Orientation

This Japanese only cd was released not long after Silence and was overlooked by alot of people. It has four audio tracks, an interview with Tony Kakko, and an mpg of Wolf and Raven. It is rather expensive (cost me 22 bucks) but I consider myself a hardcore Sonata fan so I think it was worth the price. Some might not agree though. The disc starts off with Black Sheep. It's the same version that is on Silence so if you have Silence you already know what this song sounds like. Next up is an acoustic version of Mary Lou. I loved the original version (found as a bonus track on some versions of Sonata's debut Ecliptica) but this rendition doesn't really blow my skirt up. It's well played and everything and if I hadn't heard the original version of it I'd probably like it more, as it is I usually skip it. Now some of you might be going "What the hell Ben, you said this EP is worth it for me to shell out the bucks for a Japanese import but yet the first two songs don't seem that special" That may be so but from here on out this EP is all killer and no filler (no that is NOT a Sum 41 refernece) Track three is an awesome cover of The Wind Beneath My Wings yes thats right the Bette Midler song!!! Rather odd song to cover but Sonata Arctica have changed the original sappy ballad into a crunchy, melodic, mid-tempo number that truly shows how talented these Finns are. The last track and another cover is Die With Your Boots On by Iron Maiden. This is the best of the four tracks as it is fast, crisp, and damn catchy!!! They totally change up the end of the song with a powerful DIE DIE DIE DIE chant during the final chorus and truly make the song their own. I like it when bands do this and don't play it safe with straight covers. The interview with Tony is fairly good, they talk about Silence, the success of the band and touring. I liked being able to SEE Tony in person and hear him talk. The guitarist Jani is also in the interview but he doesn't say anything. He juts sits there with a smirk on his face probably thinking about how hes such a great fucking guitarist ;).The video for Wolf and Raven is worth the price of this EP alone. Here in the US where REAL metal videos are impossible to come by its a privilege to see this. To my sruprise its a very well done, professionally shot video clip and although it doesn't seem to have anything to do with the actual song it is quite nice. Much like Songs of Silence that I reviewed last week, this EP is essential only to diehard fans of Sonata Arctica, fans that have to have absolutely EVERYTHING that has Sonata Arctica written on it.. The two covers are pretty much exclusive to this release (Die With Your Boots On is available on the Iron Maiden tribute, A Tribute to the Beast but you have to deal with half of the songs on the tribute that suck ass and you don't get the multimedia section that's available here) So if you're like me and love this band pick Orientation up. You won't be dissapointed. (on a side note in Finland the single for Last Drop Falls was released with Last Drop Falls replacing Black Sheep but it does NOT have Wind Beneath My Wings or the interview and video clip)