Winterheart's Guild

{{short description|2003 studio album by Sonata Arctica}} {{Infobox album | name = Winterheart's Guild | type = album | artist = Sonata Arctica | cover = Winterheartsguild.jpg | alt = | released = 21 February 2003 | recorded = September – November 2002 | venue = | studio = Tico Tico Studio | genre = Power metal | length = 54:57 | label = Spinefarm | producer = Sonata Arctica | prev_title = Songs of Silence – Live in Tokyo | prev_year = 2002 | next_title = Reckoning Night | next_year = 2004 }} '''''Winterheart's Guild''''' is the third studio album by the power metal band Sonata Arctica. It was released in 2003 through Spinefarm Records. In a 2014 interview, vocalist, keyboardist and songwriter Tony Kakko said inspiration for writing "The Ruins of My Life" came from the film ''Braveheart''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://metalchestofwonders.com/en/interview/tony-kakko-sonata-arctica-2014-02-25|title=Tony Kakko (Sonata Arctica) {{!}} Interview|last=Sabrina|first=Elise|date=February 25, 2014|website=Metal Chest Of Wonders|access-date=May 31, 2017}}</ref> In 2019, he would refer to the album's recording process as a "nightmare" because he only had "two or three" songs ready when the band went in the studio.<ref name="hysteria">{{cite web |last1=Giffin |first1=Brian |title=SONATA ARCTICA // A Little Understanding |url=https://www.hysteriamag.com/sonata-arctica-little-understanding/ |website=Hysteria Magazine |publisher=Hysteria Media PTY LTD |accessdate=7 September 2019 |date=3 September 2019}}</ref>

==Reception== {{Music ratings |rev1 = AllMusic |rev1score = {{Rating|2|5}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/winterhearts-guild-mw0000032918|title=Winterheart's Guild - Sonata Arctica {{!}} Songs, Reviews, Credits|last=Hinds|first=Andy|website=AllMusic|access-date=August 22, 2019}}</ref> |rev2 = Sputnikmusic |rev2score = 4/5<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/9708/Sonata-Arctica-Winterhearts-Guild/|title=Sonata Arctica - Winterheart's Guild (album review 2)|last=Stagno|first=Mike|date=October 26, 2006|website=Sputnikmusic|access-date=August 22, 2019}}</ref> }}

''Loudwire'' named the album at eleventh in their list "Top 25 Power Metal Albums of All Time."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://loudwire.com/top-power-metal-albums-all-time/|title=Top 25 Power Metal Albums of All Time|last=DiVita|first=Joe|date=July 5, 2017|website=Loudwire|access-date=August 22, 2019}}</ref> ''Metal Hammer'' also included it in their 2016 list of 10 essential power metal albums.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/the-10-essential-power-metal-albums|title=The 10 essential power metal albums|last=Lawson|first=Dom|date=October 19, 2016|website=Metal Hammer|access-date=August 18, 2019}}</ref>

==Track listing== All songs written by Tony Kakko {{track listing | notes = yes | total_length = 54:57 | title1 = Abandoned, Pleased, Brainwashed, Exploited | length1 = 5:36 | title2 = Gravenimage | length2 = 7:00 | title3 = The Cage | length3 = 4:36 | title4 = Silver Tongue | length4 = 3:58 | title5 = The Misery | length5 = 5:08 | title6 = Victoria's Secret | length6 = 4:43 | title7 = Champagne Bath | length7 = 3:57 | title8 = Broken | length8 = 5:18 | title9 = The Rest of the Sun Belongs to Me | note9 = Japanese edition bonus track | length9 = 4:22 | title10 = The Ruins of My Life | length10 = 5:14 | title11 = Draw Me | note11 = In the Japanese edition, the silence after 5:05 between studio outtakes are removed. | length11 = 9:27 }}

==Personnel== * Tony Kakko – vocals, keyboards * Jani Liimatainen – guitar * Marko Paasikoski – bass guitar * Tommy Portimo – drums * Jens Johansson – keyboard solos on "The Cage", "Silver Tongue", "Victoria's Secret" and "Champagne Bath"

'''Technical personnel''' *Recorded by Ahti Kortelainen at Tico Tico Studios in September–November 2002 *Mixed by Mikko Karmila at Finnvox Studios and mastered by Mika Jussila at Finnvox Studios in November–December 2002. *Produced by Sonata Arctica

==Charts== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" ! scope="col"| Chart (2003) ! scope="col"| Peak<br />position |- {{album chart|Finland|3|artist=Sonata Arctica|album=Winterheart's Guild|rowheader=true|access-date=12 September 2022}} |- {{album chart|France|63|artist=Sonata Arctica|album=Winterheart's Guild|rowheader=true|access-date=12 September 2022}} |- {{album chart|Germany|88|artist=Sonata Arctica|album=Winterheart's Guild|id=17458|rowheader=true|access-date=12 September 2022}} |- !scope="row"|Japanese Albums (Oricon)<ref name="JPN">{{cite book|title=Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970–2005|publisher=Oricon Entertainment|location=Roppongi, Tokyo|year=2006|isbn=4-87131-077-9|language=ja}}</ref> | align="center"| 18 |}

==Certifications== {{Certification Table Top}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=Finland|artist=Sonata Arctica|title=Winterheart's Guild|type=album|award=Gold|salesamount=24,986|domestic=true}} {{end}}

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== * [http://sonataarctica.info/site07/gallery.php?id=28&s=29&l=uk Album info] * [http://rawrix.net/lyrics/artists/artists.php?id=1 Lyrics at Rawrix.net]

Category:Sonata Arctica albums Category:2003 albums Category:Spinefarm Records albums