Wintersun – Time II
Release Date: 30th August 2024
Label: Nuclear Blast Records
Order
Genre: Melodic Death Metal, Power Metal.
FFO: Children of Bodom, Kalmah, Norther, Ensiferum.
Review By: Ceta
I wasn’t sure what to expect from Time II. Wintersun is a band with many ups and downs. This band always brings a lot of anticipation, though I wasn’t the biggest fan of their last album. I was willing to give them the benefit of the doubt. It’s almost become a meme in our community how long and how many things must align to get a Wintersun album out. Not many bands have blended power and melodic death metal the way Wintersun has historically done. It’s time to see if Time II is a return to form, or if we’re going to have to wait another seven years or more for an album.
The use of Japanese folk music is a great addition to a formula that had already run its course. This is probably my favorite part of Time II: how the power, folk, and melodic death metal elements blend seamlessly. It’s not forced or gimmicky. It really shows that there’s a narrative behind these long and complicated tracks, which in this case suits my taste. I love albums that tell a story, and this is one of those. A lot of things are constantly changing and moving in the album. It does everything it can to stay active and never falls into dull territory, despite how bloated it might feel at times.
Perhaps my biggest issue with Time II is its pacing. The tracks demand a lot of your attention, and despite not having extremely heavy or dissonant elements, they do run rather long. Sure, it’s not Icelandic black metal, but it has that ambition and scope. That might be a bit too much for the patience of some listeners, but if you love your long epics, then this album is made for you.
Ultimately, Time II is a sort of return to form. The band shows that despite the long time away, it’s been working hard and putting in tons of detail to craft something that, even though it’s for a niche within our small community, still manages to capture that Children of Bodom mixed with Rhapsody of Fire feeling. It’s a journey that demands patience, and you might not like it on the first spin or two, but that doesn’t mean you should just give up. Time II is one of those works that requires some time to sink in. So, hopefully, you’re the patient type.
(4 / 5)
