Urkraft.tk / January 2002

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Answered by Ville Sorvali

Having released one of the best albums of last year, claiming the number 1 position on my Best Albums of the Year list, Moonsorrow has begun their quest towards metal immortality. My good friend and metal brother Ville Sepponpoika Sorvali (bass & vocals) took some time out of his scheduele to answer a few questions for Urkraft...

1. Hail thee heathen warrior! How has the winter-forst treated you so far in good ol' Suomi? All the mead drinking has kept you warm I hope!?

- Hail thyself Stefan! It is January 16th now. In December the weather was pretty Immortalish, during which I kept myself warm with wearing a pair of underpants of the Swedish army! They’re quite stylish, designed in the 17th century, I suppose. But oh, all the winter frost is long gone and I don’t need those anymore; welcome the good ol’ coast weather with nothing but annoying rains and shitty mix of snow and water in the streets. Indeed, I have to drink mead to survive this! Skål!
(Kippis! – S.)

2. The response to 'Voimasta Ja Kunniasta' has been extraordinary so far. I've read dozens of reviews (including my own) and all of them hail the album as an absolute masterpiece of metal. You must be more than happy with the response, or?

- Well yes, of course I’m happy with the response. I am also a bit of surprised. You know, when we were making “Voimasta ja Kunniasta”, none of us seriously could think of it to be a widely-praised epic. We didn’t know who it would please but ourselves, but yes, I’m happy it turned out this way.

3. The reputation of Moonsorrow is increasing all over the world with great speed. How do you avoid getting big-headed? And do you even intend to avoid it? :)

Heh, I don’t know if we actually have to avoid getting big-headed. There’s just no chance we could let whatever “success” gnaw our heathen hearts. Besides, we have not sold more than some 4000 articles, if counting all our demos and albums together. No fear, brother. :)

4. Many compare 'Voimasta...' to such acts as Bathory and Thyring. Would you said that is a fair description? Would you like to provide another one perhaps?

Well, direct comparisons are never fair, but you have a point there. There are similarities between our music and that of Bathory and Thyrfing, that we won’t deny. Many bands have influenced us, however the music of Moonsorrow is certainly not a plain result of influences. Sure, if Bathory never existed, Moonsorrow would not sound like this, but still the one and only description over us is epic heathen metal. It should cover everything of relevance.

5. There are quite a few progressive elements embedded into the crushing epic heaviness of 'Voimasta...' as far as I can hear. I know that you all are fans of bands like King Crimson and Pink Floyd and so on. Do you feel, as I do, that there is a need of progression within the metal scene of today? I mean, there is only so much to do with basic power-chords and straight-forward arrangements...

Be the metal scene stagnating or not – and it isn’t –, I can’t tell if we have the recipe for it. Always the better if our example encourages fellow musicians to explore beyond their power-chords and straight-forward arrangements, but bear in mind that all we consider ourselves doing is “our own thing”.

6. You have really managed to capture that mighty HERO feel in your music. Where do you draw inspiration to those majestic hymn-like arrangements? BRAVEHEART I presume? Hehehehe...

And he’s got the correct answer there! :) We indeed enjoy heroic movies and their soundtracks, so they certainly are a source of inspiration for us. Apart from them, many things. I myself don’t have much to do with the musical majesty, so I think I’m not the right person to dig any deeper than that.

7. Moonsorrow is to me about chivalry and heroism and the lyrics (as well as the music) often display those themes. Where do you mainly gain lyrical inspiration from? From your own inner vaults or from reading books etc?

All of the lyrics are sparked in my heart, but yes, certain sources of external inspiration could be books and movies. Subjects that interest me in this context are history, mythology, legends and tales. Also nature and life itself inspire my self-expression. It’s actually hard to explain because I tend not to think about it. :)

8. What do you feel are the main differences between your latest effort and your debut? Musically, lyrically etc...

Musically “Voimasta ja Kunniasta” is more varied than “Suden Uni”. The songs are more epic with complex structures and the progressive elements are new to our sound. The whole is not guaranteed to open entirely with the first listens, but that should make it grow in consumption. The overall sound is heavier and more sinister; it is more epic, more heathen and more metal. Lyrically the biggest differences are that the basis is entirely fictious and that they are altogether somewhat conceptual. Of course the lyrics are also a lot better than previously. All the differences simply return to the fact that we have improved as song-writers and musicians, as much a cliché it might be to say things like that.

9. Moonsorrow has (as some would call it – not me though!) a nationalistic imagery thing going on. Have you ever had problems with people labeling you as nazis etc, because you speak of Vikings and use those ancient symbols (the Hammer of Thor etc)? That seems to be a problem for many bands these days (sadly). Do people judge the book by it's cover so to speak?

Whosoever calls Moonsorrow a nationalistic band doesn’t know a shit of what he’s talking about. The concept of Moonsorrow is national romantic and using symbols dear to us does not make us nazis – case closed. There is no cultural or ideological connection whatsoever between heathen religions and nationalism; yes, the common tend to link these subjects together in their little minds, but that is because nazis have themselves employed ancient northern imagery for their purposes! There are some people around who think of us as something we’re not and I just wish they’ll regain their consideration someday. (Couldn’t agree more – S.)

10. In my opinion 'Voimasta...' is the damn close to being the ultimate album! How do you plan on exceeding this album - let's say for a moment that it can be done :) ? In what direction will we see Moonsorrow going in the future?

No, no... check out my contribution to “fans will be fans” to learn about ultimate albums. But yes, “Voimasta ja Kunniasta” is a good album, if that’s what you meant, and we plan on exceeding it by making another one. :) Serious work concerning new material is yet to be done, so I can’t tell a thing about directions, though.

11. What does the near future hold for the band and the various members? Any live shows coming up etc?

Drinking ale, listening to music, drinking mead, working, drinking ale, studying and drinking mead. Live shows would be nice but none are booked at the moment. We’re also planning to enter the studio in November/December, so we ought to have some material composed before that. :)

12. A final question: How is it possible to have such a great official website as you have right now? There must be a bunch of geniouses behind it, no doubt about that! =)

You got it, we’re damn proud to have a website like that. It must be designed and realized by the gods themselves! ;) (For those unaware I must inform that it’s me and the Moonsorrowers who have designed the site :))

13. Thanks for answering the intie! Final words to all the heathen warriors out there?

Thanks for putting up with the questions! And to all the heathen warriors our there: drink lots of mead and raise your swords in the name of metal!