Album Type: Full Length
Date Released: 1/4/2016
Label: Century Media
Moonsorrow has long been one of the more diverse, dynamic, and
powerful bands associated with the black metal genre, and ‘Jumalten Aika’ will
only build upon that reputation. While it’s certainly a mix of the band’s past
and present, it’s also often at times catchy in a way that the band hasn’t
always been before. You won’t find an ounce of filler on this album, and for a
band predisposed to songs of fifteen-plus minutes, it’s always a remarkable
achievement. ‘Jumalten Aika’ eclipses its predecessor, sitting comfortably
beside the best albums they’ve ever created.
‘Jumalten
Aika’ CD//LP//DD track listing:
1. Jumalten Aika
2.
Ruttolehto incl. Päivättömän Päivän Kansa
3.
Suden Tunti
4.
Mimisbrunn
5.
Ihmisen Aika (Kumarrus Pimeyteen)
Moonsorrow is:
Ville
Seponpoika Sorvali | Bass, Harsh Vocals
Henri
Urponpoika Sorvali | Guitars, Singing Vocals, Keyboard, Accordion, Jew's harp,
Recorder, Tin whistle
Marko
"Baron" Tarvonen | Drums, Acoustic Guitar
Mitja
Harvilahti | Guitar, Harsh Vocals
Markus
Eurén | Keyboard, Backing Vocals
The Review:
I
don’t think it’s going out on a limb to say that Moonsorrow were one of the great bands of the 00s.
Categorizing them as the same for the 10s is not as easy, because they’ve been
a lot less active, as their new album, ‘Jumalten
Aika’, is the band’s first in five years, and only the second of the decade
so far. I also can’t say that absence has made the heart grow fonder because,
truth be told, they don’t ever really leave my rotation. Part of that owes to
putting out classic material both when they lean heavily toward folk metal, as
well as when they lean more toward the black metal end of things. That lends
itself to appealing to a number of different moods, and thus a higher
likelihood of springing to mind when on the hunt for that “perfect” album for
whatever I’m feeling over the course of a given day.
Moonsorrow has long
been one of the more diverse, dynamic, and powerful bands associated with the
black metal genre, and ‘Jumalten Aika’
will only build upon that reputation. While it’s certainly a mix of the band’s
past and present, it’s also often at times catchy in a way that the band hasn’t
always been before. A prime example of this would be “Suden Tunti” which, at seven minutes, is as close to Moonsorrow gets to
a sprint, rather than a marathon. Beyond featuring one of the most infectious
riffs you’ll hear all year, the accompanying drums are positively bouncy. It’ll
likely be a shock to the system for anyone used to the band’s stoic and stern
approach over the last several albums, but not to anyone familiar with a song
like “Kylän Päässä” from the band’s
debut. Woven throughout the buoyant drums and memorable guitar work is a host
of folk instruments and rousing gang vocals, leading one to suspect the band is
having a lot of fun rekindling their romance with folk music, and who could
fault a band for that?
Throughout the other songs on ‘Jumalten Aika’, Moonsorrow touch on plenty of familiar sounds and styles, delving more into the folk side of things than they have in years, although they perform those folk elements better than they ever have before. Even at their most joyous, they stop well short of getting too campy (as you might find in a band like Finntroll or Korpiklaani), and there’s still plenty for the black metal purist to sink their teeth into as well.
More than anything,‘Jumalten Aika’ finds Moonsorrow at their most accomplished as songwriters, never letting the extended length of the album’s songs result in a lull. You won’t find an ounce of filler on this album, and for a band predisposed to songs of fifteen-plus minutes, it’s always a remarkable achievement. Still, it’s worth noting that ‘Jumalten Aika’ eclipses its predecessor, sitting comfortably beside the best albums they’ve ever created.
