FIRST REACTION to WINTERSUN (Sons Of Winter And Stars) 🥁🔥🥁 

Metronome+Octopus+Machine gun+Atomic clock= Kai Hahto

Chase: "Stop being so good" Kai: "...nope..." continues for ten more minutes

A little bit of a story behind the band. Wintersun was created by Jari Mäenpää. It was meant as his side project while he was a vocalist on Enisiferum. He was kicked from that band when their schedules collided. He composed and recorded the first album (called Witnersun) all by himself. Vocals, guitars, bass, synth. He didn't do drums. He sent a demo to Kai Hahto in hopes that he would agree to record it for him. Kai loved it so much that he not only recorded the drums but joined Jari as a full time member. Their next album "Time" was with the full band. It was however in the works since 2006 and been released in 2012 after a lot of problems. Supposedly no studio was able to handle the complexity of the songs and after a lot of compromises and burnout they split the album to 2 parts. We still wait for Time II and just few days ago Jari posted on facebook that he is working on 4 albums right now, but he refuses to compromise the quality of this one after what happened to Time I. So... one of these mythical albums that you kinda know that might never come out, even tho they performed the songs live YEARS ago. After Time I, Jari decided that he needs his own studio to record new music. To achieve that, he organized crowdfunding plan. Their 3rd album "The Forest Seasons" in 2017 was a first step for that and they gathered half of the money required to build a studio. A lot of fans are furious with all that. You can't scroll through their fanpage without drowning in negative remarks on how they just don't do anything and how greedy they are (well, mostly Jari as HE IS Wintersun and other guys are just there to play). I guess it's understandable - no other band claims that they need their own studio to release their stuff and fans have a right to be mad. Personally I don't care as long as they create great music. It would be nice to hear it tho lol. So... Wintersun is either worshiped or hated.

YES DUDE! Finally I can watch a new video because I've already seen it! Haha. Hope you dig this as much as I did! 🤘

Hit up "Time" from the same recording session... IMO it's even better than this. And after that the whole Forest Seasons album (4 songs) is absolutely brilliant.

Holy shit that was amazing! I knew Kai was an amazing drummer but I had no idea he could play like that. And the vocalist has like 12 different singing styles. The music was ever changing with the vocals. They definitely have a new fan in me.

Not just the I'm-leaving-the-planet-earth face, I'm predicting lots of airguitar and airdrumming to this song in one take.

The lead singer was member of a band called Ensiferum. They do some viking themed power Metal. Its deffenetly worth to check them as well.

"Aaah, stop being so good!" Pretty much my reaction to every single Wintersun song I've heard. The entire band is just crazy talented. Some other songs worth looking into are Time from the same studio playthrough and Loneliness(Winter). I would also highly recommend to check out songs from their first self-tilted album which is cemented as a top 2 album for me. Winter Madness aswell as Sleeping Stars are two very solid songs from their first album. In regards to who writes the songs, from what I've heard it's mainly Jari(the lead vocalist) who writes it, kind of like how Tuomas writes songs for Nightwish. Teemu Mäntysaari who's the lead guitarist seems to write a lot of the solos and such atleast for their older songs, and he is genuinely one of the most impressive guitarists I've ever heard.

Ohhhhhhhhh I can’t wait for this one!!! I do want to point out Jari (singer) misses part of his lung due to tuberculosis from his military days. Finland can take my soul if they keep producing musical geniuses like this.

"Stop being so good." It just seems unfair, this song has so much power, variance, and epicness for 14 minutes while being perfectly executed.

What I really love about this song are the two parts, one of them being the last big triumphant finale, where the vocals, guitar and bass play in 6/8 and the drums play in 4/4. I think it gives the song this fantastic feeling of a metal ballad while also keeping up the pace, driving the song forward.

That face says everything) This reaction is must-see, can't wait. And this time Tank can join the party too. This will be super fun.

Splendid reaction Chase! 🤘🏼😊 Jari Mäenpää (leadsinger guitarist) writes all the songs. He is mastermind behind the band. Wintersun started as his soloproject while still playing in Ensiferum (which is great band also 👍🏼). He had to leave Ensiferum be cause Wintersun took so much time. Ensiferum fans are still bitter for that 😉. Jari is perfectionist and at least in first album Wintersun he played all the instruments but drums which Kai did. Other two wizards are Jukka Koskinen (backing vocals bass) and Teemu Mäntysaari (backing vocals guitar). They have 3 albums: Wintersun, Time1 and Forest Seasons. Sons of Winter and Stars was from Time1 and other songs are Time and Land of Snow and Sorrow both live rehearsals at Sonic Pump Studio also.

I'm glad you picked up on the ship feeling. The song feels like a sea shanty to me with the captain's call "Sons of winter and stars!" and the crew's response "Rise!"

To be fair, Kai was in Wintersun since the mid 2000s, he just joined Nightwish, so it's Kai from Wintersun that is in Nightwish, not Kai from Nightwish being in Wintersun...

Well they kind of grew up all in the same town - named Finland (and yes, there's something in the water ;) ) Btw please listen to Ne Obliviscaris with their song "and plague flowers the caleidoscope" live

You know Tuomas already, now meet another musical mastermind: Jari :) The channel A&P reacts did an interview with him a year or two ago, found it quite cool. Wintersun’s “Loneliness” (out of the album based on 4 seasons, how cool is that, metal Vivaldi?) is imo one of the most beautiful ballads ever.

"There's no way they all grew up in the same town and are all thos talented, or else there's something in the water" They didn't, but there is something in the water up in Finland - all of northern Europe, honestly. Small countries, but Finland, Norway, and Sweden are dense with metal bands. You could marathon any of them for a month and still miss a ton of great bands.

Was just going to bed when this popped up. Looks like that ain't happening. So much fun watching your face trying to analyse and pick this one apart. As for more Wintersun recommendations... all of them.

Kai started to learn Alexander technique for drummer back in the mid 90's because of severe back pains. That's why his playing looks effortless and relaxed.

Jari creates a lot of masterpieces when he was still in his band Einsiferum, start a solo project and Wintersun was born, realesed all by himself his first album an then gather some awesome musicians for live shows and the music was alive.

21:48 That's the "When you notice something f*cking awesome"-face. You are one of the very few youtubers who have actually catch that up, so thumbs up. It's also the reason why I subscribed you in the first place, your ability to spot the tiniest details is awesome! BTW, the lyrics with that deep voice are: Mysteries of time Unfolding in cosmic dreams Leaving life and death meaningless Before the revelation of infinity

I've seen these guys twice live. They are mad lads, truly.

Chase, fasten your seatbelts, because this will just...again blow your mind, because this is soo goood, can't wait 😀

Well Chase, I'm glad you liked it. You should try listening to the album version since it's even more layered and intricate. As others have mentioned the song Time from the same album is also worth a reaction. However, I would like to suggest Winter Madness from their debut album. The drums in that song makes these sound slow. It also has one of my favorite guitar solos. Jari is really playing his heart out. Fun fact. On their first album they hadn't really formed the band yet so the drums are by Kai and everything else is played by Jari Mäenpää. All guitars, bass and keys. The guy has some serious talent. It's just a shame that they seem so unable to release new stuff. Since their first album in 2004 they have only released two other albums. I'm starting to fear that we won't get anymore.

Welcome to the world of finnish melodic Death Metal 🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻

Thumbs up for Chase. As a Nightwish fan since the '90s, and a fan of Jukka, Kai is such a study in contrast. Jukka is super dramatic, and an absolute joy to watch play live. Kai is such a subdued visual presence in many Nightwish songs, almost... I mean, *visually* boring isn't fair, but it is the word that leaps to mind. Yet being less dramatic allows Kai to play with CRAZY speed and precision. He's just as enjoyable to listen to, maybe more. Reminds me of Mike Portnoy vs Mike Mangini. Going to a concert, I'd rather SEE Jukka or Portnoy, but that's doesn't make them better drummers. This is a WEIRD comparison, but there are parts of this song that remind me of Alestorm.

Thank you so much for your deep analysis, man! I really enjoyed it, keep stopping and commenting, I learn so much from you or it simply helps me to view the song from different angles. Thank you!

I am also exhausted just watching along, haha.

You never expect a band such as this to hook you with the first song, but Wintersun just kicks you in the brain

I watched the Sons of Winter and Stars live studio vid because I wanted to see Kai with his "old" band. And my gast was totally flabbered! It woke up some DNA I had laying around. The DNA that says I have to swarm over a completely inadequate wall and slaughter Romans. The DNA that says I have to run into a monastery , hack every monk to pieces, and steal everything that glitters. Yup, my inner lizard brain was shrieking at the moon like a rabid,blood crazed werewolf. I basically sat and quivered for a while, grinning like a maniac. Oh, yeah, Kai absolutely KILLED!!!

There’s no need for going to the gymn if you play the drums like Kai does 😳 he must be pure muscle with drumsticks! Very impressive!

You projected Wintersun perfectly to my ears.... I have two of them(ears I mean), I promise... Brilliant video mate!

Waaaaaaaaaa this weekend is epic!!! 😲😲😲

I am not even religious, but have I gone to heaven or is it already christmas? Nightwish AND Wintersun! Now I only need Steve'n'Seagulls and I can die as a happy person 😁 (Well hopefully not quite yet but anyways...)

Damnit that’s brilliant!! Their time changes are so smooth, class act for sure. Brutal n melodic...Kai is a human metronome! Great break down Chase ( as usual!)🤘.

"That chord progression sounds familiar, I've heard it somewhere before... " Yess... probably about a month ago when this song started.... this is one of my all time favorite songs.

Pure precious metal from Finland!

I really enjoy it how you enjoy this! 🤘🏼

You're right that there's a lot of storytelling to this song. It's a short fantasy epic, essentially. You'll find similar things in some of their other songs, and also in the band Jari played in before he started Wintersun: Ensiferum. I would recommend Ensiferum with Treacherous Gods or Slayer of Light - or both. Those are with Jari on vocals. You could also check their new vocalist, and the best song for that imo is called From Afar.

One of my favorite bands of all times. They are so good that words is not enough 💜🔥 Jari IS wintersun 😍Check out the song Time by them aswell, that song is beyond beautiful 😃🙌🏼⭐️ Awesome reaction once again! 👏🏼👏🏼😊🇳🇴

This is fantastic musical craftmanship. Doesn't matter if you are into this kind of music or not.

Yes, finally! Oh, these will be the slowest 21 hours since giving birth to my kid...

Breaking down some secret code of nature there.

Did you know the lead vocalist only has one lung. He had to surgically get one removed after being in the finnish military

Jari Mäenpää Pros: perfectionist Cons: perfectionist

Thanks a lot buddy! Fantastic reaction glad you enjoyed \m/

Good thing to mention is, that lead singer Jari lost half of his lungs because tuberculosis and still manage to sing like this.

Jari Mäenpää Jukka Koskinen Teemu Mäntysaari Kai Hahto THe GRINDER Let the lesson begin....

Yes, they can be "a bit" overwhelming. They got so much going on that I needed to use headphones to catch it all (no idea if I caught it all...). Anyway, after discovering them one week ago here's my list of favorite songs by them in no particular order: Time (Live), Death and the Healing 2.0 (Lyrics), The Forest That Weeps (Summer), Loneliness (Winter)

We miss you so much Chase! Please come back soon!

It is high time you did another Wintersun song, Chase...you know it's true 😉

Seeing what Kai can do here Nightwish must be like walking on the park,hi is machine

Jari Mäenpää is a Finnish heavy metal multi-instrumentalist and songwriter. He is the founder of Wintersun for which he records all instruments except the drums. Before forming Wintersun, Mäenpää was best known for his role in the folk metal band Ensiferum, which he joined in 1996 after leaving his prior band named Immemorial.[1] Wintersun was initially planned as a parallel project alongside Ensiferum, but in January, 2003 after the recording of Ensiferum's second album, Mäenpää resigned from the band and set out to build his own solo project, which became Wintersun In 1997, Mäenpää had to put his musical career on hold to take part in Finland's compulsory military service. In an interview, Mäenpää admitted he disliked the time he spent in the military and suspects it's where he acquired tuberculosis.[2] ,I have a little bit of a mournful, melancholic, majestic or kinda "spacy" way of writing when it comes to melodies. Although everything is not melancholic, but rather "heroic" like you said, but I don't know if it's the right word to describe it. It's difficult to find adjectives to describe the feeling of my own music - it's just me. When I wrote songs to Ensiferum (few songs like "Lai Lai Hei and "Token of Time"), I first needed to get into that "folk mood", before the music came out of me. Wintersun's music just comes out naturally. I don't mean to write certain things. It just happens, I guess. Jari's style of guitar playing utilizes tremolo-picked melodies and phrases and the heavy use of extremely fast sweep-picking solos and breaks as heard on most of the songs. The speed of Wintersun's music is due in part to the use of blast beats and quick, spacey keyboard lines. This gives the guitar a charging, power metal feel for the most part.[3]

The singer is actually missing half a lung and is still able to produce that sound.

I stumbled on your channel and this was the first time I heard Wintersun. Loved your commentary and thank you for showing this song because holy hell, it might be the best metal song I've personally ever heard.

I know it's probably too far afield for the style of your channel, but I'd recommend watching Licks and Tricks with Kai Hahto, or his drum cam of this song from Helsinki, in your own time at some point. It's insane how many little things he does during the song, which tend to go unnoticed unless you're solely watching him. Like the drum fill at ~3:00 in is utterly ridiculous, how he still makes the cymbal hits with perfect timing in the midst of it.

I am a Finnish metal fan and I have deep diving experience in it and I heard about this band through the grapevine or as whispers in the dark that there is this group of of super talented gentlemen of finnish metal but I really learned who they are and how good they are through reaction channels. I have seen this video more than a few times this year and they still blow my mind.

Thank you! I love the whole band, but Kai is just amazing!!

Absolutely love Wintersun! You need to hear Winter Madness. The song is crazy with it's insane guitar solo and the fact the song is 90% blast beats lol.

For some reason I haven't listened to any song by Wintersun. This is the first one, and it's EPIC.

Why is there already a DISLIKE??? The premiere hasn't even started. Now I get it, Chase, what you said yesterday in Shoemaker's video "The human brain is a funny thing".

Love this!

It has been 3 weeks since you first reacted to Wintersun and I find it unbelievable you have not reacted to another Wintersun song. If anyone deserves it, it is them. Time, from the same studio session. Btw, awesome work, mate. Keep 'em coming.

This one is going to blow you from your seat! 🤘

yes that will be fun =) cant wait

Once again a great reaction! :D I love your technical breakdown of the songs you react to. its great! More Wintersun? you gotta do Loneliness (Winter) its perhaps the most beautiful song they ever made! so dark and emotional.

Kai is like a machine stuck on awesome.

Please do more Wintersun!! 😎

Kai = the Drumming Metronome.

Wintersun, the band that writes one song a year. :)

Love your analysis. As someone wrote before, please consider covering their song "Time", it's from the same recording session and it's one of their most popular tracks (and my overall favourite song by Wintersun). More vocals, awesome lyrics and Kai going ham on the drums. Recipe for success =) Best wishes from Sweden.

High time to listen to Time (same studio rehersal session). Total raw emotion. You'll love it.

Really Nice to see people appreciate the works of Wintersun. I deserve to be more known than what They are currently. Every Song Theyve made is a work of art. They are The only metal band I still listens to. And I do it daily.

The lead singer was the former singer of Ensiferum and he did great work at Ensiferum. I loved the complete Iron Album especially "Iron", "Into Battle" and "Lai Lai Hei" you should check on them Greets from Germany :)

A new appreciation for Kai.

God Jari's vocals are always perfect for the music he writes. Man' a genius.

Kai really is a monster. He and Eloi Casagrande from Sepultura are my absolute favourites. Great analysis as always, cheers

When I hear this song, instantly there is a picture forming in my mind of a band of Yotuns (Ice Giants) preparing to storm Asgard.

This is just one song from a run through of the whole Time 1 album. Althogh the credits roll at the end, the 4 videos together seem one long take. The album was re-worked a couple of years ago, new orchestra and choir tracks I think. Growl vocal on this were Jukka *bass) and Alpha Valtias. If I remember, Kai also dod low/growl vocals on The Forest Seasons.

Oh man. You are going to have a treat with this...

Aww man I got so excited when I saw this and clicked immediately! Then I saw it's not premiered yet :P Set a reminder tho, can't wait! Amazing song, hope you enjoyed it!

Check out Ayreon - The Day the World Breaks Down. While it is playing they talk about the technical stuff they did while recording it.

That‘s one of the reasons why I always comment on Kai as „the beast“.

That was fun :D - watching you try to find a pause point. Nice. :D This song is so technical and has soooo much variance, like 8 songs in one. Impressed. Love it. Yaarrr!!! *subscribed*

I think this, apart from the Shoemaker that I've just seen, is my most anticipated reaction 😃. I feel sorry for Chase though, he must have paused every 5 sec 😂😂. Setting a reminder for this one for sure 👍

OH MY GOD FINALLY😍🤘

Chase, the next one should be Time, also from this rehearsal.

Oh man I am SO excited for this video!!!!

This might have been explained already and you've found it out, but anyways: Jari Mäenpää, the mastermind behind this band, does basically everything himself in the studio save from drums, which are performed by Kai in the first two albums, Wintersun and Time I. Kai became interested of the project when he heard the demo versions of the songs of the first album and pretty much thought "this is the real shit" and wanted to do the drums and so he became part of the band. He's constantly praised Jari's visions, for example called the song Eternal Darkness (Autumn) the best black metal song ever (which I duly agree) among other things. I'm also sure Kai is at home with Wintersun with its incredibly challenging drumming.

If you're still watching for these comments, still waiting for a reaction for Time from this same session. Knowing you, you'll love it...

Their self-titled album is very technical and it’s typically my go-to Wintersun album, however this song is just so amazing and moving. Jari is a brilliant musician. There’s a lot of talent in that neck of the woods. You should check out the band he played in years ago, Ensiferum. Lai Lai Lei is one of my favorite Ensiferum songs featuring Jari on guitars/vocals.

Jari is Wintersun ;) He left Ensiferum to make this :) Btw, he's missing half a lung. And Kai is now the drummer in Nightwish.

Time and Loneliness are definitely the next ones to react to, Time having a video recorded from this same rehearsal in this studio, and Loneliness doesn't have an official video, but a lyrical one on their page. Loneliness is my favorite by far, maybe cause I can identifiy alot with the lyrics and feelings portrayed in it, but damn that music is gorgeous.

As far as I know, Jari Mäenpää (the lead singer) writes all the songs. Some say that he's kind enough to leave spaces for a pit stop for the drummer.

An hour before i start work. The reaction might take that long so this is awesome timing!

Kai is a bloody Machine 🍻🤘

OH YES!!!!!!

I see Chase and Wintersun, I press like.