Twilight Force’s newest album At the Heart of Wintervale (Nuclear Blast) is an epic romp through magical mystical lands. Everything about the album screams innocence and adventure. It is clear that these gentlemen, and by extension their fans, love what they do. At the Heart of Wintervale is an immersive listening experience. It’s full of sweeping vistas and swirling colours. You feel the album and see it in your mind, just as easily as listening to the music and lyrics. The album adds two tracks at the end that are orchestral versions of ‘Skyknights of Aldaria’ and ‘The Last Crystal Bearer’, totes worth it! They are amazing and worthy of being on an adventure movie soundtrack. 

At the Heart of Wintervale starts strong out of the gate with a blitzkrieg of frenetic-paced composing. The first song, ‘Twilight Force’ is a stock fast-paced operatic Euro power metal tome. It’s outdoorsy and uplifting. There are … chimes? throughout the song that mimics snow crystals in the air. The tinkling light blue snow crystals continue in the second track, ‘At the Heart of Wintervale’, which reminds me of Christmas songs. The song is still fast-paced but in a fun, snow-sledding type of way. ‘Highlands of the Elder Dragon’ starts out like it should be a Hallmark movie. It’s whimsical and innocent and about dragons! Once the fluffiness abates, about ninety seconds in, it becomes a sweeping intro theme song to a cartoon that has not been made yet, but totally should be.  If some enterprising animators turned ‘Highlands of the Elder Dragon’ into a cartoon series, I’d watch the hell out of it! Another way cool song is ‘The Last Crystal Bearer’. ZOMG it’s like the beginning of a Tim Burton movie. It’s that dark and epic and screams fun. 

Twilight Force does things with a piano not found in metal music. It’s beautiful. The added symphony sections in the songs elevate them to something otherworldly. Every song on At the Heart of Wintervale is uplifting and empowering. The songs make you feel like a kid again, a kid that slays dragons and goes on wicked adventures in the most awesome places with castles and quests and lots and lots of snow. It’s hard not to get excited when listening to Twilight Force’s At the Heart of Wintervale. At the Heart of Wintervale is an imaginative album full of whimsy and magic. It’s just what is needed to start the year off right. 

Buy the album here:

https://twilightforceofficial.bandcamp.com/album/at-the-heart-of-wintervale

7 / 10

VICTORIA ANDERSON