ASPHYXIUM ZINE

Tuesday, December 19, 2023

Full Length Review: Twilight Force "At the Heart of Wintervale" (Nuclear Blast) by Devin J. Meaney

Country: Sweden
Genre: Symphonic power metal
Full length: At the Heart of Wintervale
Format: CD
Label: Nuclear Blast
Release date: January 20, 2023
While listening to a dance music stream on Youtube, my buddy Seagull messaged. After a brief conversation about music and other things he sent me a link to an album. The album I am speaking of is “At the Heart of Wintervale” by Twilight Force! I didn’t know what to think when clicking the link, but after a quick audio inspection I realized that this was something golden!
Twilight Force is epic power metal, that I am sure of. I don’t know as much about power metal as I do about other sub-genres of metal, but I do enjoy it. Different power bands present very different vibes, as is true with all musical genres and artists. This release happens to have a vibe that is up-beat, “happy” and genuinely uplifting!
The musicianship is excellent, with intricately played guitars paired with powerful and booming drum work, elegantly crafted vocals and lyrics and other instruments played to peak ability. Again, power metal is not my usual “breed” of metal, but for tonight the aura present on this amazing album was spectacular—and it carried my mood to a level of peace and mental clarity I haven’t felt in quite some time!
For fans of bands like DragonForce, Hammerfall and Stratovarius (and other acts similar), I’d suggest this for an evening when you want your brain’s wanderings to be brought to mental scenes of epic battles, adventure and good-spirited wholesome heaviness!
I usually strive for the darker, murkier stuff—at least when it comes to metal. But sometimes, it seems, sunlight can break through to me as well! -Devin J. Meaney

Lineup:
Allyon: Vocals
Lynd: Guitar, lute
Aerendir: Rhythm guitar
Born: Bass
Blackwald: Piano, keyboards, harpsichord, violin
De'Azsh: Drums

Track list:
1. Twilight Force
2. At the Heart of Wintervale
3. Dragonborn
4. Highlands of the Elder Dragon
5. Skyknights of Aldaria
6. A Familiar Memory
7. Sunlight Knight
8. The Last Crystal Bearer

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