Wintersun - Wintersun
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Free Music Notes for Wintersun
Free Music Review: A Complete Surprise
Hit: 5 Stars
I was recomended this album/band from a friend, who said that I should definetly pick it up if I could find it. It is impossibly hard to find records from "obscure" metal bands where I live, also known as 85% of bands from outside North america. So one day while I was shuffiling through the Metal CDs at my local Record store, to my utter surprise, I found this. since I had a pocket full of recently made cash I felt I had to buy something, so not finding anything else that I was interested in, I grabbed this one. I had not heard any songs from the record, and I hadn't listened to Ensiferum or Norther, although I did hear good things. To say the least I was completely floored by just how good this album is! Wintersun is in no way a rip-off of Ensiferum, or any other band for that matter. Jari Maenpaa has made a very unique melodic death/power/folk metal blend here. to go off the topic of music for a second, I also really liked the artwork on the cover and in the booklet, it has a very cool frost-like effect on the pages where the lyrics are. At first Listen Wintersun seems to be a CoB/Kalmah/Norther rip off, but about half way through the Record you will realise that Wintersun is so much more then the aforementioned bands. So If your a fan of the melodic death metal scene, you have to listen to this. It breathes life into a genre that is getting more then a wee bit stale.
If you managed to read this entire review, and didn't feel like kicking me in the teeth after doing so, or found it remotely interesting, appealing, or helpful please take a second out of your busy day to press the "yes" button next to "Was this review helpful to you?"
Thank you,
-Igar the Terrible
Free Music Review: Criminally Overlooked
Hit: 5 Stars
Upon first listen, this CD became an instant favorite. Everything is right on the money with this album. Singer/Guitarist/Composer Jari Maaenpa is a genius madman with super speedy thrash riffs, blistering virtuosic solos, lush keyboard arrangements and catchy leads/hooks/choruses, plus his black metal screeching vocals that put any black metal vocalist to shame, not to mention his manly/viking singing (as opposed to the usual pansy power metal singing that annoys to no end), is there anything this man can't do? Well, its probably drums (which are played by the drummer from Rotten Sound, Kai Haihto, and extremely well, I might add...). This cd flat out destroys the competition (thats right, Bodom can't even hold a flame to these guys, as much as I like them, and Alexi is an amazing guitar player, Bodom's music is straight up cheese metal, which has its place, but its nothing compared to these guys). Wintersun have been able to craft an album that is probably closest to perfect that albums can get. The only gripe I have is with the last song "Sadness and Hate", its a 10 minute opus devoid of ANY solos, which is a shame because Jari is an incredibly fast, clean, and virtuosic guitar player and the song could definitely benefit from some solos, seeing as it drags on a bit. Other than that, any one looking to hear what a hybrid of black metal, melodic death metal, thrash metal, power metal and folk metal would sound like (done right), look no further. Alternatively, any one looking for just plain out epic and emotional metal, pick this up too. A criminally overlooked album, you won't be dissapointed, trust me.
Personal Favorite track: Starchild.
Free Music Review: What Ensiferum's latest CD should have been.
Hit: 5 Stars
This outstanding debut was born from Jari, guitarist/vocalist of Ensiferum leaving the band, for reasons I'm not too sure about. Being that he was the head of the band, this CD sounds much like Ensiferum. This CD is simply amazing. A thrashy folk masterpeice, dotted with classical interludes, and astonishing Yngwie Malmsteen style guitar sweeps and solos.
I was going to break this review down, song by song ... but, in all honesty, there is no point - the CD is as near perfect as I could possible hope for. I will note on a few highlights.
The first two songs are fast, powerful and melodic as Hell ... the third song slows down a bit, and touches more on the instrumental elements. The fourth song is extremely catchy, showcasing Jari's ability to write a masterful song, and also some incredible guitar skills. The fifth song is another more emotional and soft song ... very colourful and deep. Sixth song, nothing to comment on, just another perfect song. Track 7 is a little more gritty, and less melodic than you'd expect. With a death metal feel at time, very dark, brilliant. Some awesome drumming on display here as well, and some surprising technicallity. This is actually something I've found spread throughout the whole CD ... the eighth and final track is the only song I'd have to say I wouldn't give a perfect 10, just because it drags out a little too long, and I found it sort of lossing my attention at two parts ... but besides that, this CD is flawless.
Any fan of folk metal, this is an absolute must buy. Any fan of melodic metal, this is a must buy. Any fan of metal at all, should at least check it out.
Free Music Review: Wintersun - Wintersun
Hit: 5 Stars
Wintersun started as Jari Mäenpää, the former frontman of Ensiferum, left the band to pursue his musical vision of Wintersun. Many fans, including myself, mourned the loss of Jari from Ensiferum, but after listening to this beautiful debut release, I can only be joyful in Jari's brilliance at making wonderful melodic northern metal.
'Beyond the Dark Sun' is a short, but fast opener. Jari's screams are very good here and throughout the album. 'Sleeping Stars' is a great melodic viking-esque song with supurb guitar playing. 'Battle Against Time' will take the listener away to the frozen winters of northern Finland. 'Death and the Healing' is a beautiful song, more of a balland that sounds a lot like an Iron Maiden song with the leads. The closer, 'Sadness and Hate' is my favorite song on the album. Do not let this 10 minute song fool you. It is not boring and has many viking elements as Jari's vocals truly shine.
Many fans might have envisioned Wintersun's music similar to Ensiferum. This is not the case at all. Personally, I would have not minded another viking/folk metal album, but Jari Mäenpää took his vision to viking/melodic metal with hints of black metal. This debut album was a very high point of 2004, and pathos is used well in Wintersun's compositions. Jari Mäenpää is currently in the studio, and a new album will be in our hands in the near future. This is what beautiful northern music sounds like. \M/
Free Music Review: An Epic Masterpiece!!!
Hit: 5 Stars
Every single song on this album is AWESOME. Now that can only be said for maybe a dozen albums (ie. Master of Puppets, Beneath the Remains, Anthems to the Welkin at Dusk, Aspera Hiems Symfonia...)
Just listen to the song Winter Madness and once you get past the fact that it's got great guitars, vocals, lyrics, drumming and a sick solo, you'll just realize that it's actually a classical music expressed through metal. It's an inspiring work of art that was envisioned and performed by one man with the help of an awesome session drummer Kai.
Every track is completely different and varies in length and speed. This is literally the only CD I've listened to for 3 months. One song will not give you a headache, the whole album can be enjoyed straight through and through with lots to explore because of it is such a fresh sound.
Wintersun will appeal to your intelligent, creative side and not disillusion or rot your mind like other death metal bands such as CC...
Favorite Finnish Bands/Songs
Wintersun - The Whole Album
COB - Hatecrew Deathroll, Are you dead yet
Norther - Drowning, Unleash Hell, Mirror of Madness
Mors Principum Est - Another Creation
Ensiferum - Iron
BTW Bout the cover art, Necro Lord is pure genius!!!