I don't know if I can think of a band that has a bigger sound than Moonsorrow, maybe Blind Guardian, not because their music is similar it isn't. Their sounds are both larger than life. What the Hell am I talking about? I don't really know. Maybe it's the kind of music you could associate with a epic movie. Their songs are certainly epic. Kivenkantaja is Moonsorrow's latest release and while 2003, for me, was a year of disappointing followups, this did not disappoint. Kivenkantaja, which means Stonebearer is another majestic recording in the same vein as their first two releases featuring long extravagant, bombastic, symphonic metal music based on Viking folklore delivered with a ferocity which would make Christofer Johnsson (Therion) envious and when the warriors join in on the chorus's it's magnificent.
Moonsorrow plays Viking Metal which is loosely termed as a sub genre of Black/Death Metal. I'll tell you right now if this were truly like Death Metal you wouldn't catch me writing about it. I like to think of it as Life Metal because it's so full of life. There are several other Viking Metal bands. This and Finntroll are the only ones I like.
Now, if you're waiting for me to describe the music, good luck. I could easier describe a magnificent sunset. The music is somewhat homogenous but each song is quite different. It has wildly variety tempos and intensities.
"Rauniolla" (meaning "At The Ruins") starts with some ghostly background voices, then all Hell breaks loose with heavy bass percussion leading the explosion into an immensely epic and melodic song with measured tempo and both excellent clear and also harsh vocals, plus great choirs and the typically folkish melodies. An outstandingly brilliant opener. Almost fourteen minutes long, seems like four.
"Unohduksen Lapsi" ("Child Of Oblivion") lookout, this ones deadly with it's fast extra loud infectious beat and raspy vocals and great atmospheric heaviness that surrounds beautiful melodies and if anybody ever tells you that keyboards, accordion and mouth harp can't enhance a song and add to the quality and atmosphere, tell them to check this out.
"Jumalten Kaupunki/Tuhatvuotinen Perintö" ("City Of The Gods/Legacy Of A Thousand Years") Here we go again with the big sound featuring heavy percussion, huge choirs plus the accordion, some fiddle and arpeggios, astounding!
"Kivenkantaja" Another massive sound with layer and layer of music and those drums are magnificent, here and throughout. Also included are the accordion, mouth harp, harmonium and fiddle to biggest possible effect
Tuulen Tytär/Soturin Tie" ("Daughter Of The Wind/The Way Of A Warrior") is introduced purely acoustic, with the fiddle, about a three minute interlude from the Bombast and then Boom, the Drums, the wonderful drums and electric guitars are back in force along with the choirs for about three more minutes, before going to a fantastic ethereal sound for a minute, then everything is back. I love IT!!!!!!
"Matkan Lopussa" ("At The Journey's End") an accordion lead then acoustic, while a subdued heavy drum beat reminds one of explosions in the background, with Petra Lindberg as lead singer, plus the choir, a traditional, slow Finnish folk song.
Conclusion:
Other than the big sound I tried to describe, this music almost seems like some kind of Scandinavian Hoe Down, it's really incredible. There are other practitioners of Viking Metal but they don't sound much like Moonsorrow, because of their big orchestral sound choirs and that the music is based on folklore.
In Short Moonsorrow is an invigorating musical experience. If this don't get your juices flowing, you're DEAD.
