A lot of people are complaining of the mix being too synth/orchestration heavy. I don't really think it is. Well ok, yes, it is really heavy in the synths and often times sounds more like a soundtrack than a metal album, but I just don't really mind that.
In fact, the reaction seems to have been quite mixed with some people touting it as the album of the year and an almost equal (or at least as vocal) group of people slamming it as the disappointment of the year. It seems to be a classic case of some people getting what they wanted and others expecting something very different.
I think it's a good album. I don't think comparison to Arjen Lucassen would be fair. In fact, I just remembered that I still haven't listened to the second Star One album that came out a couple of years back so I just put it playing... And Ken, I must say what you said back then is absolutely right. It is almost unlistenable with its awful production that doesn't leave space for anything. I can promise that listening to Time I is not sonically even near as unbearable despite it having a lot
more stuff going on at the same time if anything. In fact, despite some people saying that they hate the mix, I'd actually have to commend Jari for making it sound somewhat dynamic.
...Actually, I just put "Sons of Winter and Stars" to audacity to have a look and my ears don't lie. There is room even in the very heaviest parts with blastpeats and choirs and orchestra all going full steam. Very refreshing compared to almost every other recent metal album I've bothered to check out on audacity.
Also, I'm now really shocked about how bad that second Star One album sounds. How the hell did Arjen let that happen? The first Star One album or The Human Equation sound fine (and I actually like those albums), but Victims of the Modern Age is actually just as difficult to listen to as Death Magnetic or something.The production buries any good ideas he might have had this time around. Absolutely shocking.
E: Oh, btw. you can listen to the album (in pretty decent quality, I might add) over here until tomorrow:
http://www.wintersun.fi/album-stream/