Ever had a nightmare? I’m sure we all have, some especially gut wrenching and terrible we wake in the night trembling with sweat. The next day, it still invades us. Well, that’s what Wintersun does as well. This may make them seem a Black Metal Band. In a way, they are, in a way no. The songs have so many differences, it may very well be impossible to place a tag on the band. This is their Debut album, a masterpiece, and so far, their only album.
“Beyond the Dark Sun”, the album’s first song, is 2:48 in length. Not that much, but does it matter? The guitars and drums remind me of the next song, some of the lyrics and especially the vocal sound remind me very much of the second song. It’s a nice little shot of heaviness. It’ll get you in the mood of the album.
The next song “Battle Against Time” might be considered a cross between symphonic black metal and death metal. You’ll see what I mean. There is plenty of vicious guitar riffs, with the most brutal of voices. But there are also parts with some chants, with symphonic and orchestral elements taking over. Basically, this song creates a very good feel of what the album has to offer.
Next I want to talk about “Death and the Healing”. This song is perhaps the most haunting I have ever listened to. Maybe because I have so many memories attacted to it, good and bad, or maybe it’s the way the song is created. Anyway, it starts off with some electronic effect, almost what you would expect in a trance song. It’s a very slow, doom-like song. Guitars come in, and a pained sounding voice starts slowly singing. The instrumentals continue for a short time more, before taking a very calm direction, then, they suddenly explode. It’s not that explosion you hear most of the time, it’s a subtle one. The chorus will have you swaying from side to side. The way it is sung, is simply beautiful. I cannot understand why this song is so gripping. Perhaps it is only me and my own personal tastes/etc, but in all honesty, you have to listen to this song at least once in your metalhead life.
Most songs are more akin to the first and second ones. Dark, quick, and with the brutal vocals. Not all, for example Sleeping Stars starts off very slowly, gradually builds, but never finds the peak raw power. Perhaps that’s a good thing. It is another very beautiful song from the band.
“Starchild” seems to be a favorite of fans (where I hangout anyway). It’s extremely speedy from the start. It features black sounding lyrics, extreme drumming, and fast tempo music. What more can you ask? Well, lot’s of stuff, but that doesn’t stop this one from being a good song. The chorus is very important sounding, and the whole thing, just has a special feel to it. A melodious yet raw song, there’s a lot going on here. It’s a complex song, but a good one at that. Not my favorite on the album, but since people seem to love this song, I thought I should at least include a paragraph or so about it.
So, what’s the final impression. It’s simply beautiful, from the deathly despair feel of some of the songs. To the energetic black sounding ones, this album will please many, especially people who are looking for constant variety in their music. The music is progressive, yet primitive, it combines feelings of sadness, anger, even hope all in one gigantic package, that somehow manages to stay in one piece. There isn’t very much more to say about this one, just perhaps that you should honestly listen to this one. It has something for you, I can just about guarantee it.
Patrick Burent
(This review was originally published in 2007.)
TRACKLIST
1. Beyond The Dark Sun
2. Winter Madness
3. Sleeping Stars
4. Battle Against Time
5. Death And The Healing
6. Starchild
7. Beautiful Death
8. Sadness And Hate
Released by Nuclear Blast Records in 2004.
