The Puzzle (album)

The Puzzle
Studio album by Dark Sarah
Released	17 November 2016
Recorded	2015–2016
Genre	Symphonic metal power metal [1]
Length	48:10
Label	Inner Wound Recordings
Producer	Mikko P. Mustonen
Dark Sarah chronology
Behind the Black Veil (2015) The Puzzle (2016) The Golden Moth (2018)
Singles from The Puzzle
"Little Men" Released: 15 April 2016 "Aquarium" Released: 18 October 2016 "Dance with the Dragon" Released: 16 November 2016

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Dangerdog	3.5/5 [1]
Metal Temple	8/10 [2]
Stormbringer	4/5 [3]

The Puzzle is the second studio album by symphonic metal band Dark Sarah. It is a concept album continuing the storyline that start with their debut Behind the Black Veil . ^{[4] [5]}

Background and promotion

The first video for the song of the album "Little Men" was released on 15 April 2016. ^[6] On 24 April Parviainen revealed on her Facebook page that once again three guests would perform on the new album. Manuela Kraller returns as her character Fate on the song "Rain", and Juha-Pekka Leppäluoto (Charon, Northern Kings) plays the character The Dragon on the song "Dance with the Dragon". ^[7] On 13 September the third guest was announced, Charlotte Wessels (Delain, Phantasma) plays the character Evil Siren Mermaid on the song "Aquarium", along with the information that The Puzzle would have been released in Europe and North America on 18 November. On 18 October a lyric video from the song "Aquarium" was released. ^[8]

Track listing

All lyrics are written by Heidi Parviainen; all music is composed by Mikko P. Mustonen except where noted.

No.	Title	Music	Length
1.	"Breath"		2:00
2.	"Island in the Mist"		4:42
3.	"Little Men"		4:50
4.	"Ash Grove"		4:12
5.	"For the Birds"	Heidi Parviainen, Mikko P. Mustonen	4:35
6.	"Deep and Deeper"		4:45
7.	"Dance with the Dragon" (featuring Juha-Pekka Leppäluoto)	Heidi Parviainen, Mikko P. Mustonen	5:24
8.	"Cliffhanger"	Heidi Parviainen, Mikko P. Mustonen	5:58
9.	"Aquarium" (featuring Charlotte Wessels)		4:50
10.	"Rain" (featuring Manuela Kraller)	Heidi Parviainen, Mikko P. Mustonen	6:54

Personnel

Dark Sarah

• Heidi Parviainen – vocals, flute on track 5
• Erkka Korhonen – guitar
• Rude Rothstén – bass
• Thomas Tunkkari – drums

Guests

• Juha-Pekka Leppäluoto – vocals on track 7
• Charlotte Wessels – vocals on track 9
• Manuela Kraller – vocals on track 10

Production

• Mikko P. Mustonen – producer, mixing, orchestrations
• Svante Forsbäck – mastering
• Jan Yrlund – cover artwork

References

1. Hartranft, Craig (9 November 2016). "Dark Sarah: The Puzzle". Dangerdog. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
2. Baker, Aiden (23 March 2017). "Dark Sarah - The Puzzle - Metal Temple Magazine". Metal Temple. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
3. "DARK SARAH - Puzzles". Stormbringer. 7 January 2017. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
4. "Dark Sarah - New Album Coming, Details Unveiled". Metalstorm. 16 September 2016. Retrieved 14 August 2017.
5. "Former AMBERIAN DAWN Singer Returns With New DARK SARAH Album 'The Puzzle'". Blabbermouth. 14 September 2016. Retrieved 14 August 2017.
6. "DARK SARAH Release Second Studio Album 'The Puzzle'". Metalstorm. 18 November 2016. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
7. "DARK SARAH Feat. Former AMBERIAN DAWN Singer HEIDI PARVIAINEN: 'Dance With The Dragon' Video". Blabbermouth. 16 November 2016. Retrieved 14 August 2017.
8. "DARK SARAH: Lyric Video For New Song 'Aquarium' Feat. DELAIN's CHARLOTTE WESSELS". Blabbermouth. 18 October 2016. Archived from the original on 15 August 2017. Retrieved 14 August 2017.