| | Full Review | Ratings (490) |
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| 4.5 superb | Dizchu | March 29th 16 |
Takes elements from all their previous albums and presents them in a fresh way. Second listen was better than the first and there's no doubt that this'll be a grower like their other albums.
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| 4.0 excellent | TheManMachine | May 27th 16 |
Can't say they (like most) are able to wind through a 5-track 67-minute metal epic without growing at least a wee bit burdensome, but oof do they wind through. From the broad and never vagabond ebb-n-flow to the earnest as fuck chanting to the seamless transitioning in and outta heavy+roaring riffery/incantational in-a-storm fossil folk/boingy-boing breakdowns, this is a masterstroke in the commixing of savage, seasoned, triumphant, traditional. An odyssey where gremlin-esque zoogenic snarls and direly dusty shouts of anguish are as imperative as the call-n-response fragile wizard and larger than life group-gods, the crushing+furious as riveting as the tender acoustics and ominous outdoorsy atmospherics of rope-creaks and bubblin' streams. See memorabilia-of-masterstroke "Mimisbrunn" for an adept sum-up of these fine traits, but plz refer to entire masterstroke for the masterstroke.
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| 3.5 great | Alabaster Jones | April 7th 16 |
One of the most consistent pagan metal bands in the world, the Finnish quintet known as Moonsorrow continue to release some great material, with a vigor that truly embodies how soulful and emotional their music is. Ville Sorvali mans lead vocals, and once again turns in an impassioned and forceful performance. The songwriting is pretty good, but it initially starts out merely decent. Some long-winded passages within the first three tracks unfortunately slow the pace down and interrupt the flow of the music. That said, the sections around these passages are excellent enough, but could've been better without the interruption. The last two tracks, however, are a clinic in how to write a longer pagan metal song and keep the listeners interest throughout. They contain just the right amount of everything: black metal-influenced riffs and drumming, passages with soaring choral vocals with epic riffs behind them, tense acoustic sections, and a little bit of cheese. It's not their best effort, but it doesn't change that Jumalten Aika has some fantastic moments, and is certainly worthy of addition to the Moonsorrow discography.
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| 3.2 good | Erwann S. EMERITUS | September 20th 23 |
Epic folk pagan viking metal whose overblown and cheesy characteristic can't hide the good songs hiding under all that (pretty) production. Still not really my thang.
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| 3.0 good | Santa Koopa | September 7th 22 |
familiar morrow epicness for the first half hour then mires itself into indistinguishable white noise
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| 3.5 great | zaruyache | February 3rd 19 |
not the best Moonsorrow album but for viking metal it's still very good. Just not the goodest.
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| 4.5 superb | 05McDonaldT | January 10th 18 |
They simply can do no wrong. The latest in a long line of classic records from the Finns.
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| 4.5 superb | cjbizzlebizzle | June 21st 16 |
On Jumalten Aika the legendary Finnish group Moonsorrow are able to blend black metal, folk, pagan and viking elements with a dash of progressive writing to create an experience greater than the sum of its parts. Throughout its runtime the listener is presented with moods ranging from epic to desperate, haunting to primal. The folksy, symphonic elements of the recording blend into the metal base seamlessly to elevate the atmosphere to one that feels authentic rather than clunky. Ruttolehto sis. Paivattoman Paivan kansa is perhaps the best track to personify Jumalten Aika. The song starts with an epic chant leading into groovy viking metal riffs which descend into desparate, manic screams over black metal madness only to go almost completely silent beyond a mouth harp and nordic chanting. It wraps up with down-tempo, epic metal riffs and a flute solo section. That may sound like a lot but the 15-minute masterpiece flies by with an almost cinematic air to it. As mentioned by others, Moonsorrow create so many memorable riffs and moments that it is hard to keep track of. Clocking in at almost 70 minutes the album feels like a page-turner thanks in part to the absolutely sublime songwriting and overall composition from track-to-track.
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| 2.5 average | EasterInTheBatcave | June 7th 16 |
Five lengthy symphonic black metal tracks. Well-produced, unlike much of black metal, but that is good due to the density of this material. A lo-fi production job would have obscured much of the detail. It's overly repetitious in spots, but it's a good record.
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| 3.5 great | MRDi | May 1st 16 |
T have listened to this album more than 15 times. It is "great", but not "superb". They ahve lost something.
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| 4.5 superb | Xenorazr | April 8th 16 |
After listening to Jumalten Aika, I'm ashamed to say that this is only my first full outing with the blackened folk brilliance of Moonsorrow. What a release, easy Album of the Year contender already. I love that the band can draw their songs out while mostly keeping disinterest at bay, especially in the later tracks. The dark nature of their black metal elements is definitely present, but the fact they go for a touch of folk means the music has a melodic flair that other similar artists simply can't (or won't) replicate. This plays so much to Moonsorrow's favor, because while the music is undoubtedly on the moody side, it's also surprisingly catchy, especially during the closing sections of each song, save for "Suden Tunti," which works quite the opposite and, thanks to its shorter length, means it makes a nice twist to throw right in the middle of the album. The entire record simply begs to be re-listened, and though I'm trying to listen to as many new metal albums as I can take this year, Moonsorrow are going to make listening to works other than their own particularly difficult.
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| 3.2 good | Trey STAFF | April 5th 16 |
I don't like folk metal. I find a majority of it to be very cheesy. This band has always been an exception. Another good release from the top of the folk metal pile.
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| 4.0 excellent | L4titudes | April 1st 16 |
Suden Tunti has to be the best folk metal song I've ever heard
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| 4.5 superb | ItsOnlySkinDeep | March 30th 16 |
On par with Verisakeet. Easily a Top 5 album of the year for me. Moonsorrow got their groove back.
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| 0.0 | emester | March 30th 16 |
Gotta run through the band's catalogue again but im pretty sure this is their best output. Record is beyond stunning and made me eat my words for my low expectations.
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| 4.0 excellent | defilator | March 29th 16 |
After one listen, songwriting is up there with the three classics but the riffs aren't as strong. Very good, and better than the last.
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| 5.0 classic | DarkNoctus | March 29th 16 |
viomasta ja kunniasta meets verisakeet
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| 5.0 classic | Masha2k | December 26th 25 |
| 4.5 superb | Leeb890 | November 5th 25 |
| 3.5 great | nbats | October 18th 25 |
| 4.5 superb | Chippe | May 31st 25 |
| 3.0 good | MaSuPe | November 17th 23 |
| 4.0 excellent | cb123 | September 26th 23 |
| 4.0 excellent | Gary STAFF | December 26th 22 |
| 3.5 great | jhop | March 7th 22 |
| 4.5 superb | aGit | January 12th 22 |
| 4.5 superb | JoneHK | December 6th 21 |
| 4.5 superb | Jerrad | August 30th 21 |
| 5.0 classic | Zois | March 14th 21 |
| 4.0 excellent | yayafa | February 2nd 21 |
| 4.0 excellent | Hehe | December 15th 20 |
| 4.5 superb | Jips | May 1st 20 |
| 4.5 superb | Ray91 | March 6th 20 |
| 4.5 superb | ariich | January 31st 20 |
| 4.5 superb | kodama | January 23rd 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | blou52 | September 14th 19 |
| 4.0 excellent | Elros | September 5th 19 |
| 4.5 superb | heck | April 28th 19 |
| 4.0 excellent | Aranox | February 12th 19 |
| 4.5 superb | latpac | December 31st 18 |
| 4.5 superb | ElioG | December 6th 18 |
| 4.0 excellent | Loveloth | September 23rd 18 |
| 4.5 superb | Tuoni | July 28th 18 |
| 4.0 excellent | Flave | February 12th 18 |
| 4.0 excellent | Phate72 | January 28th 18 |
| 4.0 excellent | Fear | December 28th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | rid | December 18th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | kabster | December 6th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | RAGG | December 2nd 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | Death | November 16th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | boab92 | November 6th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | Jokurr | November 3rd 17 |
| 3.5 great | Andrew | October 25th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | Scuro EMERITUS | October 24th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | thurs | October 17th 17 |
| 4.5 superb | Piglet | August 31st 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | Jhator | August 28th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | Gmork89 | August 18th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | bbm | August 12th 17 |
| 1.5 very poor | FatCats | July 12th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | Awake88 | June 30th 17 |
| 4.5 superb | Xavier | May 27th 17 |
| 5.0 classic | bSmith | May 17th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | Kriss | April 12th 17 |
| 3.5 great | apert | March 23rd 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | JWT155 | March 6th 17 |
| 3.5 great | Shabz | March 1st 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | marf1300 | February 11th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | chanson | February 10th 17 |
| 4.5 superb | CIF | February 9th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | Feels | January 20th 17 |
| 3.5 great | adr | January 19th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | EvoHavok | December 31st 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | Thibs | December 31st 16 |
| 3.5 great | Arctick | December 30th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | mRA | December 28th 16 |
| 3.5 great | Pangea | December 12th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | CWBrown | December 1st 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | Winters | November 22nd 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | GMarques | November 14th 16 |
| 4.5 superb | Raven49 | November 6th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | Hydra12 | November 2nd 16 |
| 4.5 superb | GxTxK | October 24th 16 |
| 4.5 superb | Brandon | October 22nd 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | Geefawl | October 7th 16 |
| 4.5 superb | bremer | October 5th 16 |
| 3.0 good | gnimas | October 5th 16 |
| 3.5 great | Tasty | September 21st 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | SMK | September 5th 16 |
| 3.5 great | jmh886 | August 29th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | IceMole | August 18th 16 |
| 3.0 good | Host78 | August 16th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | oli89 | July 24th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | Lanas | July 22nd 16 |
| 4.5 superb | ckssr1 | July 17th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | gilly | July 13th 16 |
| 4.5 superb | esav | July 13th 16 |
| 4.5 superb | Vildh | June 29th 16 |
| 3.5 great | Coast | June 1st 16 |
| 4.5 superb | opie | May 13th 16 |
| 3.5 great | Rail | May 6th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | Hybza | April 28th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | Nud | April 28th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | Kiwi | April 23rd 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | Hyndez | April 22nd 16 |
| 4.5 superb | Moge | April 22nd 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | dragoth | April 22nd 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | Spec | April 22nd 16 |
| 3.0 good | Wizard | April 20th 16 |
| 4.5 superb | elch21 | April 19th 16 |
| 3.5 great | tgdv | April 17th 16 |
| 5.0 classic | Edlund | April 16th 16 |
| 3.5 great | Jekub | April 12th 16 |
| 5.0 classic | leycec | April 9th 16 |
| 4.5 superb | Jade | April 6th 16 |
| 4.5 superb | Jeejee | April 5th 16 |
| 3.0 good | joitp | April 4th 16 |
| 3.5 great | Prole | April 4th 16 |
| 4.5 superb | Veldin | April 4th 16 |
| 4.5 superb | mifzal | April 4th 16 |
| 4.5 superb | Nagash | April 4th 16 |
| 5.0 classic | IrishC | April 3rd 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | dess05 | April 3rd 16 |
| 2.5 average | Greem | April 3rd 16 |
| 4.7 superb | Ryan P STAFF | April 3rd 16 |
| 5.0 classic | Horsey | April 2nd 16 |
| 5.0 classic | Elynna | April 1st 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | Tom R. EMERITUS | April 1st 16 |
| 3.5 great | Dmax28 | April 1st 16 |
| 4.5 superb | mogmi | March 31st 16 |
| 4.5 superb | Arashi | March 29th 16 |
| 4.5 superb | KyleW | March 21st 16 |
| 4.5 superb | Thor | March 13th 16 |
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