Moonsorrow - Varjoina kuljemme kuolleiden maassa

Humanity has always had a grim fascination with its own demise. As long as there has been religion there has been an end of days. As long as there has been speculative fiction there have been dystopian futures. The fall of empires, the obliteration of species and the ultimate destruction of the human race has been an ongoing source of theological, philosophical and political discussion since the dawn of civilisation.

What makes us so fascinated by the undoing of our own works? What makes us tell tales of the end of our kind? There seems to be a carthasis of sorts; a release from the trappings and stresses of daily life. There is peace in destruction.

These are the themes considered in the latest album from Finnish pagan metal band Moonsorrow. Varjoina kuljemme kuolleiden maassa (As shadows we wander in the land of the dead) is the tale of the last days of the human race, destroyed utterly by its own hand. An intense, emotional and compelling album of music and meditation.

The album is split into four distinct parts, each containing a single track lasting ten minutes or more. Each song is unique and captures the essense of the fading struggle of the once mighty human race.

Between the four major tracks lie three shorter, more atmospheric interludes. These consist of the sounds experienced first hand by a member of the last of humanity. The gasping breaths, the howling winds and the slow trudging of footsteps provide a desperate glimpse at the suffering described by the music. In the libretto, short passages of text describe the plight of those heard suffering and give context and meaning.

Tähdetön (Starless) opens the album and tells of the lonely, painful struggle these remaining few suffer. The desolate Earth, the broken cities and the empty, starless night. The music rolls and falters, fits and starts. There are parts that quicken the pulse, and parts that cause the heart to skip and the breath to hold.

Muinaiset (The ancient ones) tells a very different tale. This is the story of the Earth slowly being reclaimed by nature; of the last vestiges of humanity being surrounded, swallowed and hidden by the trees and plants growing up around the cracked and broken landscape. The music takes on a more folk influenced sound, the positive sounds of the planet healing itself, mixed with the anguish of the dying.

Huuto (The Scream) is where the album takes a far darker turn. The scream is primal; the men are reverting to animals. The weak are picked off by wolves, the strong are killed in combat. Trapped in a mountain pass, with no hope of food, shelter or escape, the most animal instincts are laid bare. The music is driving, almost repetitive, yet energising. The last fight of a doomed race.

Kuolleiden maa (The Land of the Dead) is the final unveiling of the piece. Humanity is gone, the end has arrived, and yet there was no fanfare. The grandiose end of things so often prophesied never happened. The end came by man's own hand and he was powerless to stop it. The music is heavier, yet soft. A final hymn to a dead people.

It seems almost cliché to describe this album as epic, but that's what it is. The melody and vocals work toghether to convey the feelings expressed in the lyrics. Whether growling the story of the damned or screaming in anguish, the vocals provide a very human connection with the listener.

The drums, in particular, are worthy of note. They are perfectly timed, perfectly heavy, and intricate without losing immediacy. While the melody conveys sadness, the drums convey anger. It's a powerful combination that ensures the meaning behind the lyrics shine through, whether the listener is a Finnish speaker or not.

At an hour long, it's no short listen, and really does need to be listened to all in one go, preferably with the liner notes to hand. The rawness of the interludes blend perfectly with the impressive musical production. This album is quite simply superb.