Unshine – Dark Half Rising

Releasedate: 23-08-2013; Label: Massacre Records
By: Sabine van Gameren

Unshine is a Druid Metal band from Finland. The band was formed during 2001 at Helsinki, Finland and came with a debut album in 2005. Three years later a second followed but then it took them a bit longer to come with their third album called “Dark Half Rising” which is out now.

Unshine calls themselves Druid Metal band, which you could read as a combination of Folk, Gothic and Symphonic elements. A soft female voice is bringing in some comfortable minutes , but the danger is that you have heard it after a while. The band balances on the border but with the excitement of some guitar riffs they manage to end up on the right side each time and drag you back into the album. However, you can’t ignore the desire to hear a little more fire coming into it some when. Eventually you are granted that with the song “Ikuinen Taistelu” which is very powerful. Definitely a song that sticks out in this release.

Listeners should have their expectations right, this is not a release that brings very catchy and powerful Metal songs, it is kept smaller and gives the space for the beauty in the smaller things, like a little riff here and there, the calm vocals. When you can appreciate that, you will love this release.

Line Up:

Teemu Vähäkangas — Bass
Jukka Hantula — Drums
Jari Hautala — Guitars
Harri Hautala — Guitars, Keyboards
Susanna Vesilahti — Vocals

Tracklist: 01. Nadja’s Wailing About Coming of the Frost 02. The Oath to Wilderness of Unredeemed Nature 03. Arduinna 04. Spellbinder 05. Defender of His Faith 06. Their Horses Never Touch the Ground 07. Idyl 08. The Blood of Ardennes 09. Ikuinen Taistelu 10. Bone Fires 11. Ategenos (At the Death of Winter)

Links:
Unshine Facebook