Absolute Clarity

I heard Sunrise for the first time quite recently, finding the exceptional sophomore effort Trust Your Soul (2010) somewhere on YouTube. I fell in love pretty much immediately, so when I noticed that there was a third album released just months after I’d found the band, I was thrilled. Absolute Clarity being an independent effort - that if anything is trve - goes straight to the action. High flying, melodic power metal in the vein of Finnish heroes Stratovarius and Sonata Arctica, the sound being a natural follow up from the predecessor. Notable is how the production is a lot more massive; while Trust Your Soul (2010) suffered from a slightly flat sound, Absolute Clarity has a more bombastic feel, and depth deserving of the music played.

Vocalist Konstantin Naumenko has a powerful voice befitting the soaring choruses and high pace power tracks. He’s actually slightly reminiscent of Tony Kakko (Sonata Arctica) both in voice and style, but with a distinct sense of self. ‘Prayer For You’ is lead mostly by Naumenko alongside a semi heavy riff, but never takes off. The opposite works for ‘When Here Comes The Night’, somewhat laid back, but passionate and delivering with genuine feeling to fill the melodic licks of keyboard player Marat Adiev. The keyboard is prominent all throughout the album (no big shock), and has been incorporated well to work in harmony with Sergii Matuschenko’s riff driven guitar. ‘What Have You Done’, a fast rocker sees the two blistering through the song with a hell of a punch.

All in all, these ten new tracks aren’t very surprising, sticking mainly to standard build and lengths spanning from three and a half to five minutes. That’s perhaps since it’s been six years since the last album, and Absolute Clarity aims to be something of a full length demo, to show what Sunrise are capable of. Thematically, the lyrics follow the music, in happy thoughts, Christian values and just a sense of an up-beat positive style. Of course, they’ve thrown in a sappy ballad. One look at the track list and you just know... that’s right. ‘Angel’ is too cheesy for its own good. Naumenko overdoes his sentimentality and the feigned passion in the riffs is just cringe worthy.

Aside from that one track though, no song is a suck fest in any way. Mostly, it’s light hearted, good power metal, with a few skippable tracks and yet a few really good songs. The only slightly surprising thing comes at the very end, when closer ‘Thunder In The Distance’ bursts into a low-key keyboard solo, inspired by electro pop. It’s unexpected and cosy and just really feel-good; I find myself returning most of all to this one song. In the end though, Absolute Clarity doesn’t knock you off your feet, like its predecessor. The musicianship and the talent is clearly there, but there’s something holding them back. The faster tracks are generally the stronger ones on here, though even those could do with some more high flying sing along choruses. And... there’s a distinct lack of something epic. Perhaps for album number four, it’ll all come together.

Standout tracks: Thunder In The Distance, Tower Of Fear, What Have You Done

Sunrise's seminal Trust Your Soul has been a favorite of mine in the power metal genre for a few years now, so I was ecstatic to learn they were coming out with a new one. Ukranian power metal seems to bring together the Finnish power metal-styled pop vocal hooks and pair them with heavier, crunchier riffing. The result is a very well rounded sound that Sunrise have basically capitalized on and become the leaders of the scene. On Absolute Clarity, they deliver stunningly played, vibrant, catchy songs, and the album as a whole is satisfying if a bit meager in its runtime.

They really did trim it down a fuckload - the last album was upwards of an hour long, and now this one is like 45 total. That's a pretty big change. I like that they didn't have so limited a scope that they thought all they could do was write super long, drawn out songs, but at the same time, after several listens, I don't think this album quite has the weight of Trust Your Soul. The songs are all business - they get shit done and then they're gone. I think the album could have stood to have a few longer tracks like "Love Will Set You Free" off the last album, which had such a great presence and weight about it. As is, the shorter tracks on this album breeze by and some of them are quite good, but it leaves you wanting more. Being more concise is good, but they should have left on a little of the weight, I think.

The opening of the album is very strong. "Tower of Fear" is a riff-hammering opener, with a triumphant shout-along chorus and a great, headstrong tempo. One of the first things you'll notice is that singer Konstantin Naumenko has improved tremendously since the last album, with his accent less noticeable and his singing more pronounced and forceful - he sounds great all over this album. Further tracks like the moody "Star Ocean," the speedster "Live in Peace" and the atmospheric "Prayer for You" are very good as well and show the band's increased atmospheric talents and tight, hooky playing. The melodies are all first rate. Later in the album, "When Here Comes the Night" is an emotional Dragonforce-esque soul-searer and closer "Thunder in the Distance" boasts some electropop trappings to make for a dazzling end to the album.

While I enjoy this album, I think it could have been just a bit better on the whole - the songs just don't linger in the ear like I want to, and they sound like the band maybe ended them a bit too soon. Still, though, this is very well done as it is, some of the better power metal you're likely to hear this year. If you're into the style, you need this in your life.

For me, Sunrise is one of those delightful hidden gem-type bands that may seem unassuming on the outside but is able to provide some serious goods with each recorded work. My first real taste of them in "Trust Your Soul" was an incredibly satisfying power/speed metal smorgasbord that was a hell of a lot of fun from end to end, though it's a shame that their old label played them the fool and didn't do shit to promote the release as it was one that deserved a lot more attention than it got (no glibness here, as I had to leap through way too many hoops to get my copy; it truly felt like the label didn't WANT me to get it...!). But in spite of that, the band continued on, releasing their single "Hope and Pray" EP before getting the crowd funds to get their third full-length up and running...

Taking a few cues from what made "Trust..." such a fantastic work, "Absolute Clarity" is able to up the ante by way of a better production approach, a tighter group focus and a grander scale of understanding of their craft which, all combined, is able to draw in the listener more or less right from the start. It's a little less intense and speedy than before, but that in no way takes anything away from it all, as equal amounts of richness, ease in listening, depth and catchiness weave oh so many webs around the listener to the point where you have to sit down and take notice, but dammit if you aren't so hooked all throughout. The level of conviction from before is still present, and then some, and again the Riserss are able to impress me with how adept they are at keeping their music plentifully exciting, engaging, and legit. The end result shines the best and brightest when the rich harmonies and lead work, as opposed to simple riffing, which itself makes it a more thrilling listen than your usual nowadays powerish affair (to wit: the dueting guitar and keyboard soloing in "Star Ocean") alongside frontman Konstantin, who this time around sounds much more confident and able-bodied with both his lead and the layers-deep choruses flitting here and there (e.g. the harmonizing all throughout "Prayer for You" is damn-near spellbinding).

To put it simply, this is a work of pure imagination and passion, an album that is able to, in its own small ways, surpass its predecessor, a feat I did not think possible in any way, and it's within that level of certitude that, at this very moment, gives it more life than quite a few other projects and albums of its similar stylistic ilk (I know I say that a lot, but this time around it feels all the more noticeable). The songs within sound more organic with one another, blending from track to track with the same creative frame of mind yet not sounding like the same thing twice; this was something that, as unfortunate as it is, wasn't present all that much in "Trust...", so if nothing else this proves that the years have been able to discard the inconsistencies and, in turn, reward us with its end result. This is definitely an album that was worth the wait, and as well, one that certainly merits more eyes and ears upon it if'n this is your musical wheelhouse.

In the end, "Absolute Clarity" is a hell of an album, sure to be a shining addition to one's own melodic metal collection. This continues to show that Sunrise have earned a place within the Euro-metal stratosphere just as much as many of their contemporaries (from big league and scab), as you cannot argue with the ardor contained within their material. Seek it all out and enjoy, I say.