After being lumped together with the folk metal scene for so long, it seems that Moonsorrow‘s gradual efforts to shift away from this have finally paid off. ‘Varjoina Kuljemme Kuolleiden Maassa‘ sees the band move away from their fable-based fare and melodic black metal standards for a much bleaker outlook on both a lyrical and musical scale; where short interludes give even pacing to a tapestry of hopelessness and undesired nihilism.
It should be mentioned however, that for all the pagan and folk associations with the term “epic heathen metal” (how Moonsorrow refer to their music); this is in itself not a deviation away from that style but rather an evolution of it. The first listen to the album certainly has strong surprises for those more accustomed to the band’s back catalogue; one of which being how they’ve chosen to play around with melody throughout the record.
As is fitting for an album which seeks to be so desolate yet desperate at once, there is considerably less melody here as compared to previous releases. However, when there is indeed melody it seems to have two roles – to work against the grain of bitter metal in play, and to swirl along into a negated aura against frontman Ville Sorvali’s full-throated cries of anguish. Perhaps due to Moonsorrow‘s personal investment in their craft along with ongoing persistence, the melodic keys can achieve this mainly since they do sound solid enough to be genuine slices of dream pop – a bonus in their favor which most other extreme bands aim for, yet often fail to reach.
The more poetic listeners might be tempted to even refer to such obvious contrasts as an allegory for man’s rage (the metal and Sorvali’s vocals) against heaven (the aforementioned keys). Taking into account what aurally goes on in fifth track ‘Huuto‘ and other moments, without meaning to be pretentious it does seem that they wouldn’t be far off.
8/10
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Metal-Meltdown 
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