The Forest Seasons
Wintersun · 2017
124 min · 10 tracks · power metal
A sweeping, atmospheric journey blending melodic death metal with symphonic elements, encapsulating the essence of nature's cycles.
Top tracks — play these first
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Awaken From the Dark Slumber (Spring): Part I The Dark Slumber / Part II The Awakening — This track opens the album with an epic narrative arc that symbolizes rebirth and renewal, illustrating Wintersun’s signature combination of heavy riffs and lush orchestration.
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The Forest That Weeps (Summer) — It captures the essence of summer through its dynamic shifts and emotive melodies, offering a vivid portrayal of life’s vibrancy contrasted with darker undertones.
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Eternal Darkness (Autumn): Part I Haunting Darkness / Part II The Call of the Dark Dream / Part III Beyond the Infinite Universe / Part IV Death — This multi-part epic encapsulates the thematic depth of the album, exploring existential themes through complex instrumentation and haunting vocal deliveries.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album showcases intricate compositions and strong production, though its bonus tracks disrupt cohesion.
What we noticed
- The album is structured around four main tracks, each representing a season, with extensive orchestral arrangements that enhance the thematic elements.
- Each seasonal track features multiple distinct sections, often shifting from melodic passages to heavier, more aggressive segments.
- Composition 25% of the score
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8/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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9/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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7/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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8/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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5/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- immersive storytelling through nature
- steady pacing for deep reflection
- thematic exploration of seasons
- acoustic versions for intimate moments
- detailed headphone listening experience
Maybe skip if you
- seeking quick, catchy tracks
- prefer upbeat and fast tempos
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released on January 1, 2017, The Forest Seasons is Wintersun's third studio album and their first since Time I in 2012. This album marks a significant evolution in their sound, incorporating extensive orchestral arrangements and thematic storytelling centered around the four seasons, showcasing the band's ambition to blend extreme metal with symphonic music.
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
Disc 1
- 1 Awaken From the Dark Slumber (Spring): Part I The Dark Slumber / Part II The Awakening 14:40
- 2 The Forest That Weeps (Summer) 12:18
- 3 Eternal Darkness (Autumn): Part I Haunting Darkness / Part II The Call of the Dark Dream / Part III Beyond the Infinite Universe / Part IV Death 14:08
- 4 Loneliness (Winter) 12:54
- 5 Loneliness (Winter) (acoustic version) 8:02
Disc 2
- 1 Awaken From the Dark Slumber (Spring): Part I The Dark Slumber / Part II The Awakening (instrumental version) 14:41
- 2 The Forest That Weeps (Summer) (instrumental version) 12:18
- 3 Eternal Darkness (Autumn): Part I Haunting Darkness / Part II The Call of the Dark Dream / Part III Beyond the Infinite Universe / Part IV Death (instrumental version) 14:08
- 4 Loneliness (Winter) (instrumental version) 12:54
- 5 Loneliness (Winter) (instrumental, acoustic version) 8:02
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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