Moonsorrow – Varjoina Kuljemme Kuolleiden Maassa

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Whilst perhaps not the most commercially successful band of the pagan/folk metal wave, Moonsorrow have upheld a reputation as one of the most cult and critically acclaimed bands in the genre. To an extent this can be attributed to the band’s commitment to producing the most epic material witnessed within folk metal, giving birth to mammoth, complex songs that have been known to pass the thirty minute mark. This tendency isn’t quite as blatant on Varjoina Kuljemme Kuolleiden Maassa, the band’s first CD to contain more than three original songs since 2005. With this release, the album takes the shape of four large epics varying between eleven and seventeen minutes in length, divided by three smaller instrumental pieces. This forms a very cohesive whole, making for a very fluid sounding album. As can be expected from Moonsorrow, each of these three epics is majestic and atmospheric, conjuring a deep but some what depressing image through its music. There are some traps that Moonsorrow continue to fall into, though. Mostly, whilst on the whole the album is a beautiful and enchanting piece of music, sometimes it can feel repetitive and slow. It’s saved by a few strong mood changes to keep the album a bit more lively, whether to oddly jolly or light and delicate, and still retains a firm sense of character even if it can feel like more of the same at times. Either way, Varjoina Kuljemme Kuolleiden Maassa should prove to be yet another well loved album by fans of both the band and epic, progressive music in general.

Written by James Donovan
More: 2011, Albums, Folk Metal, Quick.Play Reviews, Moonsorrow