it than their early material.
Highlights for me were:
"The Last Amazing Grays", a beautiful song which conjurs up imagery of the old wolf departing the world and urging the young to rise up in its place;
"Flag In The Ground", a return to the ear-friendly speedy riff metal of "Ecliptica";
"No Dream Can Heal A Broken Heart", one of two songs featuring the haunting female vocals of Johanna Kurkela, and a trademark Sonata ballad if ever there was one;
and "In The Dark", the bonus track, which ends the album with a multi-layered a capella chorus from Tony.
This is yet another departure from what we're used to hearing from the boys from Kemi, but it's a worthwhile endeavour, and unlike many albums out there, it'll grow on you. Recommended for fans of Reckoning Night and Unia, but if you're a metal fan stumbling across Sonata for the first time, you might want to try the early albums before you try this.
If you were expecting a catchy power metal album like their debut "Ecliptica" or "Silence", you might be disappointed with The Days of Grays. This is a complex, gritty album, with much more to it than their early material.
Highlights for me were:
"The Last Amazing Grays", a beautiful song which conjurs up imagery of the old wolf departing the world and urging the young to rise up in its place;
"Flag In The Ground", a return to the ear-friendly speedy riff metal of "Ecliptica";
"No Dream Can Heal A Broken Heart", one of two songs featuring the haunting female vocals of Johanna Kurkela, and a trademark Sonata ballad if ever there was one;
and "In The Dark", the bonus track, which ends the album with a multi-layered a capella chorus from Tony.
This is yet another departure from what we're used to hearing from the boys from Kemi, but it's a worthwhile endeavour, and unlike many albums out there, it'll grow on you. Recommended for fans of Reckoning Night and Unia, but if you're a metal fan stumbling across Sonata for the first time, you might want to try the early albums before you try this.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
The Last Amazing Grays
Perhaps its lucky that I came to Sonata Arctica the wrong way round. I got into them quite late on in their career, and therefore worked backwards with their songs, rather than... Read more
Published 7 months ago by senbonzakura
One of their best albums but still too repetitive.
Compared to Sonata Arctica's other albums, this is a progression to more musical and mature heights where the simple song structures of the average power metal song are replaced by... Read more
Published 8 months ago by Alexander J. Dunn
Surprisingly addictive
I didnt even bother buying Unia and was a tad worried this album would be similar
However, there are far fewer ballads and this album has more of a spark
The album takes... Read more
However, there are far fewer ballads and this album has more of a spark
The album takes... Read more
Published 16 months ago by Pidge
I keep coming back
An album I keep coming back to - superb music, beautifully constructed, and perfectly executed. Why do I like bands where they have two distinct time-lines, with fans separated on... Read more
Published 20 months ago by P. Shemmell
other style
At least since their live concerts i'm absolutley conviced from their new style. With Unia they began the transformation and from my point of view, thats only the beginning. Read more
Published on 6 Feb 2010 by Friebsi
Transformation Complete
Sonata Arctica have completed their transformation from power metal to progressive metal. And while it is easy to wish for the catchy and upbeat tunes of their past, the audience... Read more
Published on 11 Jan 2010 by J. Huber
Just keep listening....
Bought this with the additional orchestral CD. Popped in the standard CD and had a couple of listens and nothing really stood out at first. Then played the orchestral version. Read more
Published on 24 Dec 2009 by S. Denning
Gray Days Indeed
This album is an absolute shocker and couldn't really be worse or more disappointing. I quite liked the first half of 'Unia' but there are barely 2 decent tracks on 'The Days of... Read more
Published on 19 Nov 2009 by Nightman
Good but be patient with it!
I've been a long time fan of SA and I was initially hooked by the fast pace and catchy melodies of silence and ecliptica. Now the band have a more mature sound. Read more
Published on 30 Oct 2009 by Chris
Quirky genius
This album will divide fans, as can be seen by the reviews so far - I loved the direction they took with Unia, and those hoping for a return to their older style - especially as... Read more
Published on 3 Oct 2009 by ged_wall
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