About.com Heavy Metal / March 2016

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Updated March 30, 2016.

Five years after their last studio album, the Finnish band Moonsorrow deliver a new dose of their folk/pagan/black metal with Jumalten Aika. Guitarist Mitja Harvilahti gets us up to speed with the record, the band's tour plans, some of his favorite Finnish metal bands and more.
Chad Bowar: What led to the five year gap between studio albums?
Mitja Harvilahti: First we needed a year or so to just tour and refresh our thoughts about music. We wanted to have pretty much two years off and then start writing intensively. Henri (Sorvali, guitar/vocals) did a Finntroll album also and wanted some time off from composing.
Also, some offspring were born and even more time off was due. Time just flies by so fast these days, it's insane. Five years feels like three years! We finally got into writing mode in late 2014 and last year we finally got everything together when we had a clear time frame and deadlines.
How did the songwriting process for Jumalten Aika compare to the usual Moonsorrow album?
It was much more difficult than usual.

It's never too easy, but this time we wanted to renew our ways of arranging and composing, just to stay away from our routine Moonsorrow way of doing things. This was the biggest challenge of all.

We had millions of potential ways to arrange and just trying out every option and building the songs like a puzzle was very hard. I'm more than happy that we finally made it. Even the last night before recordings started Henri had some major changes in mind for the second song on the album.
What will be your strongest memory of the recording of this album?
My aching hand! I was sailing with friends a couple weeks before the recordings started and something broke in my wrist. It caused huge pressure inside the nerve channel and I could't practice at all. I was sure that Henri would have to play all my parts as well, but miraculously it healed just before went into the studio. I also really worried that I wouldn't be able to tour anymore.
What wasn't nice at all was that I had to learn a 15 minute song each morning! (laughs) Since I couldn't practice before the session started, I basically played my parts of a song and went home to sleep just to wake up in the morning to write down notes for a new 15 minute song within an hour or so. That was quite nerve wracking. Luckily, we have so much experience that I saw it more as a challenge than a disaster.
Give us a brief description of the album's concept.
The concept is "the age of gods," which in this case is about the time when people started to create myths and religions to explain their existence and the world. Basically all the songs have some mythological base.
How did you decide to cover Grave and Rotting Christ on the bonus tracks?
That was a very spontaneous decision. Marko (Tarvonen, drums) called Henri about an idea of a cover and in two minutes we all had messages flying of how we want them to be. The arrangements were done immediately and final demos were ready the same night! I'm really proud of both covers.
How did you approach them in terms of keeping with the spirit of the originals versus injecting your own style into them?
We didn't worry about changing them too much. "The Soulless" was not too far from the original when it comes to arrangements, but "Non Serviam" received a totally new approach and in a way it's more Greek than the original. We added a bulk of traditional Greek instruments on it. They ́re both damn great covers, I think!
How did you come to sign with Century Media?
After the previous album we felt that we needed to change labels. The guys from Century Media already knew a few of us so we didn't look for too many other alternatives. It was clear that Century Media would be the right choice on a personal level, and that is more important than just a business side of things. We want to work with people who actually understand and love music, not only want to make a profit.
Does being on a new label affect your expectations for the album?
I expect better distribution and a more professional approach on a few things. The music itself is the same no matter who releases it.
How did the upcoming Moonsorrow documentary Home Of The Wind come about, and what will it include?
There's a guy who has been putting together a very complete Moonsorrow biography. He had the idea of a documentary and together with friends who work in the TV­ business they started to develop the idea into an actual documentary project. It should include everything and more, digging into the band and its history very thoroughly from all aspects.
Has a release date been set?
Not yet, but it will soon.
You have a lot of tour dates coming up in Asia and Europe. Any plans of a North American tour this album cycle?
We'll see. We definitely want to come back and we'll do our best to make it work as soon as possible. We cannot wait to come back!
What has been your most memorable Moonsorrow live show or tour?
Our first tour in China in 2011 was just insane. There were great crowds and since we had no expectations it was just a very positive surprise. There are others too, like playing in Montreal for the first time and in general some of the very first shows in many countries have become the most memorable. Our first show in Hungary in 2004 was also just a great experience.
What are some of your non­musical hobbies and interests?
I like photography a lot, both film and digital. I also have an old wooden ship that I like to sail during the summer as much as I can. It's like a summer cottage for me. I have some snakes, too. I've been really interested in animals and zoology, especially reptiles.
Who are your top all-­time Finnish metal bands?
Impaled Nazarene, Beherit, Shape of Despair, Stone
What's currently in your heavy musical rotation?
MGLA, Slayer, Revenge, Satyricon
Anything else you'd like to mention or promote?
My old band Shadow Cut has been resurrected. We made one album 10 years ago and we are now planning a new one. I play bass in it.
(interview published March 30, 2016)