Wintersun

When the Finnish band Wintersun announced the release of their second album in the fall of 2012, the metal world let out a sigh of relief. The second album of ex-Ensiferum Jari Mäenpää's solo project had been keenly anticipated since 2006 when the recording began. The production of the album Time seemed never-ending, and the release date was always postponed by years. Finally, Mäenpää announced that the 75 minute album will be published in two parts. The first part was released in the fall of 2012 and the second part will be out in winter 2014. The first samples of the album revealed why the wait was so long.

Wintersun's metal is so amazingly layered and complicated that it is hard to truly define it. The songs carry the DNA of power and progressive metal, gothic heavy metal and classical music, but in the end the music is all about songs of virtuosity, honed and toned to perfection. No wonder that Mäenpää and co. spent such a long time in the studio; a cathedral like Time is not built in a year.

Wintersun has basked in the glory of metal media of the world, and no wonder. Even when compared to other metal music, Wintersun is damn near over the top, but still manages to keep everything in control. The live performance of Wintersun will be something mindblowing; anyone who has listened to Time can verify that. Welcome to witness Wintersun!

• www.wintersun.fi
• facebook.com/wintersun