The group's earliest formation consisted of cousins Ville Sorvali (vocals and bass) and Henri Sorvali (guitar and keyboards; also keyboards for Finntroll, Barathrum, and session member of Ensiferum) who released various demos that were much more characteristic of melodic black metal than future releases.
Their debut album, Suden uni, recorded in early 2000, was released in 2001, along with Tämä ikuinen talvi ("This Everlasting Winter"), a re-release of a 1999 demo. Suden uni ("A Wolf's Dream") combined Finnish paganism and folk elements. After recruiting Mitja Harvilahti and Markus Eurén, Moonsorrow started playing live, releasing Voimasta ja kunniasta ("Of Strength and Honour") in late 2001. However, the real takeoff for the band is generally held to be their 2003 release, Kivenkantaja ("Stonebearer"). In 2005 the band followed it up with their fourth full-length album, Verisäkeet ("Blood Verses"). The album was also their first to use ambient sounds such as birdsong and crackling fire in between tracks.
In January 2006 the band played their first US show at the Heathen Crusade Metalfest in Columbia Heights, MN. On March 7, 2006, Moonsorrow announced a 2-album contract with Spinefarm Records, and that their next album was slated for release in late 2006. On June 19 it was revealed that the upcoming album would feature guest vocals by Thomas Väänänen, the former vocalist of Thyrfing; Viides luku - Hävitetty ("Chapter five - Ravaged") was released in January 2007. The album contained only two tracks and displayed more overt influence from progressive rock.
An EP called Tulimyrsky was released in 2008. The EP is over one hour long and contains one new song (the title track), two remakes of old songs, and two cover songs. It was released worldwide by Spinefarm Records, and in May the German label Drakkar Entertainment released it in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
In Fall 2010, Moonsorrow entered the studio to record their sixth full-length studio album, Varjoina kuljemme kuolleiden maassa ("As Shadows We Walk in the Land of the Dead"). The album was released on February 21, 2011 through Spinefarm Records.
In 2013 the band announced they had signed a contract with Century Media. October 2014 saw the release of a fourteen-LP box set entitled Heritage: 1995-2008 - The Collected Works, which proved to be a comprehensive career overview (excluding Varjoina kuljemme kuolleiden maassa) featuring twelve previously unreleased tracks and running for over eight hours.
2016 saw the release of the band's seventh full-length studio album, Jumalten aika.
Discography:
1996 - Thorns of Ice (demo, only released via the Heritage box set; half of the recording was accidentally erased during mastering and no longer exists)
1997 - Metsä (demo; title translates as Forest)
1997 - Promo (demo, only released via the Heritage box set)
1999 - Tämä ikuinen talvi (demo; title translates as This Eternal Winter)
2001 - Suden uni (title translates as Wolf's Dream)
2001 - Voimasta ja kunniasta (title translates as Of Honour and Strength)
2003 - Kivenkantaja (title translates as Stone Bearer)
2005 - Verisäkeet (title translates as Blood Verses)
2007 - V: Hävitetty (also sometimes written as Viides luku - Hävitetty; title translates as Fifth Chapter - Ravaged))
2008 - Tulimyrsky (EP; title translates as Firestorm)
2011 - Varjoina kuljemme kuolleiden maassa (title translates as As Shadows We Walk in the Land of the Dead)
2014 - Heritage: 1995-2008 - The Collected Works (vinyl box set of all the band's recorded output prior to Varjoina...)
2014 - Demos & Rarities (part of Heritage collection, including six previously unreleased tracks)
2016 - Jumalten aika (title translates as Age of Gods)
Jotunheim
Moonsorrow Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
jään välkehtiessä hiljaa itkevät
kaiken kuolevaisen ajat muistavat
halki pohjoisen kirkas taivas siintää
metsän huuruun saattaa kylmällä sateellaan
tähdet taakseen kätkee, meren tuleen sytyttää
ukkosellaan vuoriakin vavisuttaa
kauan ovat pilvet kulkeneet
rauhatta vetten päällä velloneet
jos taivaankannen liekki nyt roudan sulattaa
meitä vain riepottaa virta mukanaan
nuo valkoiset kentät yötä häikäisevät
hiljaiset jättiläiset jäästä ja kivestä
maan kylmän kauniin saa tuuli hajottaa
ja ikuinen virta lumena sataa
lakeudet ainiaan vailla asujaa
tahtoonsa jääkylmä tuuli maan kauniin taivuttaa
kaukana viima pilviä ajaa
kallioihin suruisat säkeensä kirjoittaa
taivas eksyttää väsyneen vaeltajan
jonka valkoinen tyhjyys lopulta maahan kaataa
niin kiroavat jättiläiset jäästä ja kivestä
ei tästä kukaan käy
vaikka puut tuhkaksi palaisivat
vaikka ranta karkaisi veden taa
ei tätä maata voi ihminen omistaa
The lyrics of Moonsorrow's Jotunheim describe the power and beauty of nature in a vast and cold northern landscape. The first stanza speaks of white fields that dominate the land and how they remember the passing of time and the mortality of all living things. The second stanza describes the clear sky that stretches across the north, the mist that rises from the forest, and the power of thunder that shakes even the mountains. The third stanza talks about the endless movement of the clouds over the turbulent waters and suggests that even if the frozen earth were to be melted, we would only be swept away by the rushing river.
The fourth stanza introduces the idea of the silent giants that can be found in this landscape - made of ice and stone - and describes their quiet and powerful presence in the white fields. The fifth and final stanza speaks to the impermanence of human life and the impossibility of truly owning or possessing the land. It suggests that even if everything were destroyed, the beauty and power of the land would remain unbroken.
Overall, Jotunheim is a a beautiful and evocative description of the majesty of nature and the insignificance of human existence in comparison.
Line by Line Meaning
nuo valkoiset kentät tätä maata hallitsevat
The white fields reign over this land
jään välkehtiessä hiljaa itkevät
They quietly weep as the ice glistens
kaiken kuolevaisen ajat muistavat
They remember the times of all mortal beings
halki pohjoisen kirkas taivas siintää
The bright sky stretches across the north
metsän huuruun saattaa kylmällä sateellaan
In its cold rain it blankets the forest with mist
tähdet taakseen kätkee, meren tuleen sytyttää
It conceals the stars behind and sets the sea to fire
ukkosellaan vuoriakin vavisuttaa
With its thunder, it shakes even the mountains
päivät seisauttaen öisin raivoten
By day it stands still, but at night it rages
kauan ovat pilvet kulkeneet
The clouds have traveled far
rauhatta vetten päällä velloneet
Turbulent, they've roamed above the waters without peace
jos taivaankannen liekki nyt roudan sulattaa
If the flame of the sky now melts the frost
meitä vain riepottaa virta mukanaan
The current will only toss us along with it
nuo valkoiset kentät yötä häikäisevät
The white fields dazzle in the night
hiljaiset jättiläiset jäästä ja kivestä
Silent giants of ice and stone
maan kylmän kauniin saa tuuli hajottaa
The wind scatters the cold beauty of the land
ja ikuinen virta lumena sataa
And the eternal stream falls as snow
lakeudet ainiaan vailla asujaa
The plains forever without inhabitants
tahtoonsa jääkylmä tuuli maan kauniin taivuttaa
The frigid wind bends the beautiful land to its will
kaukana viima pilviä ajaa
Far off, the wind drives clouds
kallioihin suruisat säkeensä kirjoittaa
On the rocks, it writes melancholy verses
taivas eksyttää väsyneen vaeltajan
The sky misguides the weary traveler
jonka valkoinen tyhjyys lopulta maahan kaataa
Whose white emptiness eventually topples them to the ground
niin kiroavat jättiläiset jäästä ja kivestä
So curse the giants of ice and stone
ei tästä kukaan käy
No one comes out of this unscathed
vaikka puut tuhkaksi palaisivat
Even if the trees turned to ash
vaikka ranta karkaisi veden taa
Even if the shore fled beyond the water
ei tätä maata voi ihminen omistaa
This land cannot be owned by man
Contributed by Jason T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.