There is great power in secrecy. Detached from the world, brewed under a strict code of confidentiality, a new lifeform came into existence. Led by none other than Sonata Arctica frontman Tony Kakko, this new beast of his gained momentum in the massive shadow of his wildly successful power metal superheroes, slowly, steadily, biding its time, waiting for the right moment.
This moment is now.
With his self-titled debut, Tony Kakko opens the curtains into this strange new world of his just enough to take a first peek – and instantly hunger for more. A master story teller and a wizard of conjuring musical emotions, Himmelkraft stages Kakkos trademark talents in a wholly new, unexpected and thrilling way. “I don’t think it would make any sense releasing Sonata-type music through another band,” he says. “People would just assume the album is full of Sonata outtakes or leftovers. I don’t operate that way.”
To him, the sky truly is the limit, bestowing upon us an album that sounds like nothing else out there – brooding and dark, menacing and eerie, stomping and monumental. “Sonata operates within a certain box. Flexible and cosy, but still a box,” he states. “But my taste in music is just too wide and all over the place to be content in just that one place. Himmelkraft gives me this freedom to have another… I hope not box, but perhaps a cave system to roam with my musical ideas and also play with moods and soundscapes. Himmelkraft is a world of its own.” It is indeed – with solemn choirs, otherworldly strings and a atmosphere unlike anything you have ever heard.
This project sees Tony Kakko enter a fascinating new era. Much like the legendary Elven smiths of old, forging away in solemn silence, Kakko has stopped the wheel of time to reinvent himself and his bold musical vision. Shrouded in mystery, a new being appears in the fog, barely discernible and yet distinct the very moment Tony Kakko starts to sing. Yet, everything else remains just what it was from the very start – a mystery. “Mystery must prevail”, the artist nods. “The world lacks that very much these days. It’s very hard to keep anything a secret any more because of the internet and people’s hunger for information they don’t really need.” So imagine his latest showcase of cunning prowess like a release from a time long gone, when information was scarce and all you had were the music, some lyrics, a pixelated photo and various morsels from fanzines you ordered via mail.
What we do know about this strange island of a debut is that it is a concept fill with tales of creation and of life, focusing on a shadow nation some people have chosen as their own. This secret society lives in hiding and is kind of studied and screened by Tony Kakko’s enigmatic, strangely intoxicating songs. We have origin stories, love stories, nostalgia and survival, songs packed with hopes and dreams, worries and fear, rage and hopelessness. “It’s a world of its own and we’ve just scraped the surface of it,” he promises. To him, this is ultimately about escapism. “I know many people who feel they would love to leave the hassle of today’s world behind and live a different, simpler life. Himmelkraft is a true story. Or it may be. To an extent atleast. I can’t tell you, really, because I… can’t. You’ll have to find out it yourself.”
This album, mind you, is by no means a quick shot, something hastily scrambled together between two Sonata Arctica world tours. “I got the idea for Himmelkraft, including the name, already sometime in the early 2000s,” he says. “Back then I was pretty sure I’d get something solo done fairly soon.” He laughs: “And only 20 plus years later we’re here already.” This potion was brewed slowly, carefully, condensed over time, constantly refined. “During the pandemic I finally had the time and found the right people to work with and reserved some studio time to give myself a deadline. I was also fortunate to find connections to have actual real strings, horns and other instruments on the album, making it more organic.” These right people are by no means strangers to the eyes and ears of music connoisseurs. But alas, they shall remain a mystery.
Graced by a moving storyline courtesy of his dear friend Sonja Arstio, intertwining historical figures like pioneering world war I chemist Clara Immerwahr with dystopian fiction, “Himmelkraft” unfolds an evocative, at times disturbing power. Like an apocalyptic video game about the horrors of a world aflame, set to sombre and grand rock songs played in a massive dripstone cave. “I’ve always been a fan of game series such as Fallout and movies with a small community hidden from the rest of the world to perhaps one day re-surface and populate the world after humanity’s inevitable demise,” says Tony Kakko. “This is a new take on it – with this album functioning as it’s soundtrack.” Call them songs for a dying world or songs for a world reborn – either way, you will be intrigued how this extraordinary project will develop. And that’s a promise
Tracklist:
01 – The Pages of History (Opening)
02 – Full Steam Ahead
03 – Uranium
04 – Paika
05 – Fat American Lies
06 – Dog Bones
07 – When the Music Stops
08 – Gorya
09 – There is a Date On Every Dream
10 – Crystal Cave
11 – I Was Made To Rain On Your Parade
12 – Deeper
Line-Up:
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