Often specific countries already set ears attuned to delightful anticipation mode due to the rich fertile landscape already available in other artists across the metal genre. Place Finland front and center in that category – which is the homeland of melodic metal act Crimson Sun. Together in other namesake forms since 2001, this five-piece came together under their current moniker in 2006, releasing three demos prior to 2013’s The Border EP. Two other full-lengths bookend another EP between 2015-2020, before the band slowed things down to a singles-driven schedule for the pandemic. Now the critical third album Sorrowbreaker showcases the band in focused form, keeping these ten tracks barebones on key elements, heightening the catchy nature to the songwriting that should prove entertaining for most consumers.
Bright, triumphant keyboard lines from Miikka Hujanen next to driving guitars courtesy of Joni Junnila set “The Mark Stays On” into immediate hair windmill delightfulness – all the musicians coming together in mid-tempo passages with subtle harmony aspects for extra appeal. The subsequent tracks traverse different avenues of modern melodic metal – be it more EDM/cyber-enhanced for “Strive”, pounding gothic / industrial-like measures with rhythmic glory on “Aluminum Crown”, or heavier, stunted metalcore-ish riffs next to alluring, calmer verses on the dynamic closer “Sylvan”. One minute you feel like you are hearing Amaranthe collide into Sabaton, the next Lacuna Coil plunging into Gojira, all the while possessing these bright ABBA-like multi-layered vocal harmonies in key choruses that just shimmer. The main vocals of Sini Seppälä possess star making abilities – she knows how to hold the right notes, double up key melodies, and also convey lower register emotions that mesmerize. Utilizing the sound expertise of Saku Moilanen (Before the Dawn, Red Moon Architect) and Jacob Hansen on the mixing / mastering side keeps the band’s sound on par with contemporaries in the modern melodic metal style.
In 34 minutes Sorrowbreaker achieves the intention Crimson Sun set about in bringing a focused set of material to a wide array of metal followers who want pop/EDM-aspects next to a solid set of power chords and melodies that jump through the speakers to command rapt attention. Already composing the fourth album while seeking out gigs to support this release, the future seems burning bright to not remain DIY for much longer based on this output.