It’s been a good long time since the Finnish pagan metallers gave us any new material. 5 years to be exact. But they say all good things take time, and finally the band release their opus in the form of ‘Jumalten Aika‘.
[tracklist]
01. Jumalten Aika
02. Ruttoletho incl. Päivättömän Päivän Kansa
03. Suden Tunti
04. Mimisbrunn
05. Ihmisen Aika (Kumarrus Pimeyteen)
[/tracklist]
[details]
[length]67:05[/length]
[record_label]Century Media Records[/record_label]
[release_date]1st April 2016[/release_date]
[/details]
Moonsorrow have spent their career producing a refined discography that has come with mountains of critical acclaim. The Finnish quintet are one of those rare bands that metalheads actually agree on, sitting at the centre of a complex genre Venn diagram. With that in mind, it’s understandable that the band would want to take their time in crafting another epic masterpiece, but it’s finally here.
‘Jumalten Aika‘ presents the Moonsorrow heathen sound in it’s rawest form – opening with some sound effects that set an atmosphere, the band rip into a mid-tempo headbanger of a track. That much represents what Moonsorrow are all about, longer tracks allowing a slow progression to perfectly mix the elements of black metal, folky undertones and a heathenish atmosphere.
The perfection and appreciation for Moonsorrow’s songwriting really comes into the foray in ‘Ruutolehto‘, yet another epic listen that effortlessly blends all of the band’s musical palette. As a longtime Moonsorrow fan, ‘Jumalten Aika‘ is an instant hit, but those only just getting into the band need to give the album a few listens to really appreciate it. The artistic brilliance in the band’s music comes with complex structures that are veiled in simple progressions.
With that said ‘Jumalten Aika‘ is no different to anything else in their faultless catalogue. It’s a slightly rawer Moonsorrow with the intention to enhance the pagan representation of the music, and it greatly succeeds. The 5 years away has allowed the band to create yet another brilliant piece to add into their catalogue, and it’s something that can grace your stereo for years to come.
[verdict]Yes[/verdict]
[why]’Jumalten Aika’ was well worth the 5 year wait. An intricate heathen masterpiece that has listening potential for the next 5 years.[/why]
