Release Date: August
3, 2015
Label: Maple Metal Records
Hailing
from the northern land of Finland, Crimson Sun is a modern melodic metal band
that deserves some serious attention. Formed in 2001 in the city of Kotka, the
band consists of Sini Seppälä (vocals), Miikka Hujanen (keyboards), Antti Rantavuo (drums), Jukka
Jauhiainen (bass), and Joni Junnila (guitars). Towards the Light is their debut album and it is a marvelous
achievement that is something to behold. If you are into the harmonious and yet
crushing sounds of melodic metal, then Crimson Sun is the band for you. With
ten songs clocking in at just over forty minutes, Towards the Light is a relentlessly rocking ride from beginning to
end.
Towards the Light gets off to a killer
start with the pulse-pounding “The Storm.” It is a deliciously good song with a
smooth, hard, and crushing sound. The vocals are powerful, enticing, and
all-together top notch. And the catchy chorus is quintessential melodic metal. This
is the type of song that makes one fall in love with a band. Next up is “Eye of
the Beholder” and it features more melodic goodness. It does not have quite as
much pop as the opener, but it still works wonders with its darker tone. Once
again, the vocals are hypnotically good, and the music gets nice and heavy near
the end.
“Awaken”
ups the ante with its spirited and vibrant atmosphere that never slows down. It
is sweeping and grand, and has an epic quality to it that I am thinking it
would fit nicely in a fantasy film. The song is so infectious that you can just
sit back and let the music take you away to a distant land of your dreams. “Towards
the Light” is a solid song, but it does not jump out at you the way a title
track should, and is overshadowed by the album’s more dynamic songs. “The
Herald” spices things up with its dark and heavy opening that leads seamlessly
into the vibrant melodic metal that has so dominated the album. And, of course,
the vocals are stunning again.
“Enter
the Silence” is the kind of song that is hard to not listen to. It is simple
captivating with its haunting atmosphere and enthralling chorus. The vocals are
nothing short of fantastic. It is a contender with “The Storm” for best song on
the album. This is melodic metal at its finest, and it is the type of moment on
an album that has me thinking about what this band is going to do in the
future. “The Spark” is a light and an uplifting song, as light melodic metal
can be. It is one of those times when the keyboards really make the song, it’s
not melodic metal with the keyboards, and they work quite well with the guitars
during the instrumental solo. “Memories Burning” takes the tempo down a notch
for peak emotional impact. It is a fantastic and moving song that leaves a
lasting impression as the music fades away.
Crimson
Sun’s Toward the Light is more than a
solid debut. It has all the makings of the first step in a marvelous
discography. I would not say that this album is a game changer that is going to
turn the genre on its head, but it is still a gorgeous listen. From start to
finish, it is a delight. If you are into melodic metal, then this is a must
have.
4.5/5 Stars
Key
Tracks: The Storm, Enter the Silence, The Spark
Tracks:
01. The Storm
02. Eye of the Beholder
03. Awaken
04. Towards the Light
05. The Herald
06. Portrait of a Ghost
07. Enter the Silence
08. The Spark
09. Clockwork Heart
10. Memories Burning
Tracks:
01. The Storm
02. Eye of the Beholder
03. Awaken
04. Towards the Light
05. The Herald
06. Portrait of a Ghost
07. Enter the Silence
08. The Spark
09. Clockwork Heart
10. Memories Burning
Brian McKinnon - Write A Music Review Sr. Staff
January 17, 2016
Review
Provided By Write A Music Review