Review: Moonsorrow - Varjoina Kuljemme Kuolleiden Maassa | |||||||
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Varjoina Kuljemme Kuolleiden Maassa | |||||||
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Label: SpineFarm Records Year released: 2011 Duration: 61:09 Tracks: 7 Genre: Black/Folk Metal Rating: Review online: January 4, 2025 Reviewed by: Thomas |
Readers' Rating How do you rate this release? Rated 4/5 (80%) (5 Votes)
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Review | |||||||
This is an album I'm a little conflicted about. On the one hand, it was the album that got me into the realm of pagan metal and therefore is pretty special to me. However, after having become familiar with Moonsorrow's back catalogue after this discovery, it feels... a little less important, and is rarely my go-to album when I need my heathen fix. That said, it is no easy task following up an album like V: Hävitatty, which is one of the most ambitious pagan metal records to date. On that album, Moonsorrow were remarkably successful in bringing all elements of their sound together in two huge 30-minute epics that still remain unsurpassed in terms of scope and ambition. I guess it made sense to think a little differently with their sixth album, and while Varjoina Kuljemme Kuolleiden Maasa (now say it quickly), bears some similarities to their previous work, it goes exploring along different paths. Compared to its two preceding full-lengths, Varjoina sounds more bombastic. While not so similar in style and songwriting (with the exception of "Rauniolla"), the overall sound is reminiscent of Kivenkantaja. The atmosphere provided by the keys and compositions is elevated in the soundscape, creating a dark, ominous atmosphere calling to mind the cover art where the band members pose under the northern night sky. The songs here are heavier, and almost dirge-y and hypnotic, as heard on "Tähdetön" and "Kuolleiden Maa," but never wanting for that enchanting folky touch that Moonsorrow do so uniquely well. The latter elements are, of course, present on each track, but is perhaps best heard on "Huuto," which is the most accessible song on the album. My main complaint is that, apart from that initial click, the songs are not quite as captivating or engaging as expected, and I also find the interludes to be very disruptive to the flow of the album. You won't get songs as memorable as "Jotunheim" or "Sankaritarina," or as cold as "Hiidenpelto" or "Haaska" here. With some exceptions, I don't find myself obsessively rewinding to hear a beautifully crafted section again and again, or constantly think about a sick riff, catchy melody line or choir chant. The songwriting feels a little off, and while the spacious, polished production job makes it a comfortable listen, the grimmer, blacker sound on most of their previous albums (and indeed on their subsequent one) suits them better, in my opinion. That said, this album gets some unfair criticism for being lazy and I disagree with that. There is plenty to like here, and I find "Huuto" and "Kuolleiden Maa" in particular to be two highlights, even though the album as a whole does not quite reach the heights of previous releases. |
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More about Moonsorrow... | |||||||
Review: Jumalten aika (reviewed by Sargon the Terrible) Review: Kivenkantaja (reviewed by Iconoclast) Review: Suden uni (reviewed by Sargon the Terrible) Review: Tulimyrsky (reviewed by Pagan Shadow) Review: Tulimyrsky (reviewed by Sargon the Terrible) Review: V: Havitetty (reviewed by Lars Christiansen) Review: Verisäkeet (reviewed by Sargon the Terrible) Review: Voimasta Ja Kunniasta (reviewed by PowerMetal59) Review: Voimasta Ja Kunniasta (reviewed by Sargon the Terrible) Interview with Mitja Harvilahti, Marko Tarvonen and Henri Sorvali on October 24, 2015 (Interviewed by Luxi Lahtinen) | |||||||
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