Moonsorrow

Moonsorrow are a Finnish black metal and folk metal group from Helsinki, active since 1995. Their music is also described as pagan metal and viking metal, and the band use the term “epic heathen metal” for their own style. They distinguish their work from both celebratory folk metal and narrower uses of the term Viking metal, instead presenting it as pagan and spiritual in character and intended to be challenging for the listener.

Formation and line-up

The group begins with cousins Ville Sorvali and Henri Sorvali. Ville Sorvali handles vocals and bass, while Henri Sorvali plays guitar and keyboards; he also works as a keyboardist for Finntroll and Barathrum, and as a session member of Ensiferum. The band later adds Mitja Harvilahti and Markus Eurén, after which it begins performing live. Their current line-up also includes Marko Tarvonen.

Style, lyrics and themes

Moonsorrow’s lyrics draw mainly on Finnish mythology, folklore, legends and traditional poetry. Pagan spirituality is a recurring influence, although the members hold different views on paganism. Early lyrics are written in English, but from Tämä ikuinen talvi onwards they are written almost entirely in Finnish, apart from a brief spoken Swedish passage on a re-recording of “Hvergelmir”. The song “Sankaritarina” from Voimasta ja kunniasta includes lyrics translated directly from the Hávamál.

Recorded work

The band’s earliest demos are closer to melodic black metal than their later material. Their debut album, Suden uni, appears in 2001 after being recorded in early 2000, and it includes elements of Finnish paganism and folk music. The same year, they also release Tämä ikuinen talvi, a re-release of a 1999 demo. This is followed by Voimasta ja kunniasta in 2001, Kivenkantaja in 2003 and Verisäkeet in 2005. Verisäkeet adds ambient sounds such as birdsong and fire crackling between tracks.

In 2007, Moonsorrow release Viides luku – Hävitetty, which consists of two long tracks and shows a stronger progressive rock influence. The EP Tulimyrsky follows in 2008 and runs for over an hour, combining one new song, two re-recorded older songs and two cover songs. Their sixth studio album, Varjoina kuljemme kuolleiden maassa, is released in 2011, and Jumalten aika follows in 2016.

Labels and releases

Moonsorrow sign a two-album deal with Spinefarm Records in 2006 and later move to Century Media Records in 2012. Tulimyrsky is issued worldwide by Spinefarm, with a later German-language release through Drakkar Entertainment in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. The band also releases the collected box set Heritage: 1995–2008 – The Collected Works through Blood Music in 2014 as a fourteen-LP set. Drakkar Records is also listed among the band’s labels.

Live activity and later history

Moonsorrow play their first United States show in January 2006 at the Heathen Crusade Metalfest in Columbia Heights, Minnesota. In 2021, they cancel a planned appearance at Steelfest after far-right-related acts are added to the bill. Over the years, the band faces repeated accusations of association with right-wing extremism, while stating that they do not hold far-right political views.

Associated project

The side project Lakupaavi also draws criticism for homophobic lyrics.