Because I frequent Nuclear Blast and other European focused metal channels, I naturally became familiar with Sonata Arctica. When I first discovered Sonata Arctica, their biggest hit at the time was “I Have a Right” and that song was catchier than most. I like “I Have a Right” but it was another, very well liked, but less well known track, which I stumbled upon which I thought was full fledge great, and that was “Full Moon.”
When I went to see Nightwish for their “Endless Forms Most Beautiful” tour there were two opening acts that night, Sonata Arctica and another band that I have unfortunately forgotten. Nightwish rules, of course, but very worthy of mention is Sonata Arctica’s opening act, they were very good. They played “I Have a Right” and it was at the moment I recalled them from my memory. They did not play “Full Moon,” but it was like an eight or nine song set, so I could only realistically expect so much. Interestingly all three acts that night hailed form Finland. I like the Finnish; a lot of good metal music comes out of that country.
It has been a few years now, and despite not owning any of their albums, I have listened to most of Sonata Arctica’s discography, and even now, “Full Moon” is one of my two favorite songs of theirs; I also really like “My Selene.” I preparation for this review I relistened to a Sonata Arctic greatest hits playlist a couple times, and to be perfectly honest, my overall attitude towards it was good, not great. Please bear in mind this is still a compliment, but it does contrast my appreciation for “Full Moon,” because that song is great.
“Full Moon” opens with a nice inviting piano/keyboard intro. After that the vocal melody hits, and it is the rhythm that enters after, this is typically the opposite of how a song introduces itself, but it works here. Frontman Tony Kakko’s singing voice is a little on the mumbling side of things, so I struggle to understand the lyrics a little, not unlike Bob Dylan. Since I lack talent and knowledge of the technical side of music, I tend to lend my ear to vocal and lyrics a lot, but in this example, I listened more to the guitar and the rhythm section. I really like the sword dance style of guitar and keyboard in “Full Moon” very striking, it is this that really made me love the song initially and I have only grown more fond of it over time. One line I could always make out was “he’s not a man anymore.” With that one line and with the song title “Full Moon” it seemed obvious to me this song must be about a werewolf.
Despite my best efforts I had to goggle the lyrics for the chorus:
“She should not lock the open door,
Run away, run away, run away,
Full moon is on the sky and he's not a man anymore.”
Properly examining the lyrics for the first time, I can now see that there is a whole detailed story being told here about a man trying to keep his werewolf curse a secret from his wife, and the tragic night when she decides to follow him to her doom.
“In the mist of the morning,
He cannot fight anymore.
Hundred moons or more,
He's been howling.
Knock on the door,
And scream that is soon ending.”
Again, to be perfectly honest, it is rather clear that someone who does not speak English as their first language wrote this. I listen to a lot of music out of Finland and Sweden, and this has all the hallmarks of the English lyrics being slightly off the Finnish way. I am not judging; I only speak one language and most days I am embarrassed at just how unable I am to understand French, even after all these years of living in Canada and constantly encountering it. So fair enough.
“Full Moon” is as much a song about a werewolf as anyone could ask for. If like me, you struggle to make out the lyrics, “Full Moon” is as much a metal song as anyone could ask for.
Sonata Arctica’s songs range from good to great, and “Full Moon” is one of the greats. It will be sometime before concerts will be a viable means of entertainment, but when bands go on tour again I would hope to see Sonata Arctica again; the hope being to hear “Full Moon” live.
- King of Braves
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