Tarinoita pohjoisesta - Magic of the northland

Last Friday I saw my first gig for this year at Pakkahuone/Tampere and it was also the first one of Sonata Arctica's album release tour for "Clear Cold Beyond" - really loved the good mood there, to me the whole band seemed energetic and excited! I love the new album and think that the it's one of their best, so I too was excited to see them. Dark Empath, A Monster Only You Can't See and Angel Defiled are among my favourites from the album, they did play them, and also First In Line & California, all of them sounded great!

From the old songs Broken was a highlight to me, because it was one of the first songs (with the whole Winterheart's Guild-album) that made me fall in love with this band, yet this was the first time I finally heard it live!

There were funny things as well, like Toni playing Elias' guitar and after the "lights are out"-part in The Cage, the stage lights really were put out for a moment :D

"Aurora arctica (Pohjoiset taivaantulet)", aquarelle and gouache, 40 x 30 cm, 2024

Amorphis' gig on last Thursday at Pakkahuone (Tampere, Finland) was amazing! They played Brother and Sister & My Name Is Night for the first time live, it was beautiful as they're among my favourites from the latest albums, but never thought they would be played live. Also the semi-acoustic version of My Kantele, Amongst Stars, The Wolf and Wrong Direction were the other highlights for me.

There was also funny band introduction, where all the band members played little solos (Olli-Pekka had a funky bass solo, and Santeri played a little snippet from Deep Purple-song Perfect Strangers, followed by more humorous snippet of the synth melody of the legendary Finnish ice cream-truck :D), with Tomi's jokes about their bandmates.

Sonata Arctica/Finlandia-klubi, Lahti 6.10.2023

Amazing show, it was really beautiful to see the band after a long time, as I have re-discovered their music again and love it even more! Toni had lots of positive energy in his performing and there were some of my favourites in the set list too (like The Cage, Black Sheep, Paid In Full and Fullmoon), Eight Commandnment was a really nice surprise and Wolves Die Young sounded even better as a live version.

Mielenmaisemaa Lapista: Äkäslompolon Kellostapulitunturin huippua, purometsärinnettä ja jääkylmää vesiputous-lampea, sekä Särkitunturin maisemia Pallastunturien silhuetille päin 🤍

Videolla näkyy myöskin Pirunkurun kivijyrkännenousua Kesänkitunturin huipulle, sekin oli mieleenpainuva kokemus.

Eka vaan ei toivottavasti vika Lapin retkireissuni, upeaa luontoa missä tulee hyvin kotoisa olo! 💚⛰️

Gorgeous nature of North Karelia from eastern Finland (click full-size for the best quality).

"Saivo"

- "The sacred lake"

"Kosminen Pohjola"

- "The Cosmic Northland"

100 x 50 cm, acrylic painting

"Winterheart"

40 x 30 cm

The painting is inspired by "For the Sake of Revenge"-music video by Finnish band Sonata Arctica and the wintery feeling that their music always creates in my mind. 🐺🤍

"Ikiviisaus"

- "The ancient wisdom"

"Arktinen loitsu"

- "The Arctic enchantment"

"Erämaan ääni"

- "The sound of the wilderness"

50 x 100 cm, acrylic painting