Will we ever get Time II (or any new music at this point) from Wintersun? It certainly doesn't feel like it.
In a new update on their Facebook page, Wintersun frontman Jari Mäenpää has once again promised that there are many new albums in the works and that everyone just needs to be patient. Mäenpää said he's still experimenting with different styles and doesn't want to put out anything sub-par, which is a good mentality to have… to a point, until it becomes a hinderance.
"Guys, I am working on an album, several in fact, like I've updated you many times and will keep updating. One of these albums is coming along nicely and it's a strong possibility it's going to be the next one.
"This album is way bigger production than The Forest Seasons and it presents whole new challenges for me vocally, guitar playing and production wise. Even song writing wise, 'cause as you know I like learn and explore different composition styles and not write the same stuff over and over again, which would be easy. So I have to (and want to) constantly evolve and get better in every way. Development and learning new skills takes time.
"Many of these new challenges I've already conquered and I'm very happy with the results, some challenges still are ahead, but we are close to victory. And as Wintersun fans you guys already know that I am not going to release anything until I'm completely happy with it. And I'm guessing you wouldn't want me to do that either, to release something unfinished. So just relax and enjoy the ride, I have a plan!"
Long delays and promises of new material seems to be the name of the game with Wintersun. The band originally promised Time I in November 2006 and ultimately released the record in October 2012. Then Wintersun released a new album called The Forest Seasons in 2017 and raised half a million dollars to build a studio dubbed Wintersun Headquarters to finally create Time II (which by the way, was being mixed in 2013 and was supposedly 90% done in October 2022), which remains unreleased. There was also an unidentified album that was mostly written in March 2021. You get the idea. Oh, and guitarist Asim Searah quit the band last year.
I guess what I'm saying is this – there are only so many years Wintersun can promise "big things coming soon" before nobody believes it. And judging by the comments sections on the Wintersun Facebook page, I'd say most people don't. Or as one person put it, "Awesome! Just 16 years to go! Progress is moving forward!"
Anyway, new Wintersun please. Wintersun and Time I are classics and deep down, we all know Mäenpää can produce another symphonic masterpiece.
