It was a scandal of Private-like proportions; the publicly played-out dismissal of singer Tarja Turunen from the wildly popular Finnish goth metal group . Perhaps this classically trained singer has had revenge in mind with this debut, on which nothing seems to have been left to chance. No expense was spared on My Winter Storm, a stormy concept album that is presented on the case like a movie. A
… bombastic fantasy spectacle that is, for all ages, because the music sounds as balanced and arranged as it is innocent and smooth. Slow-cutting power chords are no more than the basis for exultant orchestrations and semi-Gregorian choral work. Tarja sings effortlessly and melodiously over this with her usual, theatrically panicked soprano voice. My Winter Storm is no more and no less than a solid goth / fantasy metal album for all fans of the genre. (MR)more
