This album is horrible. It's a shameless and the worst, weaker copy of Moonsorrow. Their debut may be a bit party-like metal, but it was fresh and original compared to the competition. One of the big disappointments of the year.

I really like this album.

Very nice review! I hope I'll 'find a little gem in this album' As I've read the influences it can't be bad! ..even if it isn't so original :/

A very good review and a very good album !

As most of you noticed, not the most original work ever. A good listen anyway.

Quite good. Better, in fact, than their first album. The review is spot on. Admittedly there are a lot of bands that sound like them, but this is among the best releases in this style. The only bit I disagree about is the accordion making it less complex or interesting. As for this Moonsorrow clone stuff, this is bull shit. Every Moonsorrow album sounds exactly the same, so Moonsorrow itself is certainly the worst offender of all in that department.

Reviewed this myself some time ago .. there are so few good folk/pagan/viking bands nowadays and this album really appealed to me .. the previous Finsterforst album is boring as hell and this, while being a partial ripoff of Moonsorrow, offers great atmosphere and melodies .. i rated it 9/10 or so

One of the more thoughtful reviews I've read recently. After listening to the myspace teasers I think I'll go for these idiots in the middle. haha ... Moonsorrow meets Equilibrium indeed ... this should be listened to open air. Doesn't sound generic to me at all.

Written by Elio on 26.03.2009 at 23:38

As most of you noticed, not the most original work ever. A good listen anyway.

Hehe definitely While I was listening to it the 1st time my brother came into my room and asked if it was the new Moonsorrow album? xd

Written by tuerda on 27.03.2009 at 07:17

Quite good. Better, in fact, than their first album. The review is spot on. Admittedly there are a lot of bands that sound like them, but this is among the best releases in this style. The only bit I disagree about is the accordion making it less complex or interesting. As for this Moonsorrow clone stuff, this is bull shit. Every Moonsorrow album sounds exactly the same, so Moonsorrow itself is certainly the worst offender of all in that department.

Don't get me wrong...I really like your taste in music, but listen to what you are saying. Moonsorrow is an offender because they sound like THEMSELVES? Now I did like the lastest Finsterforst release, but everytime I listen to it I keep waiting to hear the Moonsorrow singer. I think finsterforst has much talent, and they will continue to develop in their own unique way, but it's only their second album, and is by no means original or revolutionary. Kivenkantaja was revolutionary.

Written by Konrad on 08.04.2009 at 17:50

Written by tuerda on 27.03.2009 at 07:17

Quite good. Better, in fact, than their first album. The review is spot on. Admittedly there are a lot of bands that sound like them, but this is among the best releases in this style. The only bit I disagree about is the accordion making it less complex or interesting. As for this Moonsorrow clone stuff, this is bull shit. Every Moonsorrow album sounds exactly the same, so Moonsorrow itself is certainly the worst offender of all in that department.

Don't get me wrong...I really like your taste in music, but listen to what you are saying. Moonsorrow is an offender because they sound like THEMSELVES? Now I did like the lastest Finsterforst release, but everytime I listen to it I keep waiting to hear the Moonsorrow singer. I think finsterforst has much talent, and they will continue to develop in their own unique way, but it's only their second album, and is by no means original or revolutionary. Kivenkantaja was revolutionary.

I think you miss my point. Moonsorrow only ever made one album. Then they went into the studio and made the same album again . . . and again . . . and again. Don't get my wrong, I love moonsorrow, but something is unique and fresh only the first time you do it. After that well . . . then its just recycling. Moonsorrow is a 1 trick pony (don't get me wrong, its a great trick, but there is only one). Finsterforst, on the other hand, has shown significant evolution from one album to the next. I think this alone is enough to dispell any notions of becoming a simple moonsorrow ripoff. I suppose we will have to wait until the next album before issuing a final veredict though.

Good review which depicts well their universe and music.

I like a lot this album. Their music sublimates at once the aggressiveness of extreme metal and the emotion of the folk music.

Furthermore, the use of the accordion brings a lot on this album, going from cheerful melodies to heavy atmospheres loaded of emotions. A really nice use of this intrument IMO.

Finally, even if there are only five titles on this album, they are long but really adapted to the band's approach. I found this album like a trip which depicts and personifies the duality of the man and the nature while the minutes spend.

Written by tuerda on 09.04.2009 at 08:46

Written by Konrad on 08.04.2009 at 17:50

Written by tuerda on 27.03.2009 at 07:17

Quite good. Better, in fact, than their first album. The review is spot on. Admittedly there are a lot of bands that sound like them, but this is among the best releases in this style. The only bit I disagree about is the accordion making it less complex or interesting. As for this Moonsorrow clone stuff, this is bull shit. Every Moonsorrow album sounds exactly the same, so Moonsorrow itself is certainly the worst offender of all in that department.

Don't get me wrong...I really like your taste in music, but listen to what you are saying. Moonsorrow is an offender because they sound like THEMSELVES? Now I did like the lastest Finsterforst release, but everytime I listen to it I keep waiting to hear the Moonsorrow singer. I think finsterforst has much talent, and they will continue to develop in their own unique way, but it's only their second album, and is by no means original or revolutionary. Kivenkantaja was revolutionary.

I think you miss my point. Moonsorrow only ever made one album. Then they went into the studio and made the same album again . . . and again . . . and again. Don't get my wrong, I love moonsorrow, but something is unique and fresh only the first time you do it. After that well . . . then its just recycling. Moonsorrow is a 1 trick pony (don't get me wrong, its a great trick, but there is only one). Finsterforst, on the other hand, has shown significant evolution from one album to the next. I think this alone is enough to dispell any notions of becoming a simple moonsorrow ripoff. I suppose we will have to wait until the next album before issuing a final veredict though.

Agreed.

Written by tuerda on 09.04.2009 at 08:46

Written by Konrad on 08.04.2009 at 17:50

Written by tuerda on 27.03.2009 at 07:17

Quite good. Better, in fact, than their first album. The review is spot on. Admittedly there are a lot of bands that sound like them, but this is among the best releases in this style. The only bit I disagree about is the accordion making it less complex or interesting. As for this Moonsorrow clone stuff, this is bull shit. Every Moonsorrow album sounds exactly the same, so Moonsorrow itself is certainly the worst offender of all in that department.

Don't get me wrong...I really like your taste in music, but listen to what you are saying. Moonsorrow is an offender because they sound like THEMSELVES? Now I did like the lastest Finsterforst release, but everytime I listen to it I keep waiting to hear the Moonsorrow singer. I think finsterforst has much talent, and they will continue to develop in their own unique way, but it's only their second album, and is by no means original or revolutionary. Kivenkantaja was revolutionary.

I think you miss my point. Moonsorrow only ever made one album. Then they went into the studio and made the same album again . . . and again . . . and again. Don't get my wrong, I love moonsorrow, but something is unique and fresh only the first time you do it. After that well . . . then its just recycling. Moonsorrow is a 1 trick pony (don't get me wrong, its a great trick, but there is only one). Finsterforst, on the other hand, has shown significant evolution from one album to the next. I think this alone is enough to dispell any notions of becoming a simple moonsorrow ripoff. I suppose we will have to wait until the next album before issuing a final veredict though.

Have you even properly listen to Moonsorrow? Because there are significant changes with there albums. Suden Uni and Voimasta Ja Kunniasta sure sound a bit the same but there was already a change of approach Kivenkantaja a more cleaner and slower sound, but the changes started to get more clear with Verisäkeet where they really "blackend" there sound and with the releases V: Hävitetty and Tulimyrsky the Folk Metal element almost completely disappears and it sounds way more Viking Black with some other genres in the mix. If you already disregard these changes as nothing, then I don't understand why you say Finsterforst really has changed from there debut since the changes are similar. Desptie that I have to say this album is better then their debut, the production is cleaner, the song structure is better layered. The vocals are still repetitve tough. A good Moonsorrow worship album

I have to agree TOTALLY with Pétur. Reading Tuerda's post made my heart suffer.

Written by tuerda on 09.04.2009 at 08:46

Written by Konrad on 08.04.2009 at 17:50

Written by tuerda on 27.03.2009 at 07:17

Quite good. Better, in fact, than their first album. The review is spot on. Admittedly there are a lot of bands that sound like them, but this is among the best releases in this style. The only bit I disagree about is the accordion making it less complex or interesting. As for this Moonsorrow clone stuff, this is bull shit. Every Moonsorrow album sounds exactly the same, so Moonsorrow itself is certainly the worst offender of all in that department.

Don't get me wrong...I really like your taste in music, but listen to what you are saying. Moonsorrow is an offender because they sound like THEMSELVES? Now I did like the lastest Finsterforst release, but everytime I listen to it I keep waiting to hear the Moonsorrow singer. I think finsterforst has much talent, and they will continue to develop in their own unique way, but it's only their second album, and is by no means original or revolutionary. Kivenkantaja was revolutionary.

I think you miss my point. Moonsorrow only ever made one album. Then they went into the studio and made the same album again . . . and again . . . and again. Don't get my wrong, I love moonsorrow, but something is unique and fresh only the first time you do it. After that well . . . then its just recycling. Moonsorrow is a 1 trick pony (don't get me wrong, its a great trick, but there is only one). Finsterforst, on the other hand, has shown significant evolution from one album to the next. I think this alone is enough to dispell any notions of becoming a simple moonsorrow ripoff. I suppose we will have to wait until the next album before issuing a final veredict though.

I don't want to talk about Moonsorrow in this topic but what you said is just not true!

Bah, I've gone and said something that made everyone go off topic. If moonsorrow fanboyz want to come and attack me you may do so someplace that doesn't interfere with a good review of a good album. There are plenty of other ways to do it. I may even take the time to respond to a modest quantity of what you say. I also plan to go compare moonsorrow records to each other as per petur's suggestion and maybe see something I didn't see the other billion times.

I never thought this review would get so many replies

Thanks a lot for all the comments and the vivid discussion. Finsterforst are still considered as newcomers here in Germany where they've opened Ragnarök Festival and apparently they'll also get a very early slot at Wolfszeit Festival as no one really cares about them. Is it just me or are they indeed that more well-known abroad?

Btw, in the initial draft of the review I've had the lack of originality mentioned at the end as one of the factors which might put off the Moonsorrow/Primordial/Thyrfing fellowship, but eventually decided against it as they, in my opinion at least, indeed draw lots of inspiration from Moonsorrow, but are still doing it the Finsterforst way, so that you never really have the impression that you're listening to another band than Finsterforst. Thus the grade I've given for originality: 6.5-7 for sounding so Moonsorrow-ish in the songwriting, 8.5-9 for sounding like Finsterforst in the execution resulted in an overall originality rating of 8.

Wow, by now I have listened to this album 12 times and I can say I liked it more and more after each listen!

This album is just amazing...the long tracks are perfect in every second, also the guitar riffs are outstanding. One of the best albums of the year.

Made me want to check it out...

Finally got it and I must admit it rocks! Very Moonsorrow-ish yet unique with the upbeat accordion.

Ummm... 8 for originality? I guess every Moonsorrow album gets then 10...

Good review mention Finnish sortha folk party band inspirations here. I wish you come back and write more reviews