Wintersun - Wintersun
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Free Music Notes for Wintersun
Free Music Review: I Am Covered With Ice...I Am Flying In The Black Skies...Soaring Above The Unforgiving Snow...That Light...
Hit: 5 Stars
Just as I was walking onto my street from school some guy in the passenger seat of a Ford Mustang leans out the side and yells," HAPPY 420!! HEY!!" Ho damn I just cracked up and knew that in England, in approximately 1 square kilometer, there were atleast 7 people smoking weed. Anyways here is another almost unheard CD released sometime ago when Green Day just sapped up the fame with their-then newly released American Idiot. However, in order to sap this review of any shame, I won't talk about Green Day anymore. What we are treated with here is simply amazing. Jari was previously in the Viking Metal band Ensiferum, but the schelduled recording of Wintersun and the Ensiferum tour was during the same date. Jari was forced to choose between his booked recording of Wintersun and Ensiferum. He eventually chose Wintersun and was forced to leave Ensiferum behind. In my case, smart move...
"Beyond The Dark Sun" is comprised of strong Power Metal drumming, melodic and catchy riffs rounded out by Death Metal vocals. The guitar work from Jari is pretty amazing. It's flashy, technical, and impressive without going over the top. Things really slow down for the better on "Death And The Healing." The folk vibe is well in tact, but musically, things are brought down several notches. Jari's guitar work is really fantastic here because he shows the audience that he doesn't have to play lightning fast to get the job done. It's laid back and you can feel the emotion he puts into it as well.
Some of the tracks here tend to get long, but because there is so much going on here it never gets boring. "Beautiful Death" is just over seven minutes and you would think that in this genre you can't or should go past the four minute mark, but the guys are so talented in composing that there is no time to think of boredom because the tracks only get more beautifully complex and multi dimensional. I think fans of different genres of music will get into this because there is so much to offer. The galloping riffs and beats are plentiful here. Jari and Kai are so talented and handle each instrument with great pride and intelligence. There is nothing lethargic or lagging here. This is Grade A music.
Not too forget mentioning about the cover, which grabbed my attention way back in late 2005. The view of a fallen man during Winter's unforgiving reign. The sun shines as brightly as it can, unable to break the void of Winter's punishing atmosphere, wind, and vibe. It is very calm though, with the night fading on and the absence of life. The one thing that creeped me out the most though was that orangish/brownish aura off to the right a distance away from the snow corpse. Something about it just made we wish I wasn't at night out in the woods if I saw it.
I never liked too much black metal or very power metal stuff, but this CD has emotion, skill, and talent plundered within. Two men handling the responsibility to create great music for the soul, the mind, and the metalhead. Not just any metalhead...but one who can appreciate the culture and the mind's eye represented not just on this, but in another world that only brings forth epic music.
Free Music Review: Perfect In Every Way
Hit: 5 Stars
I don't know much about frontman Jari Mäenpää's former band Ensiferum apart from the fact that they played what they called "heroic folk metal", but what I do know is that the debut album by Wintersun is one of the most beautiful metal albums ever to emerge from Scandinavia, as well as taking a high spot in Europe's top 50 metal albums (at least in my opinion). Though some may not find it as appealing due to melodic black/death metal's common usage in the Scandinavian metal theatre, but the music on here is absolutely stunning; despite being only eight songs, it almost reaches the hour-long point. Each instrument is played with beauty and precision that comes together in the end to make one hell of a masterpiece. This may also appeal to a large number of power metal fans who can handle the harsh vocals, as Jari also employs some wonderful viking metal vocals that remind one of early Bathory and Arcturus if they had been recorded a decade later. One thing's for sure, Jari fits comfortably in the ranks of Quorthon and Simen Hestaes (most recent vocalist of Arcturus) as viking metal's best.
Jari Mäenpää proves to any doubters that he is, in fact, a virtuoso, especially when you consider that he recorded this album alone, without the help of any other musicians except for session drummer Kai Hahto, who also does a great job giving the songs a precise and speedy beat like any good metal drummer should do. His vocals are among the album's highlights, as he sounds comfortable belting out mournful, epic tunes as well as screeching with the skill of a seasoned black metal vocalist. His guitars chug with the intensity of an active volcano and while he may not be one of the greatest soloists ever, he knows how to bust one out without sounding unnecessary, but they aren't very common on this disc as they aren't all that important to the progression of the album. The keyboards are wonderful wherever they are, whether spewing out atmospheric ambient tunes or playing fun, speedy solos reminiscent of Children of Bodom's Janne Warman. Bass, like on most epic melo-death recordings, falls to the back ranks unnoticed, but it isn't too important to the recording other than the need of a bass guitar in the works.
Bottom line: if you're a melo-death fan, then you must get this, no matter how hard to find it is (if you see it, buy it, because God knows when you'll ever see it again). But even the average death metal fan and power metalhead will find something to enjoy on this album, as its lacing of grandiose musical structures and heaviness is a sure winner. Other good melodic death metal bands include Norther, Kalmah, and Children of Bodom.
Track Selections: "Beyond the Dark Sun", "Death and the Healing", and "Sadness and Hate".
10/10
Free Music Review: Completely and Continually Impressed
Hit: 5 Stars
As someone who has listened to The Metal all of his life, you might think it strange that I would dare proclaim Wintersun's debut album as one of my favorites of all-time. I too tried to remain skeptical and would often immediately follow listening sessions of this album with other venerable works such as Master of Puppets, Rust in Peace, Heartwork, Beneath the Remains, and the like. I soon found that this album was, if not better than those, then at least as good in its own way.
Why, you ask? It's true that we can easily look to the past masters of the genre and clearly spot moments of inspired grace. This is not to discredit those efforts, only to say that this particular Wintersun album can, in my opinion, stand with confidence beside those others. It's especially true at this point in time when many of the once-respected bands of yore have fallen by the wayside, musical ideas have been recycled for the Nth time, entire sub-genres have come and gone seemingly overnight. Perhaps, like me, you had become disenchanted with the direction metal had gone and you were looking for something fresh, intelligent, and impressive. You need look no further.
There is just so much to love and appreciate about this release that it's difficult to summarize the various ways it is magnificent. It's as though Wintersun forged an entire universe and stuffed it inside the space of a CD. You'll find yourself quickly captivated by the stellar performances of these clearly talented musicians as they bring their material to life via intricate guitar riffs, phenomenal drumming, supportive keyboards, subtle bass lines, and tasteful vocal work. The songs range from wickedly fast fret board burners to stately and expressive paintings of melancholy. This makes for an album that rewards listeners for repeated plays, one where it is possible to be surprised by seemingly new material that you didn't catch during the previous iteration.
Not only is the music wonderfully crafted and performed, it is also nicely recorded and mixed. It somehow sounds just as great on my audiophile-grade rig as it does in my lowly car stereo. The production is exacting but full of life, and sonically never becomes fatiguing to the ear. Each of the instruments seems to occupy its own acoustic space, yet together their frequencies gel into a tasty smorgasbord of sound that puts this album into a different realm altogether.
I'll go so far as to say that you don't even have to love metal (specifically, folk-inspired technical melodic death metal) to enjoy this release. But perhaps it is best to let the music speak for itself; you won't be disappointed with this purchase. I hope it becomes your new favorite CD like it has mine.
Free Music Review: Exceptional musicianship
Hit: 5 Stars
I first heard of Wintersun, while searching for a Children of Bodom record. The first thing that caught my eye was the cover art.... My God!! It kicks ass....gotta be a Scandinavian band. The artwork is by an artist called Necro Lord who has created album arts for bands like Dissection...who by the way are active again and are about to release there newest single "Maha Kali". Hey!! An Indian reference...works for me!!! So I took a risk and bought the record and here is what I think of the songs.
Beyond the Dark sun (7/10)
Excellent opener with super fast riffing. Gives the listener a taste of the melodic direction of Jari. This is not you average nu-metal screaming plus simple power chord play. Vocals are a little weak, but then I was never a big fan of "growling" vocalists.
Winter Madness (9/10)
Great great song. Very tuneful. The key-boards make for a beautiful backdrop for some awesome guitar playing. One of the best songs on the record.
Sleeping Stars (8.5/10)
The first slow-er track of the record. Didn't catch my attention at the beginning, but the main melody is frigging mind-blowing. Bound to stick in your head for eons. Jari has made excellent use of background vocals. Gives it a very dark and melancholic feel. Some of the better vocal work on the record.
Battle against time (10/10)
Best song on the record, period!! Hell one of the best songs of the year. It has everything....haunting choruses, super fast technical guitar work, best vocals on the record. The main melody is kick-ass. Beautifully blended with great drumming & keyboards.
Death and the Healing (9/10)
Beautiful song.Another slower track. The melody sounds like something Dave Murray would do. Jari even sounds like Bruce Dickinson for a second. Very Iron Maidenesque should I say. I don't know if Jari is influenced by Maiden here, but I am not complaining.
Starchild (7/10)
Decent song. Nothing that stands out about it. Great guitar work as usual.
Beautiful Death (6.5/10)
My least favorite song on the record. Very average.
Sadness and Hate (8/10)
Very powerful song. Great outro.
Overall I think this is a great record. Well worth the money for the cover art, inlays and of course the songs. I assure you will not regret it no matter what style of rock/metal you are into.
Free Music Review: Amazing album!!
Hit: 5 Stars
When I first heard that Jari (the talent behind the songwriting, guitars, bass and vocals on this album) had to leave Ensiferum to start on his solo album, I was utterly frustrated. Thankfully, my anger was put to rest after I noticed that now we have two great bands from Finland to look forward to in the future!Probably the most difficult part of reviewing this album is figuring out which genre it belongs to. Ive been an avid fan of metal for over 12 years now, and to be honest I have never heard anything close to this. Probably melodic death with heavy influence of epic, folk and viking metal would be the closest anyone could get. The vocals are mostly death-like growls, but if any of you have heard Jari's voice on Ensiferum you would undestand that he has the "clearest" death growls around. Even for those of you that have a problem with death-like vocalists would tolerate (and maybe even love) his vocal talent, and wouldn't find it a chore to make up the lyrics. And what deep meaningful lyrics they are!!! The album dwells into the concepts of death, nature, and strong emotional feelings giving the album a very dark prospective.
Jari's talent doesn't stop in his vocals and songwriting skills, because the instant you press the play button you would be blown away by his guitar work. The first track (which is the only short track on this album), shows off his brilliant guitaring skills. If any of you still have your doubts then just listen to the guitar solo half way through track 2, clearly no one but a genius could compose (and play) that tremendous solo.
To be honest there isn't a single weak track on this album. From the amazing ballad "Death and the Healing" with its clean vocals, to the dazzling finale of the last track "Sadness and Hate", this album makes you feel the raw passion and effort that Jari had put to make this masterpiece.
If you are a fan of any type of metal, or musical talent in general, dont hesitate and buy this album!! You will not regret it!!