Sonata Arctica · Rage

CLASSIC MEETS METAL

Sonata Arctica and Rage are coming to Pratteln for a double-headliner show. As if that weren't reason enough to make the pilgrimage to Z7 on 1 May 2027, they are offering an absolute premiere this time: as part of the "Co-Headliner Tour", Sonata Arctica will perform with an orchestra on stage for the first time. And our record-breaking guests Rage are not only celebrating their 25th appearance at Z7, but also the 30th anniversary of their legendary classical-metal masterpiece "XIII".

Sonata Arctica: Power metal with an unfailing feel for gripping melodies and anthem-like song structures that become addictive at first listen. These are the typical trademarks with which Sonata Arctica have delighted the metal world for three decades. 2025 and 2026 were dedicated entirely to their 30th-anniversary tour. In 2027, the Finns will open a new chapter in their glorious career. For the first time, the band will go on tour with an orchestra. Founded in the mid-1990s, Sonata Arctica quickly became a guarantee of the finest melodic metal, brimming with the joy of playing and energy. Tony Kakko's anthemic voice, together with his exquisite knack for catchy numbers with enormous hit potential, gives their sound its very special character. Eleven masterpieces have been created over the past three decades. Stylistically, Sonata Arctica have never shied away from exploring new paths - from classic melodic metal to more progressive excursions - ultimately bringing together the best of many sonic worlds. Every album has developed its own unique charm, yet Sonata Arctica have always remained true to themselves. Through their wealth of ideas, the band has had a significant influence on the genre and left a lasting mark. And now they are coming to Pratteln with a classical orchestra for the first time, adding an entirely new dimension to their sound.

Rage: Unlike Sonata Arctica, Rage have been practised for many years in the art of combining metal music with a classical orchestra. More than 30 years ago, the band released its first classical-metal crossover album, "Lingua Mortis". However, the formation from the Ruhr region dates back more than four decades. Four decades during which singer and bassist Peter "Peavy" Wagner has lived through an incomparable metal career - from the modest beginnings in the early 1980s with the debut "Prayers of Steel", then under the name Avenger, through the thriving 1990s and highlights such as their excursions into the world of classical music with the Lingua Mortis Orchestra, their third place at Stefan Raab's "Bundesvision Songcontest" in 2008, and up to the most recent release "A New World Rising" with the current line-up featuring Jean Bormann (guitar), Stefan Weber (guitar) and Vassilios "Lucky" Maniatopoulos (drums). With an extensive studio back catalogue, numerous live releases, compilations and DVDs, Peavy can look back on a metal history in which the mastermind has repeatedly reinvented himself through his countless creative visions. In 2027, our record-breaking rockers will once again bring a "Classic meets Metal" show to the Z7 stage to mark the milestone anniversary of the "XIII" album.