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Melodic Power Metal: Sunrise - Absolute Clarity (2016)

83 / 100
Absolute Clarity is the most emotionally resonant and mature release so far, benefiting greatly from atmosphere, nostalgia, and improved cohesion.
Once again, there is an unexpected connection to Stratovarius when I revisited the third album by their Ukrainian-born son, Sunrise, through Absolute Clarity, where two of its songs had already appeared earlier on the Hope and Pray EP in 2011. Imagine this: the album was released in January 2016, while Destiny by the “father” band received another remastered edition at the end of the same year. What kind of coincidence is that?!

Line-up changes happened once more within Sunrise, yet Naumenko remained as the vocalist, even contributing drums at times and inviting his wife, Daria, for backing vocals. New members include Eduard Sarkits (drums) and Marat Adiev (keyboards), while Ruslan Vakuliuk (bass) has been part of the band since 2010. Interestingly, Ruslan and Daria also play together in a rock band called Novi.

The structure of Absolute Clarity differs from the previous two albums, as it no longer feels like a transversal wave. Instead, there are two songs connected by shared energy and chanting “oh” vocals: “What You Have Done” and “When Here Comes the Night.” Explosive moments are also present in “Tower of Fear” and “Live in Peace.” Ballads are clearly represented only by “The Angel,” yet the more emotionally gripping track is “Prayer for You,” which carries a stronger atmosphere than “Hey!” from earlier works.

Synths and bass stand out more prominently on this album, perhaps amplified by nostalgia, as I own a faulty cassette version where these elements now add colors I previously failed to notice. Meanwhile, “Hope and Pray” feels somewhat dull, almost like a copy of its earlier version—likely because it leans toward mid-tempo speed metal, which pales in comparison to the opening track, “Tower of Fear.” Notably, the only Stratovarius similarity I could identify in this album is also found in that opening song, particularly in the verse vocals that resemble the verse of Destiny’s title track.

As a result, I feel both embarrassed and conflicted about calling Absolute Clarity better than Liberty and Trust Your Soul. Nostalgia clearly plays a major role in this listening session I think. Still, I admit that the atmosphere here feels more emotional and immersive. Therefore, I claim that Sunrise’s third album demonstrates significant development and deserves higher appreciation, even though several tracks fluctuate in their impact.
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