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Moonsorrow - Jumalten Aika review



Reviewer:
8.8

523 users:
8.58
Band: Moonsorrow
Album: Jumalten Aika
Style: Viking folk metal
Release date: April 01, 2016
A review by: Dream Taster


01. Jumalten Aika
02. Ruttolehto Incl. Päivättömän Päivän Kansa
03. Suden Tunti
04. Mimisbrunn
05. Ihmisen Aika (Kumarrus Pimeyteen)
06. Soulless [Grave cover] [bonus]
07. Non Serviam [Rotting Christ cover] [bonus]

Sharpen your wooden spear and brush your bear pelt, epic heathen metal is making a comeback with the return of one of the most famous Finnish bands out there, Moonsorrow. It has been five years already since the dark sonic haunts of Varjoina Kuljemme Kuolleiden Maassa so the release of Jumalten Aika does feel like a return in earnest. Meaning "The Age of Gods", their latest offering is a true rebirth of that larger-than-life pagan metal sound.

With a steady lineup and a winning formula, the Helsinki natives didn't need to reinvent the wheel. And they haven't. So if you were hoping for an evolution, this album is not providing it. You could say the band stayed true to form. With 5 tracks for a running time of 67 minutes, you know you are in for the renowned Moonsorrow experience. My first impressions were that this could pass as Verisäkeet Part II. And that vibe holds strong and true through many listens. Intrigued? You should be.

The Sorvali cousins brought back the heavy artillery. Flutes, chanting and other heavy folk-oriented instruments, melodies and structures are everywhere. But despite the emphasis on the folk aspect of their sound, the pervasive darkened atmosphere of their earlier works has been successfully recreated. The music is epic and massive, emotional and intense. The record demands repeating listens to grow. Their fans wouldn't expect anything less. As expected Ville Sorvali is making use of his arsenal of soul-shattering screams and shrieks to dynamite the songs.

Drummer Marko Tarvonen revealed in a recent interview that the album contained more black metal influences than usual and we get a good sense of that when listening to "Suden Tunti". This slower and more aggressive song does feel like an Ajatarra track. Overall the band has gone back to crafting compositions with ample emotional contrast. That wasn't necessarily the case on their previous release, which started with dark feelings and ended in despair with little room for uplifting moments along the way. Jumalten Aika is more of an extreme ride through the spectrum of human emotions, again, like Verisäkeet was. Essentially Moonsorrow have re-centered their music towards what made them most popular and it is hitting the spot. And how about an inspired cover of Rotting Christ's "Non Serviam" as a bonus track?

With Jumalten Aika you get to experience another quality folk story of epic proportion. Evolution was not needed nor wanted. So the bards of Moonsorrow have done what they do best. And they have done it to perfection once more. A true journey through the icy landscape of the land of the thousand lakes is in store for you. Bring your sharpened spear along, adventure awaits.


Rating breakdown
Performance: 9
Songwriting: 8
Originality: 7
Production: 9





Written on 27.03.2016 by Bringing you reviews of quality music and interesting questions such as:

"A picture is worth a thousand words. How many words is a song worth?"

I have only got so much patience and skills, you do the math.


Comments

Comments: 15   Visited by: 611 users
27.03.2016 - 01:30
Rating: 7
Karlabos
Meat and Potatos
this could pass as Verisäkeet Part II - Now that's the pharse I needed to listen.
Too bad the mortal ones still need to wait till the release date, oh well...
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"Aah! The cat turned into a cat!"
- Reimu Hakurei
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27.03.2016 - 04:10
Bad English
Tage Westerlund
Nice review I hope to hear it asap, soon it will be out but one problem is, band should choose diferent cover songs to record, those 2 as original bands don't fits into this genre
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I stand whit Ukraine and Israel. They have right to defend own citizens.

Stormtroopers of Death - "Speak English or Die"

I better die, because I never will learn speek english, so I choose dieing
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27.03.2016 - 07:27
Rating: 8
flightoficarus
Stamp Tramp
Getting excited
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Daily underground metal recommendations at Metal Trenches.
Watch metal content on the Metal Trenches YouTube Channel.
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27.03.2016 - 13:52
Rating: 9
Veertje
My year in metal is already complete: another awesome Moonsorrow album and Draugnim's Vulturine, what more do you need?
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27.03.2016 - 17:19
3rdWorld
China was a neat
Written by Veertje on 27.03.2016 at 13:52

My year in metal is already complete: another awesome Moonsorrow album and Draugnim's Vulturine, what more do you need?

Well I need another Elysian Blaze album for my metal year to feel complete.
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28.03.2016 - 00:26
mikeprado30
Please release it NOW!!!!
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BARDS WE ARE, BARDS WE WILL BE!
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28.03.2016 - 12:12
Rating: 9
Pikemaster
I honestly don't see anything same in the atmosphere with Verisäkeet. Yea black metal influences are strong but lyrically and musically pretty different.
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"Soon its tail raises the mud
The beast is ready for attack
The reel screams the line beings to run
And the struggle shall begin"
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28.03.2016 - 18:24
Rulatore
First this

Quote:
this could pass as Verisäkeet Part II.

I'm super excited

then this...

Written by Pikemaster on 28.03.2016 at 12:12

I honestly don't see anything same in the atmosphere with Verisäkeet. Yea black metal influences are strong but lyrically and musically pretty different.

Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

But in a serious note, nice review, can't wait for it
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28.03.2016 - 21:25
Borgir
Cant wait to hear what this will sound like! Anyways I am very lucky because I get to see this album release show! Hell yeah!
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30.03.2016 - 19:22
Rating: 9
Daniell
_爱情_
Elite
If my initial impression of the album holds, it'll be an album of the year contender. What it is is essentially an excellent amalgamation of everything that makes Moonsorrow such a good band.
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30.03.2016 - 22:47
RockSplendid
It was a superbly catching blackened folk sound! That's all I can ask from Moonsorrow!

I loved the bonus tracks as well!
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02.04.2016 - 00:23
Bad English
Tage Westerlund
Written by RockSplendid on 30.03.2016 at 22:47



I loved the bonus tracks as well!

just tried, those are weakest point (even nice to hear those dudes in English) wrong bands to cover
----
I stand whit Ukraine and Israel. They have right to defend own citizens.

Stormtroopers of Death - "Speak English or Die"

I better die, because I never will learn speek english, so I choose dieing
Loading...
02.04.2016 - 00:51
RockSplendid
Written by Bad English on 02.04.2016 at 00:23

Written by RockSplendid on 30.03.2016 at 22:47



I loved the bonus tracks as well!

just tried, those are weakest point (even nice to hear those dudes in English) wrong bands to cover

The Rotting Christ cover is good imo, though that might not be the best Moonsorrow can offer! They have much more epic and folkish sounds!
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05.04.2016 - 10:59
Rating: 9
Daniell
_爱情_
Elite
I have the edition without covers. I don't even care to listen to those covers online, because they don't matter. Covers in general are redundant and I have no interest in them.
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09.05.2016 - 17:41
Y
Another masterpiece album in this year..
nice review.
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