A friend of mine threw some of this stuff at me recently and I have to say it's nothing like anything I normally listen to. In all honesty, I dig the music to no end, but know very, very little of this band.
Any help?
Any help?
Any Moonsorrow fans here?
- Thread starter edgeofthorns
- Start date
Dark One
The Tainted Dogma
You're talking my kind of language. Moonsorrow is one of the best of the Viking Black/Death metal bands to come out of the Scandanavian area (they are from Finland). Combining folkish melodies, traditional instruments with crushing riffs, complex song structures and mostly growling style vocals, they generally have around 5 songs per album and have two distinct periods in their history - the earlier, more "jollyfolk" sound for lack of a better term and the latter, more serious sounding version of their craft.
Every single one of their five albums are worthing owning; however, I would say that "Voimasta Ja Kuniasta" and "Verisakeet" and the soon to be released "V: Havitetty" are your best bets. The first one mentioned is amazingly catchy and contains perhaps the most accessible and immediately gratifying songs in their catalogue. The latter two albums are from their later period, in which the song structures and seriousness of the sound grow more and more complex, but with some astonishing results. They take a lot longer to absorb, but the payoff is fantastic. I'd say, start at Voimasta and work your way forward, but really, you can't go wrong.
Oh yeah, and they headlined their first U.S. show last year at the Heathen Crusade festival and rocked the house down. Great, great stuff.
Here's their website - www.moonsorrow.com
Jason
Every single one of their five albums are worthing owning; however, I would say that "Voimasta Ja Kuniasta" and "Verisakeet" and the soon to be released "V: Havitetty" are your best bets. The first one mentioned is amazingly catchy and contains perhaps the most accessible and immediately gratifying songs in their catalogue. The latter two albums are from their later period, in which the song structures and seriousness of the sound grow more and more complex, but with some astonishing results. They take a lot longer to absorb, but the payoff is fantastic. I'd say, start at Voimasta and work your way forward, but really, you can't go wrong.
Oh yeah, and they headlined their first U.S. show last year at the Heathen Crusade festival and rocked the house down. Great, great stuff.
Here's their website - www.moonsorrow.com
Jason
Here Moonsorrow playing "Ukkosenjumalan Poika" live in Osnabrück at Winternoise Festival - 13.01.2007
This is even newer, Moonsorrow ten days ago @ Bar Le Trash St-Hyacinthe in Quebec
More live vids *here*
Their new CD "Hävitetty" (Destroyed) has only two tracks, both 30+ mins, but don't let it scare you.
Moonsorrow CDs at www.recordshopx.com
This is even newer, Moonsorrow ten days ago @ Bar Le Trash St-Hyacinthe in Quebec
More live vids *here*
Their new CD "Hävitetty" (Destroyed) has only two tracks, both 30+ mins, but don't let it scare you.
Moonsorrow CDs at www.recordshopx.com
General Zod
Ruler of Australia
The Invisible Guest
Member
Well, at least two (Zod & Dark One) of the Wacken attendees will be in heaven when Moonsorrow hits the stage. I think the music is pretty interesting here and there, but the vocals are terrible, and the songs are a little long winded.
Britt
Britt
I'm like you Britt, I can do without the vocals, but from what little I've heard so far the vocals aren't a main component of their music. I stress that I've heard very little so far though. I really like the atmosphere and the music these guys create.
Thanks for the comments so far....
BenMech
student of the d'eh
You can't go wrong with any Moonsorrow.
The vocals are in no way bad. You just have a very specific prejudice against anything not powermetal melodic smooth, I would think.
The song you'd wanna hear frst for their bombastic tendencies is spelled something like Raunniolla from their Kivenkentaja album
The vocals are in no way bad. You just have a very specific prejudice against anything not powermetal melodic smooth, I would think.
The song you'd wanna hear frst for their bombastic tendencies is spelled something like Raunniolla from their Kivenkentaja album
The Invisible Guest
Member
I like some death vox, just not the style found in Moonsorrow. I like the death vox of bands like November's Doom, Opeth, and Amon Amarth for example. I don't care much at all for the majority of death/extreme vocals found in the black/extreme genres. I wouldn't really call Moonsorrow all that extreme, but their vocal style seems more similar to black/extreme than it does more traditional death metal.
Britt
Dark One
The Tainted Dogma
Good observation, I agree with you on this. Their style of growling vocals (while less harsh than many bands on the real extreme fringe), is still less accessible than the smooth growl of a November's Doom or an Opeth. I can easily see where it would take a much longer period of time to get into, if at all. Very much an acquired taste.
Jason
mtndewqueen88
Mark the Music
How funny that this thread is brought up today! I was just listening to a track a friend gave me ages ago - Kylän Päässä from their first album - and thinking that I should really buy it.
In fact, it's prompted me to consider a folk/black metal buying spree. I'm excited now.
In fact, it's prompted me to consider a folk/black metal buying spree. I'm excited now.
General Zod
Ruler of Australia
I think the best way to approach Moonsorrow is with headphones on. The music, especially on the last few discs, is heavy on atmosphere, much of which is lost if your listening in your car. Try throwing queuing up some Moonsorrow before bed, with your iPod, when you can really let yourself be absorbed by the music.
Smooth?
Zod
dcowboys311
Member
Dark One
The Tainted Dogma
Heh - I mean smooth as in their styles of growling are far less rough around the edges than so many other singers that employ the technique. I know it's sort of a contradiction to associate a growling vocal style with the word "smooth", but I just basically mean their accessibility as opposed to other growlers.
Regardless, those pictures made me lol.
Jason
Dark One
The Tainted Dogma
That song is actually from Voimasta Ja Kunniasta, their second album that I listed as a recommendation above. The first is called Suden Uni, which has been re-released along with a bonus DVD of the band performing at the Tuska Open Air festival. In any case, that's easily one of their best songs.
Jason
mtndewqueen88
Mark the Music
Oh thank you, the website I was using didn't have Suden Uni listed. Looks like the friend that gave the song to me has good taste
. Either way, I think Voimasta Ja Kunniasta will go on my short-list for CD purchases.
General Zod
Ruler of Australia
I know what you meant... I was busting your balls. I simply find the word "smooth" an interesting choice to describe Death vocals.
Zod
AMBR
Metal Grandma
Agreed. I like them a lot of the music and atmosphere. The vocals aren't bad, but could be better, but maybe I just don't like that "style" of death or whatever. Saw them live, and they put on a very entertaining show. If they were on the bill of a multi-band show, I'd take the time out to see them, but I wouldn't travel very far just for them.
I'll be in heaven when they hit the stage as well. Saw their NA debut last year it they kicked ass, can't wait to see them again. I also think the vocals are good.
I downloaded Moonsorrow's Viides Luku - Havitetty this morning from Amazon's digital services. It sounds like epic sounding stuff, but it's odd that it's only two songs clocking in at 30 minutes each.
I think it would be cool to see Moonsorrow or a band within the "viking metal" sub-genre hit the ProgPower stage as an oddball one year. Any thoughts?
~Brian~
I think it would be cool to see Moonsorrow or a band within the "viking metal" sub-genre hit the ProgPower stage as an oddball one year. Any thoughts?
~Brian~
