Review WINTERSUN “Time II”

It’s not even fall yet and the first winter storm is announced for August 30th, 2024. However, it’s a musical winter that helps to cool down the summer heat, as Wintersun unleash with “Time II”, the long-awaited successor to “Time I”, which saw the light of day in 2012.

After taking a bit of a detour with the release of “The Forest Seasons” in 2017, Wintersun return to the “Time” line. The latest effort contains six epic songs that reflect Wintersun’s trademark from start to finish. The band once again focuses on a symphonic sound, combined with melodic death metal moments. The mixture delivers music that has a bombastic feel and at the same time very emotional moments that add another level to the music.

Mainman Jari Mäenpää and his bandmates combined all this, resulting in songs like the 10-minute epic “The Way of the Fire”. Wintersun created excellent melodies without forgetting the harsh and grim elements. It’s as if the winter sun is in a constant battle with snowstorms, wrapping the landscapes in a white and icy blanket.

In addition to the cinematic songs with a running time of more than 10 minutes, the album also features “Ominous Clouds”, an atmospheric interlude that picks up the vibe of the first song, “Fields of Winter”.

“Ominous Clouds” introduces “Storm”, one of the heaviest songs on the album. Partly up-tempo and comes with some classical references, influences from Vivaldi’s “Four Seasons” that have an impact of this raging storm that hits you and leaves you with your mouth open after 12 minutes. The density of this song is enormous and it shows Mäenpää’s talent to write 12 minute songs that stick almost completely to a basic pattern without getting boring after a while. The acoustic part in the middle of the song is a welcome break though. Nevertheless, “Storm” is a thundering metal track.

“Silver Leaves” offers a different kind of expression. It is the last song on “Time II” and reflects some influences from the Far East. The erhu, a Chinese instrument similar to a violin, adds a very special touch to this song, which is a counterpart to the harsh storm we heard a few minutes ago. “Silver Leaves” has a very anthemic spirit and touches the heart and soul.

“Time II” is the long-awaited continuation of what Wintersun started twelve years ago. It is a theatrical and symphonic approach to music that makes “Time II” a very entertaining album with music that has the ability to create images in the listener’s mind. This music is not a soundtrack for the fast lane. It is more of an enjoyable journey that is also the final part of the “Time” project.