Moonsorrow (2001) Suden Uni

“It definitely grows on you”

I have to admit I was a little worried when I ordered a copy of Suden Uni (Wolf's Dream). Beyond having "Pakanajuhla" on an old CD I got from a friend, I literally knew nothing about Moonsorrow. Still, I enjoyed the interesting mix of metal and folk music it presented, so I dove in head first despite the fact I try to make my purchases as informed as possible. Additionally, while I like my music heavy, some metal is a bit too heavy for my taste. Given what I had already heard, Moonsorrow’s music appeared to be on the borderline, making my eventual love or hate an interesting proposition.

So how did things turn out? While I can't say it was smooth sailing right out of the gate, I have to say the album won me over. I can't really say that patience was the key, but it took quite a few listens for things to click, especially when it came to some of the moments within the first three tracks. Solid as those tracks are, it's the second half of the album that gives one the inside skinny on what Moonsorrow is all about. While the lyrics do their fair share of lifting, a song like "Tuulen koti, aaltojen koti" (Home of the Wind, Home of the Waves) comes off more as an instrumental than a typical song. In other words, the music is at the forefront of the experience here and, quite honestly, I wouldn't want it any other way.

Of course, there are songs where the exact opposite holds true. As important as the folkish influences are to the aforementioned "Pakanajuhla" (Pagan's Feast), it's the ferociousness of the vocals that really ties the track together and makes it the centerpiece of the album. A different yet equally important vocal approach can be heard in 1065: Aika (1065: Time) where a medium between the two extremes makes an eleven minute monster fly by in the blink of an eye. Haunting as this number truly is, the chill it leaves behind is quickly subdued by a short reprise that lays this beast to bed.

CONCLUSION:

All in all, Suden Uni is about risks. While such a statement may seem a given when a band attempts to merge two styles of music together, it's really the nonchalant challenge the album poses to the listener that's the main draw. Good as the music is in its own right, there’s more than a solid debut here – there’s a lesson. That lesson? Take more chances, at least when it comes to music.

Overall Score: 8/10