Wintersun (album)

Infobox Album |
Name = Wintersun
Type = studio
Artist = Wintersun


Released = September 13, 2004
Recorded = January - May, 2004 Sundi Coop Studios
Genre = Power metal
Melodic black metal
Melodic death metal
Folk metal
Length = 54:09
69:38 (with bonus tracks)
Label = Nuclear Blast
Producer = Jari Mäenpää
Reviews =
* [http://soundofmetal.se/ Sound Of Metal] Rating-10|8.7 [http://soundofmetal.se/index.php?page=wintersunwintersunreview link]
* Allmusic Rating|3.5|5 [http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:2s77gj4r56in link]
* The Metal Observer Rating-10|8.5 [http://www.metal-observer.com/articles.php?lid=1&sid=1&id=7290 link]
* Metal Storm Rating-10|9.12 [http://www.metalstorm.ee/bands/album.php?album_id=3329 link]
Last album = —
This album = "Wintersun"
(2004)
Next album = "Time"
(TBA)

"Wintersun", released on September 13, 2004, is the first release and full-length studio album by heavy metal band Wintersun. According to Jari Mäenpää, the cover reflects the cold and spacey atmosphere of the music on the album. Also, the man lying in the snow represents death, while the light behind the trees represents birth, or healing. [http://www.getreadytorock.com/pure_metal/wintersun_interview.htm Get Ready to ROCK! Interview with Jari Maenpaa of metal rock band Wintersun ] ] It is also notable that the songs increase in length throughout the album, with each track progressively longer than the next. The Japanese edition of the album was released with the original three demo tracks. [http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=6775229&BAB=E Wintersun CD Japan ] ]

Track listing

# "Beyond the Dark Sun" – 2:38 (1998)
# "Winter Madness" – 5:08 (2002)
# "Sleeping Stars" – 5:41 (1995-2003)
# "Battle Against Time" – 7:03 (2002-2003)
# "Death and the Healing" – 7:13 (1996)
# "Starchild" – 7:54 (2000-2003)
# "Beautiful Death" – 8:16 (2003)
# "Sadness and Hate" – 10:16 (1996)
# "Winter Madness" (demo) [Japanese bonus track] − 6:00
# "Beyond the Dark Sun" (demo) [Japanese bonus track] − 2:43
# "Death and the Healing" (demo) [Japanese bonus track] − 6:46

Videography

A considerably short video was released for "Beyond the Dark Sun" running in at 2:43, compared to the song at 2:38 was directed by Maurice Swinkels in 2004. The video can be seen [http://www.metalfromfinland.com/Wintersun/videos#112 here] .

Trivia

* The songs on the album were written over a span of several years by Jari Mäenpää, starting in 1995 and ending in 2003. [http://wintermadness.net/wintersun_releases.htm Wintersun .: Official Homesite ] ]

* The song "Beautiful Death" is about Jari's experience with tuberculosis following his hospitalization. [* [http://www.metaleater.com/interviews-wintersun12292004.php http://www.metaleater.com/interviews-wintersun12292004.php] ]

* On Kristian Wåhlin's art for the album cover, The man fallen into the snow could represent "death", "despair" and the light between the trees could represent "home", "destination", "birth/healing". [ [http://www.getreadytorock.com/pure_metal/wintersun_interview.htm Get Ready to ROCK! Interview with Jari Maenpaa of metal rock band Wintersun ] ]

Credits

Band members

* Jari Mäenpää − vocals, guitar, bass, keyboards
* Kai Hahto − drums

Production

* Drums recorded at Tico Tico Studios in January, 2004 by Ahti Kortelainen.
* Everything else recorded at Sundi Coop Studios in April by Tuomo Valtonen.
* Mixed at Sonic Pump Studios in May by Nino Laurenne.
* Mastered at Finnvox Studios in May by Mika Jussila.
* All music and lyrics written and composed by Jari Mäenpää.

Other

* Cover art by Kristian Wåhlin.

References