Sunholy is the sixth studio album by the Finnish metal band Shade Empire. It was released on 15 September 2023 by Candlelight Records, their first album in six years since Poetry of the Ill-Minded.[7]

Sunholy
Studio album by
Released15 September 2023
GenreExtreme metal, melodic death metal, symphonic black metal[1]
Length53:43
LabelCandlelight
Shade Empire chronology
Poetry of the Ill-Minded
(2017)
Sunholy
(2023)
Singles from Sunholy
  1. "Sunholy"
    Released: June 9, 2023[2]
  2. "Maroon"
    Released: August 11, 2023[3]
  3. "Torn Asunder"
    Released: September 15, 2023[4]
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Distorted Sound8/10[1]
Ghost Cult Magazine8/10[5]
Metal Epidemic3/5[6]

It was mixed by Chris Edrich (Devin Townsend, Leprous, Alcest), mastered by Pierrick Noël, and contains artwork by Andy Reich.[8] Francesco Ferrini (Fleshgod Apocalypse) handled the orchestrations.[9]

Several singles were released in advance of the album, including "Maroon", which the band considered "one of the finest compositions of our career so far. This is not just a song but a journey that requires you to hopefully stop by and listen. Maroon proves also that [new vocalist Henry Hämäläinen] is one of the most versatile vocalists in Finland as this track showcases his wide scale."[10]

Track listing

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  1. "In Amongst the Woods" – 5:14
  2. "The Apostle" – 5:33
  3. "This Coffin an Island" – 5:23
  4. "Sunholy" – 6:57
  5. "Torn Asunder" – 5:38
  6. "Maroon" – 7:54
  7. "All-Consuming Flame" – 6:43
  8. "Profane Radiance" – 6:34
  9. "Rite of Passage" – 3:47

Personnel

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Band members
  • Henry Hämäläinen – vocals
  • Aapeli Kivimäki – guitars
  • Juha Sirkkiä – guitars
  • Eero Mantere – bass
  • Erno Räsänen – drums

References

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  1. ^ a b "ALBUM REVIEW: Sunholy – Shade Empire". September 12, 2023. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
  2. ^ "Finnish symphonic extreme metallers Shade Empire release single/video 'Sunholy' (Candlelight Records)". June 9, 2023. Retrieved November 16, 2024.
  3. ^ "Finnish symphonic extreme metallers Shade Empire release stunning new single/lyric video 'Maroon' (Candlelight Records)". August 11, 2023. Retrieved November 16, 2024.
  4. ^ "Symphonic extreme metallers Shade Empire release stunning new single; album Sunholy out today (Candlelight Records)". September 15, 2023. Retrieved November 16, 2024.
  5. ^ "ALBUM REVIEW: Shade Empire – Sunholy". September 22, 2023. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
  6. ^ "Shade Empire – Sunholy". September 12, 2023. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
  7. ^ "Album Review: Shade Empire – Sunholy". September 7, 2023. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
  8. ^ "Album Review: Shade Empire – Sunholy". April 14, 2023. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
  9. ^ "Shade Empire – Sunholy - Teeth of the Divine". November 8, 2023. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
  10. ^ "Shade Empire release new song 'Maroon'". August 14, 2023. Retrieved November 17, 2024.