Band:	Moonsorrow
Album:	Voimasta Ja Kunniasta
Style:	Viking folk metal
Release date:	November 26, 2001
Guest review by:	Talvi

01. Tyven
02. Sankarihauta
03. Kylän Päässä
04. Hiidenpelto incl. Häpeän Hiljaiset Vedet
05. Aurinko Ja Kuu
06. Sankaritarina

To truly understand the rating I give to this album you must listen to the music; but don't listen to see if the vocals are good, or the drums, guitar or keyboard. Ok, you may say that this is a Viking metal album and metal is about... NO. This is a very atmospheric album, more than metal, and that is what it counts here. This album makes you travel through space and time to where Vikings live in wartime. And you are there. This is my feeling when listening to this. And you know what? I love Vikings!

But let's talk about the music. What you will hear here is a very well done epic Viking (or heathen like they call themselves) metal. Beginning with "Tyven" and ending with "Sankaritarina" you will be in a very atmospheric musical experience. One of the things that makes this album unique is the riffs. Are they epic? Yes. Are they boring? No. Are they repeated endlessly? Yes. Does it make it boring? No. Does it create a fucking atmosphere? Hell, yeah!

In fact, let's begin describing the music. "Tyven" is a keyboard driven prologue, in which there is only a riff, repeated until the end, preparing the atmosphere, until "Sankarihauta" explodes where "Tyven" ends. The main riff is repeated in nearly 80% of the song, but it never feels boring or monotone. There are two main breaks, one at 3:30 (the scream here is the best metal scream, trust me!) and other at the end, where the keyboard takes the lead and it's fucking great! The feeling of that is indescribable. Just hear it and see Vikings in all their glory.

If I had to tell which song is the best I just couldn't because this little piece of music is just perfectly done. "Sankarihauta" is the perfect opener, because if you don't like this, I doubt you will like the rest of the album. "Kylän Päässä" is the heaviest track, and "Sankaritarina" the most atmospheric and longest. But don't worry, you won't bore. Just when you think the song is beginning, it just ended, and about 13 minutes had gone like 5. It's like that, it has happened my always, even I've heard this song hundreds of times.

I could still describe what I believe is my favorite album, but this can't be described merely by words. Just hear the album. If you like extreme metal, know this band has the best screams I've heard ever. If you like melodic metal, don't worry, because there is enough melody for you. Hell, if you like music the then kill, destroy to get this album!