Single Review: Adamantra – Shining Time for #METALMOMENTUM

Band: Adamantra
Title: Shining Time (single)
Label: Inverse Records
Release Date: April 28th, 2025
Country: Finland
Format Reviewed: High Quality Digital Recording 

Single Review: Adamantra – Shining Time:, Channeling Echoes From a Silent Past that Finally Shines Brightly for #METALMOMENTUM by Elyna

“In this electrifying new edition of Metal Momentum, we dive deep into Adamantra’s long-lost gem “Shining Time”a resurrected epic of 2000s power metal glory. Reforged with orchestration, nostalgia, and undying spirit, this first chapter in a King Arthur-inspired trilogy is more than a song it’s a time portal to an era of honor, steel, and sonic majesty.”

Welcome to a new edition of Metal Momentum. Today, we review the latest single from the beloved Finnish maestros Adamantra, “Shining Time.” Clocking in at 04:43, this track was released on April 28 via Inverse Records. It marks the first episode in a trilogy inspired by the adventures of King Arthur, with the next chapter set to drop in May.

The story behind “Shining Time” is unique. The song was recorded and mixed between 2007 and 2008 for their debut album Revival, originally intended as a bonus track for the Japanese edition or as a B-side. However, as it happens to many bands, the song was lost for years buried deep within old hard drives. Luckily, the band recovered the original track, releasing it as recorded and mastered for “Revival”. Nothing was added, mixed or mastered later. Everything is original. The result is a masterpiece that, in spite of being silent in time, finally shines brigthly 15 years later, full of force, and conveying an endearing atmosphere I love so much: one of pure, real, honest power metal!

The song also features a nostalgic lyric video created from a collage of photographs from Adamantra‘s early days, captured between 2006 and 2009. Live performances, rehearsals, editing days, Revival cover photos, and moments of relaxation and fun are presented as a visual testament to its origins and evolution.

The music and lyrics are by Jukka Hoffrén. The lineup also includes Tuomas Nieminen on vocals; Jukka Hoffrén on bass, rhythm guitars, and keyboards; Panu Kiskola on lead guitars; and Mikko Sepponen on drums. The lineup is completed by Janne Koivula and Risto Kupiainen on keyboards; Tommi Ahtila on the first guitar solo; and a choral group brings this piece to life with the voices of Helena Haaparanta, Leeni-Maria Hovila, Karri Knuuttila, Tuomas Nieminen, and Tapio Kuosma. The orchestration and programming were done by Mikko P. Mustonen, who also handled the mixing, while the mastering was handled by Mika Jussila.

Regarding narrative, “Shining Time” differs from what the band develops in their songs nowadays. It describes a man who arrives in a land without God or law, a divided people, and without the guidance of a King. He is a “stranger,” a stranger who arrives at a place far from his place of birth, but will soon make himself known. The song tells the story of his rise to power after pulling the sword from the stone, confirming his right to the throne. Once there, the foreign King becomes a mighty figure, destined to leave his name etched in history through a just and honorable reign, protected by God and Saints Michael and George. Even so, this King dreams of glory and honor for himself, so he fights tirelessly to be respected, honored, and recognized as the leader. He emerged from nowhere but became the monarch who rules the destinies of “his” people, seeking to leave an immortal legacy. That is to say, this story is everything to be good and consistent with epic and symphonic power metal, which are the subgenres to which this cut belongs.

Musically, “Shining Time” aptly captures the melodic and rhythmic sound of 2000s power metal, with subtle neoclassical touches in the music that evoked strong vibes of the power metal of Gamma Ray, Tierra Santa, Dark Moor, and even Chilean band Bloden Wedd. The time signature is 4/4 throughout, with small breaks. The tempo is delightfully dynamic throughout, varying from moderate at the beginning, to an andante, to a fast gallop in the verses, pre-choruses, and choruses. The guitars play sharp double harmonic riffs, while the drums and bass deploy devastating beats and rolls. Completing this plethora of musical interpretive talent are the theatrical symphonic orchestrations, which lend a great deal of depth, robustness, and a modern touch to the whole.

The track’s structure also includes two short but fascinating bridges; First, an acoustic guitar solo reminiscent of medieval-Renaissance ballroom dancing, followed by a brief symphonic bridge, with beautiful polyphonic choirs from Akim Luca Turilli’s Rhapsody, Epica, and After Forever, creating a change of atmosphere from youthful freedom to elegant solemnity in an attractive break that gives dynamism to the track. Then comes the solo itself; a marvel of energetic, vibrant power metal.

Regarding the vocal performance, it carries a pure, youthful, and refreshing energy. It’s honest in its delivery—focused not on flashy effects or technical acrobatics, but on conveying raw, sincere emotion and narrating the song’s epic story. This vocal purity doesn’t aim to manipulate the listener; it simply is what it is: a genuine interpretation. That simplicity makes the voice more accessible, more human—almost like you’re sharing a moment with your “close friend” Tuomas. Rather than hiding behind layers of studio polish, the voice stands bare and true, projecting both vulnerability and strength.

In short, the single “Shining Time” by the brilliant Adamantra is a beautiful and nostalgic journey to a brilliant past, bringing to life a masterpiece that emerges 20 years after its birth. It’s a warm, refreshing single, like a sweet summer afternoon, surrounded by good friends, enjoying a cold beer, and listening to good power metal as a corollary to that pivotal moment in the lives of all of us, warriors in T-shirts and jeans. It’s also a sonic apology that has a powerful effect, projecting an ideal scenario of a live outdoor concert. It feels lived-in. It feels real. It’s not the sound itself, but the energy, the spirit of power metal itself t! I could even imagine myself on stage, playing with them, vibrating to the rawest, most honest, vivid and endearing power metal.

All in all, “Shining Time” is the reflection of an era, an echo of our power metal that rose in the 2000s, and a brilliant, magical and eternal soundscape of the soul. 10/10

Band
YouTube
Facebook
Instagram
Spotify 

Label
Official site
Bandcamp
Instagram
Youtube
Facebook
Twitter 

10/10 Immortal Classic
**Please support the underground! It’s vital to the future of our genre**
#WeAreBlessedAltarZine
#TheZineSupportingTheUnderground