Finnish melodic metallers SONATA ARCTICA have launched a fan contest where people can design the cover artwork for the upcoming promotional single for the song 'Flag In The Ground'.

Commented mainman Tony Kakko: "People, attention! Now here's your big chance to make an impact to the whole music industry! Or at least all Sonata fans! Create a cover for our promotional single and have your artwork printed on a cardboard for promotional use like radios, clubs etc.

The song is called 'Flag In The Ground', which also going to be our video song. It's an uplifting story about a young couple fighting their way to freedom and their own land in North-America back in early 1800s.

Join the race, have fun, create us a cover art work and win! Do it today! Good luck!"

The artwork chosen as the best from all participants will be the new cover of the promotional single of 'Flag In The Ground'. The winner will also get tickets to a Sonata Arctica show at one of the upcoming tour dates, as well as the opportunity to meet the band!

2nd and 3rd place winners will get exclusively signed Sonata Arctica stuff!

The artwork can be sent to: SonataArctica@nuclearblast.de

Specs:

Format: JPG

Res: 300 dpi

Colours: RGB

Size: 20 x 20 cm

Deadline for this contest is August 10th, 2009!

Sonata Arctica recently unveiled the new artwork, tracklisting as well as the album title of their forthcoming album. The Days Of Grays will see a worldwide release (excluding Asia) through Nuclear Blast Records on September 18th, September 22nd in North America.

Formats/tracklistings:

Limited two-CD digipak:

'Everything Fades To Gray' (Instrumental)

'Deathaura'

'The Last Amazing Grays'

'Flag In The Ground'

'Breathing'

'Zeroes'

'The Dead Skin'

'Juliet'

'No Dream Can Heal A Broken Heart'

'As If The World Wasn’t Ending'

'The Truth Is Out There'

'Everything Fades To Gray' (full version)

Bonus Track:

'In The Dark'

Bonus CD: track listing to be announced

CD Jewelcase:

'Everything Fades To Gray' (Instrumental)

'Deathaura'

'The Last Amazing Grays'

'Flag In The Ground'

'Breathing'

'Zeroes'

'The Dead Skin'

'Juliet'

'No Dream Can Heal A Broken Heart'

'As If The World Wasn’t Ending'

'The Truth Is Out There'

'Everything Fades To Gray' (full version)

Sonata Arctica have updated their tour itinerary with North American headlining dates, which include:

September

17 - San Marcos, CA - Jumping Turtle

October

12 - Hartford, CT - Webster Theater
13 - Pittsburgh, PA - Rex Theater
15 - London, ON - Music Hall
16 - Cleveland, OH - Peabody's Down Under
17 - Louisville, KY - Uncle Pleasants
18 - Milwaukee, WI - The Rave

As previously reported, the band have the following dates supporting DRAGONFORCE, and also featuring TAKING DAWN:

September

18 - House of Blues - Los Angeles, CA
19 - Regency Center @ The Grand - San Francisco, CA
20 - Roseland Theater - Portland, OR
21 - Commodore Ballroom - Vancouver, BC
23 - Edmonton Events Centre - Edmonton, AB
24 - MacEwan Hall Ballroom - Calgary, AB
25 - Odeon Events Centre - Saskatoon, SK
26 - Burton Cummings - Winnipeg, MA
28 - Beaumont - Kansas City, MO
29 - The Cabooze - Minneapolis, MN
30 - House of Blues - Chicago, IL

October

2 - Sound Academy - Toronto, ON
3 - Le Medley - Montreal, QC
4 - Theatre Imperial - Quebec City, QC
6 - The Fillmore @ Irving Plaza - New York City, NY
7 - Ram's Head Live - Baltimore, MD
9 - The Palladium - Worcester, MA
10 - The Chance - Poughkeepsie, NY
11 - Theatre of the Living Arts - Philadelphia, PA