Wintersun's debut

There is only one band from Finland that has shaken Europe so suddenly.
It is Wintersun, the band that was supposed to be a side project of former Ensiferum frontman Jari Mäenpää.
Considering this is my favorite album of all time, I would share my review heartily.

Track 1:
Beyond the Dark Sun ( 2:38 )
A speedy, short, melodic assault. A wonderful introduction into what the album holds, contains a spoken-word poem written by Mr. Mäenpää himself for the first lines of the song. Includes great technical melodeath notation, a couple of artful sweeps near the beginning, and ending hauntingly, you'd almost thing the song was a bit longer.
Song Rating: 9/10

Track 2:
Winter Madness ( 5:08 )
In my opinion, the album's magnum opus song. Right from the beginning is a brutal drumming attack and a rapid flurry of guitar power. As the song progresses, we see time signature changes, use of soft layered keyboards, combination of harsh and clean vocals, and CHORUS! The melodic lead guitar part is endless and complex, and in the middle of the song is one of the greatest solos you would ever hear, utilizing sweep tapping, pick sweeps, tapping, harmonics, tremolo picking, and alternate picking mastery. The song doesn't end there, a short interlude of neo-classical wintery assault awaits at the end of the solo, before the chorus strikes again, ending the song with a shrilling yell of "MIIIIIIGHT".
Song Rating: 11/10

Track 3:
Sleeping Stars ( 5:41 )
A slower ballad that gradually rises into an epic, symphonic sound, with hints of black metal. Includes a chilling keyboard melody that sounds as if you were staring into a cosmic blaze. This song is heavily keyboard laden, and the whole epic feel of it attributes to the keys. Song includes layered vocals for a choir effect, slower guitar melodies, all over a constant technical drum beat that rises and falls from soft to double-bass extremities.
Song Rating: 10/10

Track 4:
Battle Against Time ( 7:03 )
A median between the speedy Winter Madness and the brooding Sleeping Stars. Features keys and guitars ever working together, and again the layered vocal choir effect. The intro is a galloping brain-freeze! As it progresses, we see blastbeats and a never ending lead guitar part, then goes into a Bodom-esque syncopated interlude between choruses and verses. This song is a beautiful aggression!
Song Rating: 9.5/10

Track 5:
Death and the Healing ( 7:13 )
The album's ballad extreme. It starts off with a beautiful, beautiful riff, over a simple but feeling-laden drum part. Keys add the choral effect to present the upbringing of light and coldness in the air. It's slowness should not prevent it from making it one of the greatest songs ever created. This song features full clean vocals, with solos that are a slower, but still speedy, melodic approach, making room for sweeps, artful picking, and those Gilmour-esque notes that are chock-full of emotion. Female choral effects, perhaps through keyboard use, make their appearance in this song, adding more epic-resolve into an already epic song.
Song Rating: 11/10

Track 6:
Starchild ( 7:54 )
A return to the speedy resolve of Beyond the Dark Sun, with a longer, more progressive, and aggressive approach. This song features artful drum fills, and is heavily revolved around Jari's vocal power (amazing considering he has one working lung and half of another). The song features a condescending arpeggio riff in the song's progression, and adds to the fantasy-themed mastery of it. Again, Jari's vocal power brings life into this song, including his unsupported mixes through his trademark wolf-screams and his tonal cleans. A short folk jingle is included, evidence that Jari is not devoid of Ensiferum-style songwriting.
Song Rating: 10/10

Track 7:
Beautiful Death ( 8:16 )
The most complex song on the album in my opinion, the drums are all out, the guitar is all out, and the keys make one of their prime moments on this song. Whispered vocals on some parts, ever returning to some of the greatest Melodic Death growls one can ever hear. Kai Hahto does not back down on this song, this is true, he keeps blasting away on nearly every single piece of drum equipment he has, nearly every cymbal, every tom! Spoken-word bridge and clean vocals around it create an epic transition from the verse-bridge-verse-chorus!
Song Rating: 10/10

Track 8:
Sadness and Hate ( 10:16 )
The ever so epic ending, it is similar to Death and the Healing, yet it presents the melancholic tone in a more aggressive and progressive manner. Acoustic guitars play a huge role in this song, as do alternating between electric, acoustic, soft and loud. Kai Hahto switches from mind-breaking drum assaults to clean, basic interludes found in simple progressive rock drumming. The song features drastic time signature changes, sound level, and overall theme changes, making for an unforgettable album end. The folky jingles make their entrance again in the middle of the song, noticeable in Jari chorals that make it really hard to distinguish between Wintersun and Ensiferum.
Song Rating: 10/10

Overall album rating: 10.2/10
Relativity: 10/10

It's a perfect album, it combines every single form of brilliant metal one can hear.
Melodic Death Metal, Folk Metal, Black Metal, Symphonic Metal, and Power Metal!

Nice review!

that was a good review

This is what an album review should be like.

Not my fav band at the moment cos they have pulled out of the Bloodstock festival

Nice review Andru, this is definitely one of my all time favorite albums.

Superb review!!!

I love Wintersun so much! When will a new album be produced?

MetalNiller wrote:

Superb review!!!

I love Wintersun so much! When will a new album be produced?

Their second album "Time" has been in the works est. 2005, however, due to Jari's on-the-brink-of-poverty income he can't afford superman equipment for recording, thus, the equipment overloaded/malfunctioned, delaying the album further.
Wintersun shows were cancelled in 2009 because Jari wanted to finish the second album before they go and play anymore shows.

A masterpiece, and it was all done by Jari and one drummer.

Jari played both 2 guitars, bass, vocals and synths.

Starchild is my favorite song of the album.

one of the albums im considering of buying. my favorite is beautiful death but starchild and winter madness alone make it an album worth your money

WinterSon wrote:

MetalNiller wrote:

Superb review!!!

I love Wintersun so much! When will a new album be produced?

Their second album "Time" has been in the works est. 2005, however, due to Jari's on-the-brink-of-poverty income he can't afford superman equipment for recording, thus, the equipment overloaded/malfunctioned, delaying the album further.
Wintersun shows were cancelled in 2009 because Jari wanted to finish the second album before they go and play anymore shows.

Thank you! I will be looking forward to that!

My favourite songs are "Death And The Healing" and "Beyond The Dark Sun"