[1] The current lineup consists of drummer Tommy Portimo, lead singer Tony Kakko, keyboardist Henrik Klingenberg, guitarist Elias Viljanen and bassist Pasi Kauppinen.

As of 2024, the band has released eleven full-length albums (three via Spinefarm Records, eight via Nuclear Blast, and one via Atomic Fire), their most recent being Clear Cold Beyond in March 2024.

[2] The band was founded by drummer Tommy Portimo and guitarists Jani Liimatainen and Marko Paasikoski in Kemi.

At the end of 1995, lead vocalist Tony Kakko was added and bassist Pentti Peura joined in early 1996.

Originally named Tricky Beans, they played hard rock rather than the power metal with which they grew to fame.

According to Kakko, the band's first name was based on one of their early songs, which was "about a lady who was tricky and I didn't really know what I was talking about (laughs)".

Vocalist Tony Kakko developed a clean singing style which relies both on falsetto and tenor voices.

Kakko has stated that the change of sound was influenced by fellow Finnish power metal band Stratovarius.

At the beginning of 2000, Sonata Arctica was chosen to support the well-known power metal band Stratovarius throughout their European tour.

Marko Paasikoski returned to the band to play bass in the wake of Janne Kivilahti's departure after the tour.

A live album entitled Songs of Silence was also released that year, consisting of gigs from their tour in Japan.

To this end, they spent a night drinking with each of the potentials to find out which one would fit best into the band's personality and mentality.

Henrik Klingenberg was eventually chosen and joined the band in time to take part in the tour that followed the release of Winterheart's Guild.

In 2006, the band released a live CD and DVD entitled For the Sake of Revenge, which was recorded in Tokyo in February 2005.

Then, Spinefarm Records released a compilation album to get the most out of their contract with the band, since Sonata Arctica had changed to another label.

He was replaced by Elias Viljanen who had already filled in for him in the band's Finnish and Japanese shows during the spring and summer.

In April 2010, Sonata Arctica embarked on their USA and Canada Headlining tour for The Days of Grays.

[10] In January 2011, the band hinted in an online interview for Metaleater magazine that they were writing songs for a new album while on their current tour.

It was announced on 20 February 2012 through the official Sonata Arctica website that the new album entitled Stones Grow Her Name would be released on 18 May in Europe and 22 May in North America.

[12][non-primary source needed] The Stones Grow Her Name World Tour began in April with summer festivals until August.

[18] On 3 September 2014,[19][non-primary source needed] Ouergh Records announced a Sonata Arctica tribute album.

Prominent bands included: Xandria, Van Canto, Stream of Passion, Arven, Powerglove, and Timeless Miracle.

[21] In 2014, writer Marko J. Ollila released a biography of the band, titled simply Sonata Arctica.

They are all the same for me really ... there's so many names it's kind of confusing.In a 2007 interview with C.B.Liddell, Tony Kakko cited the English rock band Queen as his biggest musical influence.