Review Summary: The best Wintersun album released this year came from another band: Aether Realm.
Tarot is loosely a concept album based on the Tarot cards, each song carrying the name of a card. The first card dealt is "The Fool", who appears to be the protagonist of the journey across this album. Setting off through a thick mist of atmosphere, a light guitar strummed, synthesizers swelling. Then, a heavy riff starts our adventure and thirty seconds later blast beats erupt. Invoking the scene of a rider speeding off atop horse at full speed.
The tone is set for the rest of the album. Melodic Death Metal in the Scandinavian style. Highly reminiscent of bands such as Wintersun, Ensiferum, Amon Amarth etc. It's hard to avoid direct comparison with Wintersun, especially their debut. The vocals here sound identical at times. The music itself is similar too but has a slightly different edge. Tarot keeps the focus solidly on the melodic guitars, keeping the synthesizers in check. The pacing of the songs is also quite varied, not all songs aim to dazzle with speed. It's not afraid to change tempo mid-song or dive into a breakdown. The songs are dynamic and feel playful.
There are some flirtations with Power Metal as well. Such as in "The Tower". The way the guitar sounds and performs, it's just so catchy and melodic and bouncy. It makes the songs memorable and even adds a hint of pop sensibility. Speaking of the guitar, this album features some very inspired playing, including some thrilling solos. For me it's the main attraction on the album.
The song "King of Cups" has to be mentioned. As you might have guessed it's a drinking song. Generally the epitome of cheese and cringe. It even features a semi drunken group chant, borderline inexcusable but this song is just so damn good. The melody is so catchy and the guitar work is absolutely mind blowing. It flows incredibly well, it forces you to submit and whistle or even sing along, it's impossible to resist.
It's infectious because of how much fun the band is having with their music. This attitude just shines through, adding little quirks and surprising bits throughout. "The Devil" has a flamenco guitar interlude. "The Chariot" is basically an old school Children of Bodom song. I mean, come on. That's just awesome and it doesn't hurt that it's better than anything that band has produced in the last ten years. The songs are as varied as the playing cards they reference.
They're able to pull these kinds of shenanigans due to their skill and confidence. Outplaying melodeath mainstays with apparent ease and swagger. On top of that the production of the album is absolutely incredible. It's layered and textured, all the instruments shine. It sounds pristine, full, vibrant and playful.
As if the previous selection of excellent songs wasn't enough. The band decides to end things in style. Flexing every musical muscle available and producing a progressive, and frankly incredible nineteen-minute epic. With "The Sun, the Moon, the Star" the final three cards are flipped all at once. Summarizing the thoughts and feelings experienced at the end of this long journey. The song builds over the course of four movements. Featuring everything we've heard so far distilled into this one song. Acoustic guitar interludes, chants, blast beats, intense vocals, storytelling, blazing riffs and generally exceptional guitar playing. It is a joy to sit through these nineteen minutes and that's a real testament to the band's songwriting chops.
Ending an album with such a tour de force, it's exciting what Aether Realm have in store for us in the future. As it stands, Tarot is an album I expect to stand the test of time. Named in the same breath as the Wintersun debut, perhaps as the better album (heresy!).
