Moonsorrow are one of those bands that has a really unique and distinctive sound, and while one could lazily describe them as folk metal if you’re looking for silly drinking songs then you’re in the wrong place. This is rather impressively their sixth full length album in ten years, and they show no sign of stagnating or running out of ideas. Track one towers in, with a massive wall of heavy guitars and a formidable bassline; its prowling mid-pace tempo sets a tone of resplendence as one feels as though embarking on an epic journey through fiery ravaged landscapes.
Not quite matching the black metal ferocity of ‘Tulymyrsky’ nor the mournful doominess of ‘V Havitetty’ this kind of strikes a balance between the two. Mid-way through the track things spiral off into a winding Celtic melody, again this is done with the class and sophistication that makes Moonsorrow stand proud and tall above the hordes of pretenders out there. Track three comes in with that heathen swagger and gusto, a folkish flute melody interweaved within layers of harsh blackened guitars and ferocious drums that lead through powerful chorus gang-chants and descend into more reflective passages that always manage to retain that strength and resonance.
The war-torn rasps of Ville Sorvali are as intense as ever; they have that bitingly cold edge and fierceness to them yet constantly ooze quality. The album is basically made up of four long tracks that are intercepted by the sounds of warriors exhaustively trailing through dust and dirt filled ground, their feelings of ‘Hunger, Weariness and Dispair’ showing, taking us from one scene of battle to the next. It kind of illustrates the music nicely and these kind of samples can be cool to add a dash of colour – some bands could be accused of using them to disguise how uninteresting and mediocre the music is, but this is certainly not something Moonsorrow could be accused of.
‘The Scream’ comes in with a much mellower vibe and is lead forth by a rather subdued melody, which at times soars over the mighty rhythm section portraying the usual hue of vibrant warm colours one sees through this bands music. At times there’s a fierce stomp to the rhythm and you can’t help but get swept in to this. It ventures on ‘To The Dead’ and certainly has one anxious to know what’s going on and what the bloke is so afraid of as it kicks into the final track with a hell of a scream. Now at last the shadows have reached their destination; that is ‘The Land Of The Dead’ and it’s a much more melancholic vibe that comes over on this track with a rich bassline and gorgeously hypnotic guitar melodies leading us in and rounding everything off perfectly. Moonsorrow once again haven’t disappointed and they continue to go from strength to strength. Look forward to hearing this live, I hope!
http://www.myspace.com/moonsorrow
