# Winterheart's Guild

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{{short description|2003 studio album by Sonata Arctica}}
{{Infobox album
| name       = Winterheart's Guild
| type       = album
| artist     = [Sonata Arctica](/source/Sonata_Arctica)
| cover      = Winterheartsguild.jpg
| alt        =
| released   = 21 February 2003
| recorded   = September – November 2002
| venue      =
| studio     = Tico Tico Studio
| genre      = [Power metal](/source/Power_metal)
| length     = 54:57
| label      = [Spinefarm](/source/Spinefarm_Records)
| producer   = Sonata Arctica
| prev_title = [Songs of Silence – Live in Tokyo](/source/Songs_of_Silence_(Sonata_Arctica_album))
| prev_year  = 2002
| next_title = [Reckoning Night](/source/Reckoning_Night)
| next_year  = 2004
}}
'''''Winterheart's Guild''''' is the third studio album by the [power metal](/source/power_metal) band [Sonata Arctica](/source/Sonata_Arctica). It was released in 2003 through [Spinefarm Records](/source/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](/source/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](/source/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](/source/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](/source/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](/source/Loudwire)|access-date=August 22, 2019}}</ref> ''[Metal Hammer](/source/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](/source/Metal_Hammer)|access-date=August 18, 2019}}</ref>

==Track listing==
All songs written by [Tony Kakko](/source/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](/source/Tony_Kakko) – [vocals](/source/singing), [keyboards](/source/keyboard_instrument)
* [Jani Liimatainen](/source/Jani_Liimatainen) – [guitar](/source/electric_guitar)
* [Marko Paasikoski](/source/Marko_Paasikoski) – [bass guitar](/source/bass_guitar)
* [Tommy Portimo](/source/Tommy_Portimo) – [drums](/source/drum_kit)
* [Jens Johansson](/source/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](/source/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](/source/Oricon))<ref name="JPN">{{cite book|title=Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970–2005|publisher=[Oricon Entertainment](/source/Oricon)|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]

{{Sonata Arctica}}

{{Authority control}}

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

{{2000s-power-metal-album-stub}}

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Winterheart's Guild](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winterheart's_Guild) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winterheart's_Guild?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.