Winterheart's Guild
Template:Short description Template:Infobox album 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>Template:Cite web</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">Template:Cite web</ref>
Reception
Loudwire named the album at eleventh in their list "Top 25 Power Metal Albums of All Time."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Metal Hammer also included it in their 2016 list of 10 essential power metal albums.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Track listing
All songs written by Tony Kakko Template:Track listing
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
| Chart (2003) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Japanese Albums (Oricon)<ref name="JPN">Template:Cite book</ref> | 18 |
Certifications
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