After entering the Finnish single charts on # 1 with "Don't Say A Word" at the end of August, SONATA ARCTICA now also managed to break the Japanese charts: "Don't Say A Word" went straight on # 1 of the Japanese foreign artist charts. Congratulations!
The seventh annual Tuska Open Air Metal Festival has now confirmed its first artists for the 2004 festival.
The headliner for Saturday, the 17th of July, will be Nightwish, who will release their much-anticipated new album, "Once" in June. Nightwish will be mainly touring Europe and the United States next summer and their Tuska-performance is going to be one of their three finnish shows.
Another headliner at Tuska during 16.-18.7.2004 will be the legendary King Diamond. This pioneer of black metal has been touring the world for almost three decades, sold millions of records and inspired four generations of metalheads. Also appearing at Kaisaniemi Park are swedish melodic-deathmetal groups Soilwork and Dark Tranquility and german thrashers Dew-Scented.
Besides Nightwish, Tuska-festival will once again present the hottest finnish metal acts. During the weekend, performances by Impaled Nazarene, Sonata Arctica, Sinergy, Suburban Tribe, Mokoma, Kotiteollisuus and Timo Rautiainen & Trio Niskalaukaus will be taking place. The new generation of finnish metal will be represented by the highly acclaimed Swallow the Sun, Diablo, Machine Men, Kilpi and Twilightning.
Over the course of three days more than 30 bands will be appearing on three different stages.
In addition to the festival itself, the evening-clubs will entertain the festival crowd from Thursday through Sunday on four different locations. More than 30 up-and-coming acts will be performing in the evening-clubs, styles ranging from deathmetal to goth, industrial and cover-material.
Tickets for Tuska 2004 will go on sale in May through Tiketti (), Lippupalvelu () and the new addition of Menolippu (). Tickets will also be available at selected record stores. Tuska 2004 is an all-ages festival.
Finnish melodic metallers SONATA ARCTICA have parted ways with keyboardist Mikko Harkin.
"For personal reasons, a time has come in my life when I have to make a decision in order to be able to go on," Harkin explained in an official statement announcing his decision to leave the group. "I've been fortunate to share many unforgettable moments with these guys. We've traveled thousands and thousands of kilometers together, we've been to the edge of the world and back and seen things a young pianist wouldn't ever have imagined. I'm grateful for all the moments but at the same time, everything happened has made me re-evaluate my life. Extensive touring has made me re-think my priorities in life. Time and again I've had to reconsider what are the most important things in my life. Everything I've experienced, as magnificent as it has been, has created a vacuum in my personal life, which I have to admit, has steered me away from SONATA ARCTICA. I've noticed that I no longer can give the band my 100 per cent just to keep the ball rolling, and I have come to the conclusion that it is better for everyone that I call it quits and that the band acquires a new member who will give his full effort and enthusiasm, for no less than that is what SONATA ARCTICA deserves.
"I hereby want to thank the guys — Tony, Jani, Make and Tommy. Thank you for your friendship. A warm thank you also to the fans throughout the world. It has been a blast to meet you all. Thanks to everyone who has been a part of this trip. Thanks to the loved ones — my family, friends and especially the most important person in my life, Reetta. Thank you for your love and understanding."
