Power metal titans SONATA ARCTICA have recently delighted their fans with the release of their latest album, “Clear Cold Beyond,” marking a triumphant return to their power metal roots. To celebrate, the band embarked on a Finnish tour, gracing the stage of Kulttuuritalo in Helsinki on March 23rd, 2024. Joining them on this endeavor was none other than the melodic hard rock ensemble TEMPLE BALLS, who are no strangers to the SONATA ARCTICA audience as they’ve toured together before. Altogether, it was a great combination of melodic music, which tempted us to visit Kulttuuritalo again.
Admittedly, it’s been a while since I last caught a TEMPLE BALLS show, and truth be told, I’m not entirely sure why. I’ve always been pleasantly surprised by their energetic performances, though I must admit that I’ve felt a bit disconnected from the contemporary hard rock scene lately. Nevertheless, their previous effort, “Avalanche,” left a lasting impression on me, showcasing their undeniable talent. As they kicked off their set with “Strike Like a Cobra,” the crowd was drawn to the stage immediately by their energetic presence. “Lonely Stranger,” while slower-paced, highlighted vocalist Arde Teronen‘s remarkable vocal range, and “Hell and Feelin’ Fine,” a staple from their early days, demonstrated just how finely tuned the band has become over the past few years. As I stepped out of the photo pit after capturing those first three songs, I couldn’t help but notice the sizable crowd gathered in front of the stage, all eagerly cheering on the band. It feels like I may have missed a few chapters in this band’s evolution; if they were already a cool Charmander before, they’ve now evolved into a full-fledged Charizard (and for those unfamiliar with Pokémon, that just means they’re absolutely awesome).
Around 21:00, it was time for SONATA ARCTICA to take the stage to the tunes of a Pirates of the Caribbean melody. The band kicked off the set with the opener from their latest album, “First in Line,” which is truly one of the highlights of the record. It sounded great live as well, infusing the show with energy from the get-go. However, as the set progressed, it took on a somewhat moody atmosphere. “Dark Empath” was particularly dramatic to witness live, especially with Tony Kakko adding theatrical elements to his performance. “Storm the Armada” slowed down the pace a bit, and personally, I could have done without this track.
“A Monster Only You Can’t See” was a song I had been eagerly anticipating hearing live, and it lived up to my expectations, blending seamlessly with its follow-up, “The Wolves Die Young.” After “California,” the set took on a moodier tone with “Among the Shooting Stars,” “Angel Defiled,” “Broken,” and “I Have a Right.” “Angel Defiled” was a personal highlight from “Clear Cold Beyond,” and I was delighted to see it included in the setlist, injecting some energy into the mid-paced sequence. Seeing “Broken” performed live after some time was also a pleasant surprise.
The latter part of the show was particularly engaging for me, with the band’s popular track “Talullah” kicking off the fan-favorite section of the night. Despite struggling to hear Tony‘s vocals throughout the night – I’m not sure if this was an issue for those in the seats as well – and despite spending most of my time around the FOH where the sound should have been optimal, Tony‘s vocals seemed low in the mix, with the drums and bass overpowering. Nevertheless, “Replica” flowed nicely, and as expected, fans enthusiastically sang along to “FullMoon.” The band briefly left the stage but returned for two more songs, “The Cage” and “Don’t Say a Word.”
While the band was in good form, it felt a bit odd to hear so many moody songs, considering their promotion of the new record as a return to their power metal roots. I found myself reminiscing about their setlist from Tuska 2022, which evoked a sense of nostalgia for me. However, despite these minor setbacks for me personally, I appreciated that they included a “best of” selection for their diverse fan base, catering to both new and old fans alike, and I’m quite sure that mixing their setlist up a little, also felt fun and refreshing for the band. I’m curious to see how the setlist will evolve throughout their Clear Cold Beyond tour.
Text and photos by Laureline Tilkin
Setlist
- First in Line
- Dark Empath
- Storm the Armada
- A Monster Only You Can’t See
- The Wolves Die Young
- California
- Among the Shooting Stars
- Angel Defiled
- Broken
- I Have a Right
- Tallulah
- Replica
- FullMoon
- The Cage (Encore)
- Don’t Say a Word (Encore)
