Album Review: Amberian Dawn – Temptation’s Gates (Napalm Records)

Finnish symphonic metallers Amberian Dawn will release their new album, Temptation’s Gates, on June 26th via Napalm Records.

Founded in 2007 by guitarist, keyboardist, and chief songwriter Tuomas Seppälä, Amberian Dawn have spent the better part of two decades building a reputation as one of Finland’s most enduring symphonic metal acts. Emerging from the ashes of Virtuocity, the band quickly found an audience with their blend of cinematic keyboards, melodic metal riffs, and powerful vocals. Across ten studio albums, they have toured extensively throughout Europe and beyond, sharing stages with the likes of Epica, Lacuna Coil, Delain, Xandria, and Tristania, while continually evolving their sound without losing sight of the symphonic foundations at its core.

Following the release of their ABBA-inspired metal tribute album, Take A Chance – A Metal Tribute To ABBA, in 2022, Amberian Dawn now embark on another new chapter. Temptation’s Gates introduces vocalist Nicole Willerton as the band’s latest frontwoman and sees the Finnish quintet exploring fresh ideas and new dynamics under the continued guidance of Seppälä. Described as a record that pushes the band’s sound into more modern territory while retaining the melodic hooks and symphonic flair that fans expect, Temptation’s Gates represents the next step in Amberian Dawn’s ongoing evolution.

Amberian Dawn are Tuomas Seppälä on keyboards and guitar, Nicole Willerton on vocals, Emil Pohjalainen on guitar, Joonas Pykälä-aho on drums and Jukka Hoffren on bass.

Amberian Dawn deliver ten new tracks on Temptation’s Gates, kicking things off with the title track. At under three minutes long, I assumed it would be an intro, but it isn’t. Instead, it’s a fast and exhilarating track packed with rampant drums, energetic riffs, and epic keyboards. The singing is great too, clean and powerful, building through heavier verses towards grandiose choruses. It leans heavily into the symphonic side of the band’s sound, though a neat guitar solo helps balance things nicely. It’s a strong start and one that continues into The Vision of Dreaming.

The intro guitar on The Vision of Dreaming is mesmerising and sticks long in the memory. The verses lean heavily on the symphonic keys before building into another grandiose chorus. There is a Nightwish vibe at times, but that just comes with the genre. Generally though, it’s a really nice song with strong vocals, a good tempo, catchy melodies, and engaging storytelling. The riffs are solid too, while moments of added attitude in the vocals give the song extra depth and power.

Moon shows Amberian Dawn have a few different tricks up their sleeve as they ramp up the intensity with drums that hit blast beat levels and some powerful riffs. The heavier music is backed nicely by the keyboards and an almost folk-like charm to the vocal structure. The heavy rhythm section balances really well with the vocals and keys, creating plenty of feeling in a very well-written song. A heavy breakdown shows off the bass, riffs, and drums before mixing with electronic beats. Then a keyboard solo adds a touch of mystery and magic before the guitar takes over, leading us to an epic ending that also brings screams and roars into the mix for the first time.

Unchained ramps things up further, bringing what at first seems like a standard symphonic metal song with nice melodies, gorgeous vocals, and decent riffs before really surprising with a growled chorus. The vocals are strong throughout and it shows Nicole Willerton has a lot more to offer than just angelic vocals. There is a little bit of devil in there too. The contrast between the vocal styles adds a lot to the song and I really like the symphonic backing during the darker choruses.

Eternal Flame is a really pretty song with a wonderful chorus. It’s epic, catchy, and impressively sung, while the drums and riffs pound away underneath and the guitars weave memorable melodies. The keyboards and backing layers add even more depth to a song that really delivers. It’s the strongest chorus on the album so far and a song I’ll be returning to again and again.

Life Is Art keeps the epic hymn vibe of Eternal Flame going with another well-written song. Operatic vocals weave through the verses while the drums and riffs combine nicely with layers of keys. The chorus sees the drums really go hell for leather while the vocals stay mystical and magical. The keyboard/effect bridge into the second verse isn’t my favourite thing on the album, but the chorus is right up there. It’s soothing to listen to. There is a keyboard solo instead of a traditional guitar solo, which is a nice change, even though I was personally hoping a guitar was going to take over. Strong stuff from Amberian Dawn though.

This Night Is Waiting For Me has a really cool intro guitar and balances dark and light very nicely. The verses are light, clean, and polished, but the chorus has more edge. Angst in the vocals and fiery riffs and drums drop a touch of darker atmosphere over things. The solo I yearned for in the previous track comes here and it’s awesome, moving through different phases and really grabbing the attention.

Undying Colours gets very ethereal and dreamy with an echoing keyboard intro and silky vocals. It’s more on the ballad side of things, building nicely through the verses to a chorus that ramps things up and oozes grandiosity. The vocals are very impressive throughout and it really is a beautiful song.

The Garden is the penultimate track on Temptation’s Gates and I’m instantly drawn in by the wonderful guitars in the intro. Some of the atmospheric layering really helps accent parts of the song and the chorus is decent, once again. The big win for me here is the solo though, which helps elevate the track further.

We reach the end with Phantasmagoria. It’s pretty typical of this genre to save a big, anthemic eight-minute epic to close an album, so it’s nice to see Amberian Dawn bucking that trend. Instead, they deliver an upbeat track that makes you want to move your feet. I really like the pace and flow, with the riffs coming in part way through the verses to lead us into a cool pre-chorus and from there into a really good chorus. The beats are strong, there are plenty of bass lines and riffs, the keyboards add depth and layers, and of course the vocals are very impressive, as they have been throughout the album. A nice little bass solo leads us into a full guitar solo that blazes away until a final chorus sees us through to the close.

Temptation’s Gates isn’t an album that’s looking to reinvent symphonic metal, but it doesn’t need to. Amberian Dawn know exactly what they do well and deliver it with confidence across ten polished and enjoyable tracks. The song writing is strong, the melodies are memorable, and Nicole Willerton makes an immediate impact with an excellent vocal performance that combines elegance, power, and even a few heavier surprises. Add in some well-judged moments of increased intensity, plenty of catchy choruses, and the high production standards that fans of the genre will expect, and you have an album that is easy to enjoy from start to finish. It might not change the game, but it is another strong addition to Amberian Dawn’s catalogue and proof that the Finnish band still have plenty to offer.

Track List:

01-Temptation’s Gates
02-The Vision Of Dreaming
03-Moon
04-Unchained
05-Eternal Flame
06-Life Is Art
07-This Night Is Waiting For Me
08-Undying Colours
09-The Garden
10-Phantasmagoria

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