Finland's Epic Metal masters WINTERSUN return with a four-track concept/theme album entitled "The Forest Seasons." Once again, Jari handled all of the compositions and performances on the album, with some supporting vocalists as well. One thing about this band is that their grandiose sound is always recognizable; something that fans have come to appreciate. Some fans have been critical of the record label mess that has delayed the release of "Time, Part Two," but I am not here to go into that today. Instead, I am here to talk about the new album "The Forest Seasons." The four songs represent the four seasons, and you can hear the music reflected in the images that can you conjure when thinking about what each season represents in terms of the weather, the landscape, beautiful patterns of nature, and feelings and emotions. Two tracks are over fourteen minutes, and the other two top the twelve-minute mark. Without further adieu, let's get to the album.

"Awaken from the Dark Slumber (Spring)" is the first song, divided into two movements: "The Dark Slumber" and "The Awakening." A delicate opening leads into the first charge. This Spring season begins with a renewed vigor. The instruments with an Eastern flair dance behind Jari's angry Death vocals, and a wonderful orchestration is present but does not overwhelm. "The slow demise has begun...will this be forever" is the lyric line that ends the first movement. An instrumental passage segues into the next. This is classic WINTERSUN. That spirited and free-flowing grandiosity, and the accents he puts on each stanza. Some Progressive elements rear up here in terms of the varying meter. Part Two speaks of the awakening, rising, and riding. "Ride, ride, ride with us again...fight, fight, and live as free men...die, die, and be born again." Galloping and hasty rhythms lead the song forward, with energy and a weighted bottom end. The charge is relentless, and the clean vocal chants join in the anthemic sound. Spring is a season of re-birth, and the frenzies sound of this track leaves no doubt how glorious it can be.

"The Forest that Weeps (Summer)" opens with some soft guitar notes that lead to a mid-tempo sound that is bit on the darker side. The bossy guitar riffs are really unlike anything the band has done before...very menacing and driven into you as they repeat. An instrumental break near the half-way mark presents an acoustic riff that will eventually lead to the same notes with heavy, electric guitars. With each passing bar, the meter changes and layers are added. This is some strong compositional accomplishment. The low brass that follows is really quite majestic. "Eternal Darkness (Autumn)" is divided into two four movements: "Haunting Darkness," "The Call of the Dark Dream," "Beyond the Infinite Universe" and "Death." As it opens, it sounds like a storm is brewing in the background. The pace has quickened and the Death vocals are at full angst here, especially when joined with Jukka Koskinen's ultra-low growls. The maddening drumming pulverizes everything. The third movement is noticeably more docile and sorrowful. "Wandering among the stars...searching...beyond the infinite universe...tearing down the structures...but I can only see darkness" he utters. In case you need a reminder of the lead guitar skills or Jari, he lays down an extended solo that leaves no notes behind. The final movement, "Death," is the harbinger of "I am eternal...I am death." Take heed of the dark omens.

"Loneliness (Winter)" has a long lead in, with key notes that sound like little flakes of snow falling from the sky, that softly hit the ground with the sound of a chime. This song is a straight up emotional mover. I like the choice of going with mostly clean vocals here, as it allows the feelings that flow through you to be felt with the most intensity possible. The vocal performance here is nothing short of outstanding. "Washed away from the morning sun...hear the howling call from the other side...and so much was left undone...the weight of the world quietly crushed the dying light...washed away by the frozen starts...feel the burning coldness of the falling snow...and one day when everything is gone...the trail in the snow disappears...am I finally home?" Beautifully poetic, and absolutely gut-wrenching at the same time, the chorus is repeated again, and it's almost too much to bear. Though dreadfully sorrowful, it's one of the prettiest and poignant songs that I have heard this year.

Some critics are taken aback by the complex and epic songwriting, and push off some of the music as pretentious and/or hardly accessible. For me, that is like not being able to recognize the sophisticated flavors of a fine wine, or appreciate the character of a fine piece of artwork. If you haven't had the pleasure of knowing WINTERSUN, it's very difficult to try to comprehend the scale of the compositions. They are far reaching and have so much depth, but are supple and tangible at the same time. The album is a wonderful story telling piece that we can all relate to. Pain and despair are emotions we have all felt, as well as the charge of feelings that come from an awakening, making you feel like you can accomplish anything. If you are familiar with the band, you can still eagerly wait for "Time, Part Two," but don't let "The Forest Seasons" pass you by. In a year so far with so many promising releases, it's absolutely one of the best.