Sonata Arctica -- West Springfield, VA -- December 9th, 2012

[tenchimyo]

Full Review, includes pics.


Quick notes:
pretty crowded on the floor (especially for a Sunday night, rainy), not a bad number of people there.

Yesterday's Saints- local opener had their guitar stolen, so they could not play. That really sucked

Arsis came on around 9. I think they were better the last time I saw them with Firewind last year. I didn't know any of the songs they played, but got some info. They were a bit boring to me perhaps because of the songs not being really distinct. There was a bit pit for a few songs they did.

Sonata Arctica was... well they sounded good and had a setlist that I 1/2 wanted to hear. I thought some of their newer songs sounded better live (but only a few ).

While sonically most songs sounded fine, the actual melody (or lack thereof) for many newer songs just didn't move me. It was difficult to hear Black Sheep and get all rowdy, only to be slowed down to 10 miles an hour with the hair band sounding Alone in Heaven (not that that's a really bad thing). Now repeat that about 5 times throughout the night and you have a roller coaster ride that is not exactly a good ride IMO. It's like Dokken playing Lightning Strikes Again, and then following it up with 2 new songs that are not quite good.

Overall a good show, though underwhelming. It was cheap ($15), so I don't really regret that.

Arsis (9:00- 9:35)

• (Unknown)
• (Unknown)
• (Unknown)
• (Unknown)
• (Unknown)(New song of their Lepers Caress EP)
• Carve My Cross
• The Face Of My Innocence

Sonata Arctica (10:03 -11:30)

• Only the Broken Hearts (Make You Beautiful)
• Black Sheep
• Alone In Heaven
• Shitload of Money
• The Gun
• The Day
• I Have a Right
• The Last Amazing Grays
• Last Drop Falls
• short Guitar Solo
• Paid in Full
• Losing My Insanity
• Broken
• short Keyboard solo
• FullMoon
• Short Jingle Bells interlude (yes)
• Replica
• Cinderblox
• Don't Say a Word (w/ Vodka Outro)

[CreptorStatus]

I'm pretty curious bout the Arsis setlist if anyone has any ideas..

[W0unds]

Originally Posted by CreptorStatus

I'm pretty curious bout the Arsis setlist if anyone has any ideas..

According to setlist.fm:

Handbook For The Recently Deceased
We Are the Nightmare
Maddening Disdain
A Diamond For Disease
Six Coffins Wide
Carve My Cross
The Face of my Innocence

[metalheadguy]

I had the same sentiments for the Worcester show. If there were a couple more fast songs, then there would have been a bit more energy to the show. With all the slow-to-mid-tempo stuff on the new album, why they chose Last Drop Falls and Broken for old songs to play baffles me. While I love those two songs, ones like San Sebastian and Victoria's Secret would have fit much better.

[zerkz]

I just came back from the Pittsburgh show, and they played something after Carve my Cross and before Face of my Innocence... maybe they had more time?

[Dimebag_Rusty]

You guys are missing the Promise of Never in the Arsis setlist. They played it in Toronto, I assume they have the rest of the tour. They did 2 songs off that new EP, We are the Nightmare, Maddening Disdain, Diamond for Disease, Face of my Innocence, and one that I'm forgetting.

[markrz]

I've never really understood why Sonata pushes the song Broken. I like it fine, but it's a very unremarkable song, especially when played late in a setlist when you need to keep the energy level high for crowd retention. I guess it's probably an easy song for them to play, but I think a band like them has the stamina to keep the anthems coming.

Seeing them play Weballergy once was pretty awesome. I think it was on the 2006 tour.

[tenchimyo]

Originally Posted by Dimebag_Rusty

You guys are missing the Promise of Never in the Arsis setlist. They played it in Toronto, I assume they have the rest of the tour. They did 2 songs off that new EP, We are the Nightmare, Maddening Disdain, Diamond for Disease, Face of my Innocence, and one that I'm forgetting.

I listed the songs I could pick out. They def did 2 off the new EP (including Carve..).