Time II
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Time II
| type = studio
| artist = Wintersun
| cover = Time II - Wintersun.jpg
| alt =
| released = {{start date|2024|8|30|df=y}}
| recorded = 2006–2023
| studio =
| genre = Melodic death metal, symphonic metal, power metal
| length = 48:37
| label = Nuclear Blast
| producer =
| prev_title = The Forest Seasons
| prev_year = 2017
| next_title =
| next_year =
}}
Time II is the fourth studio album by Finnish melodic death metal band Wintersun. After numerous delays and being in development hell for 18 years, it was released on 30 August 2024 via Nuclear Blast and marked their first studio release in seven years, following The Forest Seasons in 2017.
The album reached first position on the Official Finnish Charts following its release.{{cite web|url=https://ifpi.fi/lista/albumit/2024/36/|title=Albumit 36/2024|publisher=Musiikkituottajat|language=fi|access-date=7 September 2024}}
Background
Time I and Time II were initially planned to be one full album tentatively titled Time. As of the commencement of recording in May 2006, frontman Jari Mäenpää stated that the album length would run over 65 minutes, and that it would be a concept album.{{cite web|url=http://www.wintermadness.net/ |author=Jari Mäenpää |title=News update |date=2007-04-17 |accessdate=2007-06-02 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20101126102617/http://www.wintermadness.net/ |archivedate=November 26, 2010 }} Furthermore, according to Mäenpää, the album's sound was to be highly intricate. Each song was said to contain about 200 tracks.
On February 27, 2009, Mäenpää announced through Wintersun's official website that the band would cancel all their live appearances, including Bloodstock Open Air and Summer Breeze, in order to make way for the slow progress of the album.{{cite web |url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/BLABBERMOUTH.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=115286 |title=Wintersun Pulls Out Of Summer Breeze, Bloodstock Open Air Festivals |date=February 28, 2009 |publisher=Roadrunner Records |accessdate=2010-02-01 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090309040259/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=115286 |archivedate=March 9, 2009 }} On April 26, 2010, Mäenpää announced on the Wintersun message board that "Land of Snow and Sorrow" was completely finished and that the tracks "Storm" and "Silver Leaves" would be done soon.{{cite web|url=http://wintermadness.net/messageboard/viewtopic.php?t=627&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=1080 |title=WINTERSUN :: View topic - Time album is progressing-Album update 24.sept.2008 |publisher=Wintermadness.net |date= |accessdate=2011-08-13}} On November 17, 2010, the band members announced on Wintersun's official website that the album was close to being completed for the most part and that the synths and orchestrations might be finished around December 2010/January 2011. Jari intended to start mixing the album afterwards.[http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=149688 Wintersun Mainman Issues New Album Update] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101126233019/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=149688 |date=2010-11-26 }} blabbermouth.net. 2010-11-19. Retrieved on 2010-11-24. On December 25, 2010, Jari stated on the Winter Madness message board that "Silver Leaves" was finished except for some orchestrations. On December 26, 2010, Jari stated that three songs are finished and ready for mixing, and that four songs have "bits and pieces" missing, including vocals.[http://www.wintermadness.net/messageboard/viewtopic.php?t=917&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0 Happy birthday Jari!] wintermadness.net. December 2010. Retrieved on 2010-12-28. On March 19, 2011, Jari announced via the Winter Madness message board that mixing had been put on hold until late summer at the earliest due to various complications, ranging from a lack of 64-bit DAW plugins to noisy nearby construction.[http://www.wintermadness.net/messageboard/viewtopic.php?p=21686&highlight=#21686 Mixing.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928095759/http://www.wintermadness.net/messageboard/viewtopic.php?p=21686&highlight=#21686 |date=2011-09-28 }} wintermadness.net. 2011-03-19. Retrieved on 2011-05-30. Time was eventually announced to be split into two halves and released separately, with the titles of Time I and Time II. Time I was released in October 19, 2012 in Europe and October 22, 2012 in North America.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OoAUK5KOwRs |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211214/OoAUK5KOwRs |archive-date=2021-12-14 |url-status=live|title=WINTERSUN - TIME I - Studio Trailer (PART 1) (OFFICIAL BEHIND THE SCENES)|last=Nuclear Blast Records|date=4 July 2012 |publisher=|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}{{cite web|url=https://www.nuclearblast.de/en/label/music/band/news/details/1092720.71013.wintersun-first-studio-trailer-posted-online.html|title=WINTERSUN: First Studio Trailer Posted Online|date=4 July 2012|website=Nuclear Blast}}
Production of Time II was then marred with years-long delays for a multitude of reasons, until 12 January 2024, when Wintersun announced on its social media that Time II is "100%" complete.{{cite web |date=12 January 2024 |title=Wintersun announce major news: "Time II" is finally finished! |url=https://chaoszine.net/wintersun-announce-major-news-time-ii-is-finally-finished |website=Chaoszine.net |language=en}} Three days later, on 15 January 2024, the band announced that "the album release will happen in the late summer of 2024, the latest early fall" and a second crowdfunding campaign was also announced.{{cite web |date=15 January 2024 |title=WINTERSUN To Launch Another Crowdfunding Campaign In March |url=https://metaladdicts.com/wintersun-to-launch-another-crowdfunding-campaign-in-march |website=metaladdicts.com |language=en}} On 9 February, the band revealed the track list and cover art for Time II.{{cite web|url=https://metalkaoz.com/metal-news/30204-wintersun-reveal-time-ii-album-cover-artwork-tracklist|title=WINTERSUN Reveal "Time II" Album Cover Artwork, Tracklist|website=Metal Kaoz|access-date=February 13, 2024|date=February 9, 2024}} On 26 February, the band announced Time II would be released on 30 August.{{cite web|url=https://kaaoszine.fi/wintersun-julkaisee-time-ii-albuminsa-elokuussa/|title=Wintersun julkaisee "Time II" -albuminsa elokuussa|publisher=Kaaoszine|access-date=February 26, 2024|date=February 26, 2024|language=Finnish}}
Track listing
{{Track listing
| headline = Time II track listing
| extra_column =
| total_length = 48:37
| all_writing = Jari Mäenpää.
| title1 = Fields of Snow
| extra1 =
| length1 = 4:05
| title2 = The Way of the Fire
| extra2 =
| length2 = 10:08
| title3 = One with the Shadows
| extra3 =
| length3 = 6:18
| title4 = Ominous Clouds
| extra4 =
| length4 = 2:21
| title5 = Storm
| extra5 =
| length5 = 12:15
| title6 = Silver Leaves
| extra6 =
| length6 = 13:30
}}
Personnel
- Jari Mäenpää − vocals, guitar, computer, keyboard programming
- Teemu Mäntysaari − guitar
- Jukka Koskinen − bass
- Kai Hahto − drums
Charts
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ Chart performance for Time II ! scope="col"| Chart (2024) ! scope="col"| Peak |
| {{album chart|Austria|9|artist=Wintersun|album=Time II|rowheader=true|access-date=12 September 2024}} |
| {{album chart|Finland|1|artist=Wintersun|album=Time II|rowheader=true|access-date=12 September 2024}} |
| {{album chart|Germany4|11|id=539896|artist=Wintersun|album=Time II|rowheader=true|access-date=12 September 2024}} |
| {{album chart|Switzerland|8|artist=Wintersun|album=Time II|rowheader=true|access-date=12 September 2024}} |
| {{album chart|Scotland|51|artist=Wintersun|album=Time II|rowheader=true|access-date=13 September 2024}} |
References
{{reflist}}
{{Wintersun}}
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