Winds whispered of new current in Finnish melodic death metal scene. What was buzzed about was "Japanese folk music influences"... What?! Finnish melodic death metal with Japanese folk music traits? No way! Why would Finns do that, as they love to mix their metal and their own folk music?! Then again, why not? All hail brave Whispered, who did the unexpected.

Melodic Finnish death metal was launched to stars by Children Of Bodom. While Whispered do owe a lot to COB, they managed to create quite a different kind of a beast, thanks to those Japanese music influences. The melodies are simply epic, the riffs are vivid and fast fretboard runs or slower powerfully accented, plus some acoustic guitars. The band can slow down into beautiful atmospheric passages, that feel airy and cool like freshly fallen snow (take heed, Insomnium fans!). The Japanese instruments are synthesized, but I really cannot tell the differences between them and the real ones, as I am not a seasoned Japanese music listener. Also typical synthesizer instrumentation is heard, as well as well-known guitar/synth solo dueling; maybe little unnecessary, to tell the truth. Different instruments, rock or folk ones, often have their own time in spotlight. It seamlessly weaves modern melodic death metal and old Japanese folk music together.

There are only three songs, but still they clock over 18 minutes in whole. Opener 'Of Honor' is a progressive song covering a lot of ground, while the longest piece 'Dead Cold Inside' repeats the same melody a lot, but in various forms. The title track is like an epic Samurai movie in sonic form. These three songs easily manage to transport a listener to Feudal Japan, opening magnificent sonic vistas to everyone who are willing to hop on this journey. It can be aggressive Katana-wielding Samurai after your life or scenery filled with exotic-smelling cherry blossom trees, and there are multiple levels to discover. It all is clad in vivid and powerful production, that rivals label-released albums.

The debut album's ('Thousand Swords' that came out in 2010) vocals are the worst thing about it, as they sound like Samurai in crapula trying to growl, but ending up just snarling. Here, the vocals are far better, offering some blood-curdling growls, but not sounding like being choking on blood. The bass guitar deserves a mention: This clanking, distorted and pounding metalic beast sounds awesome!

Wintersun have followed Whispered's little-trodden path, utilizing Japanese melodiousness in few of their songs, but I cannot think many others (I might be missing some, I presume), if not counting Japanese bands like Gyze/Ryujin. 'Wrath of Heaven' was the sophomore and the last demo release from the band. One of the best demos I have ever heard, and I cannot fathom the amount of detailed work this required.

2016 album 'Metsutan - Songs of the Void', their third, is the last thing Whispered have put out. But last month we got long long-awaited news (first since 2022), and they were good: Mystic video with a message "returning to life"! Samurais are rising...

Reviewed by Lane
06/17/2025 17:12