The debut album by Wintersun is some kind of missing link between the very best in slick black metal (think Immortal and Old Man’s Child), Children of Bodom and Euro power metal. The album would fit in so well in the collections of any of the enthusiasts of the previous bands, and yet Wintersun is not a watered-down copycat.

Sure, you’ll get loads of speedy, classical melodies, Viking vocals, raspy screams, rough singing, exquisite noodly solos, Christmas keyboards, impossible drum barrages and heartfelt nods to the ancient folk of Scandinavia, stuff that seems comfortably familiar, but yet it’s done with unforgettable style and flair. Less rock than Children of Bodom, more complete and satisfying than Old Man’s Child’s In Defiance of Existence, and nearly as stark and proud as Windir, true, but Wintersun’s greatest aspect isn’t necessarily its initial triumph, but how much exponentially better it gets with each successive listen. Could an immensely talented singer have made this *the* melodic metal album of the year? It’s debatable... (9.4/10)