- Country: Finland
- Style: Symphonic metal
- Label: Napalm Records
- Release date: 26 June 2026
Finnish symphonic metal band Amberian Dawn have released their eleventh album, Temptation’s Gates, and it marks a new chapter: it is the first to feature Swedish-English singer Nicole Willerton. In March the band announced that Capri Virkkunen was leaving after more than ten years and five albums together, with Willerton named as her replacement on the same day. It is also their first album of original material since the 2022 covers record Take a Chance – A Metal Tribute to ABBA.
Founder and main composer Tuomas Seppälä produced the album, which runs to ten songs and just under 37 minutes. The title track, inspired by Charles Baudelaire’s Les Fleurs du mal, is about facing and accepting one’s inner desires, while second single “The Vision of Dreaming” dates back to a song Seppälä wrote in 2021. The sound is a touch more modern and occasionally rougher than before, though the orchestral pomp and catchy melodies remain. Willerton brings a slightly grittier edge than her predecessor, which suits the heavier moments. The short running time keeps it tight, although a few songs feel lightweight.
Best tracks:
Temptation’s Gates
The Vision of Dreaming
Undying Colours
Phantasmagoria
Author’s rating: 7/10
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