Moonsorrow: V: HavitettyMoonsorrow Rises to New Heights:
A Review of V: Hävitetty
Patrick Sullivan
Black Oak Presents
Spring 2007

After the release of Moonsorrow’s last album, Verisakeet, it was clear that the band had undertaken a marked change in style. The Finnish quintet’s music had gone from a lively blend of grand Bathory inspired metal and traditional Finnish folk-melodies to something with an entirely different feel. Gone were the prevalent synth overtones and catchy folk flourishes reminiscent of Finntroll (with whom Moonsorrow shares a member).  The new sound consisted of something much more dark, mysterious, and compact.  It seemed Moonsorrow was starting to find their sound and break apart from their roots.

With the release of Moonsorrow’s fifth studio album, aptly titled Chapter V: Ravaged (V: Hävitetty), the band seems to have settled into this new direction and have fine-tuned what they hinted at with Verisakeet while charging full speed ahead.  It seems, perhaps, that Moonsorrow has found the sound that will define them.  Chapter V blends the mysterious and compact aspects of their last album while regaining much of their former energy and liveliness. This clash of ideals is not something that can easily be pulled off, but they have succeeded.

The music takes on a highly progressive tone, which demonstrates the band’s willingness to work outside what is expected of most metal bands. Clean guitars are interwoven with the distorted seamlessly while the synth elements blend in and accompany the compositions naturally. The resulting product is a highly emotional album that feels less like a "folk-metal" album and more like a "historical-metal" album. There is an air of desperation in the music that can only come from inside an individual and not from a story or a myth. Not many of the particular themes of music stick out, but the album as a whole has a unique feel that grabs hold of you and won’t let go.

The album clocks in at roughly 57 minutes and consists of only 2 tracks. Although an album bifurcated into two songs well over twenty minutes apiece might seem like a gimmick, everything about this setup makes perfect sense. Because the singular tracks are not composed in any traditional structure, the songs never become predictable or boring. The progressive shift in songwriting and the set-up of the album give off a distinct vibe that is akin to a Waters/Gilmour era Pink-Floyd album, Animals in particular.

Chapter V: Ravaged is the sound of a band progressing and setting themselves apart from the pack.  It is exciting to witness any group that can transcend a genre and rise above being just a great "metal" band to be simply a great band.

For more information, visit www.Moonsorrow.com.

Patrick Sullivan is fidgety, thinks too much, and can never relax. He lives on Chicago's north side and enjoys ice cream.  Sometimes he writes music reviews for Black Oak Presents.

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