The band Nordic Twilight has been around since 2023. It's another band featuring the multi-musician Ville Koskinen, best known for his work with bands like Satan's Fall, Psychework, and Everlore, among others. He is also a member of the often-forgotten band Trauma Field, a melodic doom/death metal band that deserves more attention. Nordic Twilight is a symphonic power metal band hailing from Finland. I would describe their music as a mix between Nightwish, Magic Kingdom, and occasionally , though not enough, Pagan's Mind . I'll return to that later; Nordic Twilight is the first full- length album from this band, and we get the chance to hear how Minna Tuusa and her voice handle the challenges presented in this full- length . The opening track "Nordic Twilight" is a powerful one, showcasing the range of Minna Tuusa's voice. Her classically trained voice (soprano) adds a lot of atmosphere to this majestic track. Konsta Vehkala, a session musician on drums, contributes great work that adds something extra here. A huge reason for the pure power found in this track is the presence of some blast beats. It's very easy to miss that due to Minna's mighty voice, and with all that going on in the music from Ville.

Konsta Vehkala is a fresh injection into a genre that, in my opinion, has become a bit boring. I won't go track by track ; for example, "Edge of Frozen Hearts" is something we heard before, and when a band does traditional symphonic power metal featuring a genius like Ville Koskinen, why not explore a bit more progressive or do something new-something that makes you active as a listener? "Ice Castle" comes as a relief; this band shines when they perform faster music. They have a drummer with the right feel for power metal, and Ville Koskinen can truly create an atmosphere. Once again, Minna Tuusa's voice is dramatic. Just like in "Nordic Twilight , " the rhythm changes connect well, building the songs and helping them stand out. As a listener, you become engaged and really hear the music. "The Night When Winter Came" is another mighty track, but to be honest, I would love to hear a bit more from Ville Koskinen's guitar work; this guy can play, and I would really like some guitar solos.

"The Night When Winter Came" with some neo-classical solos would have been great. I have the feeling that Nordic Twilight doesn't really know the direction of their music yet; it feels like they are holding back. Well, not the drummer- he plays really well and gives me a raw power speed metal feel reminiscent of Helloween when they had Kai Hansen as a singer back in the '80s. "Tears from the Darkness" must be mentioned; as a ballad, I'm not a huge fan, but "Tears from the Darkness" is one of the most beautiful ballads I've ever heard. It's somewhat enigmatic that this amazing track isn't bigger. Describing this masterpiece in words doesn't work; it conveys so much emotion and atmosphere. I dare say it's perfection. "Winds of Your Fate" is another great song, and using the guitar as an intro is genius because it gives a more pure metal vibe. "Winds of Your Fate" is a more advanced track with rhythm changes, and if Ville Koskinen took more space with the guitar, it would become a progressive power metal track. They are, like Sonata Arctica, so close to that progressive realm. "Don't Kill Their Dreams" features a heavily Yngwie Malmsteen-influenced intro. Yes , Ville Koskinen is an excellent neo- classical guitar player and has covers on YouTube where he performs Yngwie Malmsteen cover . This is the longest track on the album at 5:45 minutes and one of my favorite tracks because it 's the most unique on the album and perhaps the most advanced. The time signature on the drums has a lot to offer, and it adds substantially to the track. When you listen to it, you'll probably think of progressive power metal; the song builds and ends as one.

Nordic Twilight has a lot of potential but needs more pure music sections without vocals . Don't get me wrong; Minna Tuusa's voice is just awesome, but she sings a lot-way too much. It feels more like a solo project than a band. In my opinion, they should incorporate more guitar solos, experiment more, and consider bringing in a growler? To create more nuances; they should dare to do more. Overall, it's a pretty good debut album, but Nordic Twilight needs to evolve further . As for the singing, you don't hear how good Minna Tuusa's vocal skills are because when the voice is present all the time, your brain shifts focus. That is sad; if you listen to the whole album at once, a track like "Don't Kill Their Dreams" may not grab your attention. But this band has so much potential , and I really believe in them.