Steve, I think bands like Sonata Arctica is what's wrong with melodic heavy metal. Sure they can play, sure the music is melodic and relatively hooky, but is soooo by-the-numbers and unoriginal - just like Narnia, Majestic, Rhapsody etc., all of whom can play very well, too, and suffer from lack of a unique creative vision. Yngwie, Stratovarius and many, MANY others have mined that same terrority for years and years - why then would anyone need a Sonata Arctica record (unless you're happy with regurgitated Yngwie and Strato, of course)? It's weird - back in the 80's bands had influences, but most of them had their own distinct sound and style. Nowadays shit just gets copied flat out, and quite badly at times, by these retro bands and it makes them look incredibly lame. Luckily for the Sonata Arcticas of this world, most of their (young) fans have no clue of metal history and how amazing the originators were, otherwise you just might want their money back.