Group Sonata Arctica was formed in 1996 on the brink of the world, in northern Finnish city of Kemi. At first the group was called Tricky Beans. As Tricky Beans, the group has written down three demos (Friend till the End, Agre Pamppers and PeaceMaker) and played twice in Jyrki Sahkosirkus. After some changes of structure in 1997, the group changes the name on Tricky Means. Yes will know metal community that originally the group experimented in musical styles far from a heavy-metal.

In 1999 Tricky Means have written down a new demo «FullMoon» in Tico Tico Studios, located in their native city, Kemi. During record the group structure consisted from: Tony (vocals/keys), Jani (guitars), Tommy (drums), and Janne (bass). This new demo còàëî the group first step in heavy-metal waters. There was a group distinctive feature - fast melodious music, with heavy keyboard and a pure high vocal. By means of Ahti Kortelainen from Tico-Tico Studio, the demo «FullMoon» has found a way to the main metal label of Finland, Spinefarm. At the same time Tricky Means steels Sonata Arctica.

The summer of 1999 has brought to us the first single Sonata Arctica - UnOpened. The header song has been simultaneously included in CD compilation Metalliliitto 1999. Two hot tracks from a single, UnOpened and Mary-Lou have designated Sonata Arctica as power-metal-group. Certainly, not all went smoothly. During the first mix of single UnOpened, 1st track, UnOpened, has been slowed casually down. The error has been found out shortly after the first party of disks have sent in musical shops. Hide review