Band:	Moonsorrow
Album:	Kivenkantaja
Style:	Viking folk metal
Release date:	March 10, 2003
Guest review by:	Mindheist

Disc I
01. Raunioilla
02. Unohduksen Lapsi
03. Jumalten Kaupunki/Tuhatvuotinen Perintö
04. Kivenkantaja
05. Tuulen Tytär/Soturin Tie
06. Matkan Lopussa

Disc II [2008 Reissue]
01. Ukkosenjumalan Poika [live] [bonus]
02. Pakanajuhla [live] [bonus]
03. Sankaritarina [live] [bonus]

After the sophomore opus of Moonsorrow "Voimasta Ja Kunniasta " in 2001, the band recorded Kivenkantaja (Stonebearer) in 2003. Well, I've bought it in early 2004, I chose it among thousands of albums, maybe the title called out to me, but whatever is the reason, it's perfectly done with its influences featuring extravagant, bombastic, heathen metal.

I've been a big heathen metal fan for 3 years. With Moonsorrow I can understand what this band is able to do musically and lyrically, especially when Moonsorrow always retains the same high ratings in each album. No matter how many times you've listened to it it never becomes boring; one of my most played CDs (look at my audioscrobbler) and it never loses its influences of Nordic themes.

Well, let's speak about the music. If you like clear, strong, powerful, epic and melodic music you should love this album. The album starts with a 13:36 song called "Raunioilla", and ends with "Matkan Lopussa." During this album you'll be transported far away into an atmosphere plentiful with sadness and cheerfulness at the same time and ambient but melodious. Songs came out from medieval age, warriors and the chant of their swords came to my mind when I listen to this album for the first time?.a fucking great feeling!!

Moonsorrow has always been about two principal things: "trollish" epic sound, and very long songs that have a very unique folkloric atmosphere like no other. But let's begin describing the music: "Raunioilla" ( "At The Ruins") is the longest song and probably the best. It starts with an orb of misty dark-ambient atmosphere then falls into melodious parts with accordion and acoustic guitar. The keyboards are combined with the guitar and the choir perfectly to create more symphonic/melodic atmosphere followed by a very heavy deep vocal slightly fitted with the music. And despite the long minutes it never feels boring. I could continue to describe it for a while but this kind of music can't be described only by words, you should listen to it over and over. All that you have to know is that "Stonebearer" is a mixture of miscellaneous Heathen Metal albums.

Overall, Stonebearer is a very good album, during these 53:48 minutes I've been proud to own it. I could listen to it thousands and thousands of times and never get bored. Contrary to Voimasta Ja Kunniasta you can start with any track - be sure that you are proudly listening to something no band performs quite like Moonsorrow.