My Global Mind / January 2017

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Interview with Moonsorrow at 70000 Tons Of Metal — The World’s Biggest Heavy Metal Cruise

Posted on February 17, 2017

Interviewed and Photos by Zenae D. Zukowski



Zenae: My name is Zenae and I’m here on behalf of MyGlobalMind, and I am speaking with?

Mitja: Hello my name is Mitja, I play guitar in Moonsorrow.

Zenae: I saw your performance last night, it was amazing, one of my favorites from the first day.

Mitja: It was an amazing response from the crowd. We weren’t expecting anything because you never know how it’s going to be. It was a full room and everything was great.

Zenae: What is your drink of choice from this cruise?

Mitja: Let’s see.. well, it’s very hard to drink beer on a Caribbean Cruise. You need some cocktails [laugh]. So, I think I’ll pick Mojito or White Russian.

Zenae: I Love White Russians.

Mitja: Yeah.

Zenae: Which bands would you like to see?

2017_02_02_Moonsorrow_70000TonsOfMetal-7 Interview with Moonsorrow at 70000 Tons Of Metal — The World’s Biggest Heavy Metal CruiseMitja: I already saw Suffocation. I would like to see Uli Jon Roth and Grave, Marduk guys I saw yesterday and some friends like Amorphis and such. Those would be my highlights at the moment.

Zenae: Awesome. Have you been receiving great feedback from the crowd with the new material (Jumalten aika)?

Mitja: Oh yeah, very positive. Hardly any negative ones, but yeah mostly the album has been taken very well.

Zenae: It was an incredible album, one of my favorites from 2016.

Mitja: Thanks, we worked really hard for this album, harder than ever. It’s great to hear that people are really into it.

Zenae: Was the writing process different than previous albums or?

Mitja: I think it’s always different for us. This time we tried new methods of arranging for example, and that took a long long time. So, in the past, we might record more straightforward. And this time we were having bits of pieces and trying them in the different order and so long so it took a long long time. But in the end, we worked very hard and we got it together but at some point, it felt frustrating and the process was the longest we ever had. We had a good material, but just to find the right spirit and the essence of music, that’s what’s the most important and difficult as well.

Zenae: Is there a favorite song from the new album (Jumalten aika) that you like to play live?

Mitja: Yeah, personally I like to play “Ruttolehto” (“Ruttolehto incl. Päivättömän Päivän Kansa” ), the second song. It has so many elements we don’t have that much. Usually, it involves Jonne (Jonne Järvelä) from Korpiklaani to sing those dramatic parts and we don’t have him on board so we can’t do it. We did a couple of tours with them, so he would come to the stage every time to sing his parts. And it was amazing to see people actually crying in these parts because it gets so emotional in a way.

Zenae: Would you guys return for another combined tour in North America?

2017_02_02_Moonsorrow_70000TonsOfMetal-8 Interview with Moonsorrow at 70000 Tons Of Metal — The World’s Biggest Heavy Metal CruiseMitja: We have done many times [laugh]. Yeah, naturally, but the last tour it was in 2012 with them and then 2010, I guess or 9. We’ve been touring quite a lot together. They’re great touring companions because we are on the same level. All though the music is very different but it’s so smooth because you know them so well.

Zenae: I can see that you guys working well together with the two different energies.

Mitja: Yeah on and off stage, it’s great and very good, I think. Some people think it’s strange that, because they’re very traditional folk metal kind of, quite happy music, but we’re on this other side of the coin in a way.

Zenae: Yeah [laugh]. They cheer us up before we get really depressed [laugh]. Do you have a favorite Moonsorrow album?

Mitja: Ah, No! I cannot say so. I also don’t have a least favorite. But I’m pretty happy with all of them. They represent different times and different era of our songwriting but I wouldn’t change a thing. I don’t listen to our albums at all because when it’s finished you kinda leave it aside and move on but. If I would have to say a favorite it’s either the new one (Jumalten aika) or Verisäkeet because those are the most important right now to me.

Zenae: The new one is very dramatic.

Mitja: Yeah.

Zenae: I relate to it being one of my favorites as well.

Mitja: Cool

Zenae: What advice do you have for the young starting out musicians?

Mitja: Well, what advice which is not the easiest one to accomplish is to find your own voice because every band starts with copying other bands. For example, we still do, we still copy other bands in a way of having kinda tributes and influences, that’s natural and that’s good. But to find your own voice, trying to think okay what makes us this band that’s important, that something that you should think and finds a new angle on stuff. If you want to be a brutal band it’s difficult to find kinda cliff that makes you stand out from other bands. And that’s the most important thing you need to do. Whatever the genre is you need to find your own recipe on how to stand out and...

Zenae: Be original?

Mitja: Yeah, be original and have self-criticism. But still, have fun with whatever you’re doing. Don’t be narrow-minded. None of the bands that are very influential, they’re never narrow-minded. They never just went in a formula of something. They always had something from outside that works in the mix so they became something different. So, when you keep that in mind then it might help.

Zenae: I think that’s really good advice. You do hear a lot of bands that want to sound like someone else instead of trying to be original. It doesn’t help them stand out from the crowd. You guys definitely stand out producing incredible work.

Mitja: Thank You!

Folk-Metal.nl / June 2019

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Our reporter Assia, flew to Denmark for Udgårdsfest 2019.
Besides the beautiful festival itself and many great acts, she had the pleasure to interview Ville from Moonsorrow.

Inferno / July 2018 (about Tuska)

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Paskempaa kuin paska hevi… paitsi valkoiset lenkkarit – Moonsorrow Tuska-minihaastiksessa

HAASTATTELUT Jaakko Silvast 2.7.2018

Perinteisiä Tuska-minihaastiksia tehtiin tälläkin kertaa. Ekana vastailemassa Jaakko Silvastin kuulusteluun Moonsorrow'n Ville Sorvali.

Yksi suomalaisen metallimusiikin vanhemmista valtiomiehistä – Moonsorrow’n Ville Sorvali – tupsahtaa tervehtimään Tuskan päälavan takahuonealueella.

Ympäristö on Sorvalille oikeinkin tuttu. Mies on ollut tavalla tai toisella osa Tuskaa joka vuosi – pari ensimmäistä kertaa asiakkaana ja myöhemmin työkuvioissa – joko keikalla bändinsä kanssa, tai sitten festivaaliorganisaation ”apukätenä”.

– Työnnän muiden bändien laatikoita. Olin muun muassa tekemässä meidän omalle keikalle raiseria, Sorvali kertoo.

Kun olet nähnyt Tuskan niin monena vuonna ja monelta kantilta, miten festivaali on kasvanut henkisesti näiden yli 20 vuoden aikana?

– Tuska on kasvanut maltilla ja hyvällä maulla. Itse festari ei ole muuttunut, täällä on vaan isompia bändejä ja enemmän yleisöä kuin alussa. Ja sehän on toki kaikkien niiden tavoite, jotka jotain rupeavat järjestämään. Mukana ei ole pelkästään bändejä, joista itse tykkää, vaan niitäkin, joita myös muut tulevat katsomaan.

Mikä Tuska-keikka on vuosien saatossa jäänyt parhaiten mieleen?

– Olen ollut viime vuosina töissä päälavalla vinkkelissä, josta olen nähnyt bändit vain takaapäin. Mutta King Diamond (2013) on jäänyt mieleen. Niillä oli tehty niin viimeistä piirtoa myöten se show. Paitsi että teknikoilla, jotka olivat myös lava-avustajia, oli kaikki asianmukaiset kaavut ynnä muut päällä, mutta niillä oli vittu valkoiset lenkkarit! Se oli kyllä hämmentävää – valkoiset lenkkarit!, Sorvali parahtaa.

Entä onko bändejä, joita haluaisit täällä joskus nähdä?

– Ihan varmasti on. Yksi, mitä en olisi koskaan uskonut täällä näkeväni, oli Body Count, ja nyt sekin oli täällä! Se bändi oli ehkä aika monellekin salainen toive, koska onhan se kuitenkin aika heviä, ja sen kautta heviyleisö pääsi aikanaan rap-skeneen sisälle. Rappihan on tosi heviä musiikkia, joskin paskimmillaan se on vielä paskempaa kuin paska hevi, Sorvali näkee.

Mitä tulee musiikkiin ylipäätään, siihen Sorvali ei ole mielellään enää kosketuksissa muutoin kuin ns. työn puolesta.

– Silloin kun en soita heviä, niin en ainakaan kuuntele heviä. En kuuntele nykyään minkäänlaista musiikkia. Joskus aikanaan saatoin kuunnella musaa kahdeksankin tuntia päivässä. Jos joku kaveri suosittelee jotakin levyä, niin sitten kuuntelen sen, mutta muutoin vaan en jaksa. Joka paikassa on niin paljon ääntä. Kun saa välillä olla ihan hiljaisuudessa, niin se on ihan kivaa.

Lopuksi Ville Sorvali ja tämän vuoden Infernon kymmenen sanaa:

1. Musiikki: Parasta parhaimmillaan
2. Sosiaalinen media: Nykyään vankila
3. Ruoka: Parasta parhaimmillaan
4. Juoma: Riippuu juomasta
5. Urheilu: Pitäisi harrastaa enemmän
6. Unelma: Onnellisuus
7. Väkivalta: Tuomittavaa melkein aina
8. Sateenkaari: Pitäisi sanoa varmaan pride, mutta sanon kaunis
9. Moonsorrow: The One and Only!
10. Suomi: Täällä olen syntynyt

Metalpresse / April 2018

Rauta / May 2018

Soundi / May 2018

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”Tämä saattoi olla once in a lifetime -juttu” – Moonsorrow tarjosi hienon yllätyksen Steelfest-tapahtumassa

Asiaa Timo Isoaho 22.5.2018

Helsinkiläinen Moonsorrow esiintyi Hyvinkäällä viime viikonloppuna juhlitun Steelfest-bakkanaalin toisen päivän eräänä päänimistä.
Eeppisen Jumalten aika -albumin vuonna 2016 julkaissut Moonsorrow tarjosi mainion yllätyksen paikalle saapuneille, sillä yhtyeen livekokoonpanossa nähtiin myös Henri ”Trollhorn” Sorvali. Mieshän säveltää valtaosan bändin materiaalista, mutta varsinkin kiertueisiin viileästi suhtautuvaa muusikkoa ei ole nähty Moonsorrow’n lavalla aikoihin.
Kävipä vielä niin, että Sorvali soitti keikalla bassoa, ja jätti serkkunsa Ville Sorvalin huoleksi ainoastaan solistin hommat – tavallisestihan Ville toimii Moonsorrow’n basistilaulajana.
– Pelkkä mikin varressa roikkuminen ilman bassoa ei ole minulle mitenkään hirveän tuttua. Olen tehnyt joskus jotakin vierailuja, mutta ne ovat olleet lyhytkestoisia, ehkä kymmenen minuutin mittaisia juttuja. Nyt piti keksiä tekemistä reiluksi tunniksi, nauraa Ville Sorvali.
– Kyllähän keikan parin ekan minuutin aikana jalat vähän tärisivät, mutta onneksi pääsin nopeasti fiilikseen ja ”pelkkä laulaminenhan” oli lopulta ihan helvetin hauskaa hommaa. Mitä nyt unohdin yhden säkeistön heti ekasta biisistä…
– Parasta koko jutussa oli tietysti se, että pääsin Henrin kanssa samalle lavalle ensimmäistä kertaa vuosiin. En ehtinyt hirveästi katsella, mitä hän siellä estradilla teki, mutta varmasti suoriutui hommasta hyvin. Onhan Henri kuitenkin tämän bändin paras basisti!
Moonsorrow soittaa kesällä muun muassa Nummirockissa ja Tuska Open Airissa. Saapa nähdä, millainen kokoonpano nousee näiden festivaalien estradille.
– Vähän luulen, että tämä Henrin ”bassovierailu” saattoi olla once in a lifetime -juttu, mutta eihän sitä koskaan tiedä, sanoo Sorvali.

Metal Sound / April 2018

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Well, I have to admit that I am following Moonsorrow since their birth, actually since they’ve released their debut album. As the years passed by I found that I more and more liked their style, since it has become rawer, with more black metal influences. When Verisakeet (2005) was released I was pleasantly surprised and still this record echoed in my mind as the best offering from these Finns, but anyway also they later records were indeed great. Jumalten Aika, their latest offering, was issued two years ago, but we haven’t opportunity to cover the album with an interview so I used the chance to meet with Henri Sorvali (at their show)  and to have one interview.



How are you satisfied with this tour so far? Where were the best shows?

Yes, I’m really satisfied. The tour has been really great so far. It makes me happy to see hundreds of people every night. The music we make is not happy, and it makes me happy that people like it (laugh).

About your latest record, it’s been two years now, how are you satisfied with the reactions and would you change anything?

Honestly, I’m totally satisfied with the album. I wouldn’t change a note, anywhere. Many people took the album as their own, they really like it. A lot of them also said that this is our best album. I couldn’t be happier. I don’t even know how much is sold, but I don’t really care. I only care if the people like it.

Could you compare it to any of the previous albums? There are some musical links.

Yes, actually, there is a lot of it. But we didn’t want to do something over and over again so we turned it into completely opposite way. We tried to do something more evil. But it’s still the music that we like and we want to play. We are folk metal band, but a lot darker, like dark folk metal not the „na na na“ stuff. I think primordial is also a folk metal band as well. They have a lot of inspiration from their home country and their traditional music.

What can you tell us about the lyrical stuff and the concept of the cover artwork? What would you like to express?

We wanted to make an album that covers the ancient myths, but instead of retelling them to make our own interpretations of them like, stories based on stories. I try to go a lot deeper to kind of find out what were the people thinking a thousand years ago and see what made them to make this stories. They didn’t have science, they had to explain everything. Every religion before Christianity had a thunder God, because that was something that you couldn’t explain. Now we know all of that, but back then they had to invent the Gods.

And your album from 2011 Varjoina kuljemme kuolleiden maassa was actually not inspired by fantasy, if I’m correct, it’s a post-apocalyptic story. What can you tell us about that album?

Yes, it’s a concept album. An album before that was already about the end of the world, so we wanted to place this one in the time after the end of the world like, what’s gonna happen when all of the people died and we only have a few people left. It’s a pure science fiction.



If I’m correct, during this period, you have recorded vocals in the woods?

Ah yes, we had a small cabin in the woods in Finland. I can’t tell you the location because it’s secret (laugh). Two previous albums are also done there, and also this one. It’s the perfect atmosphere because you can go there, only you, the record producer and Mitja with his video camera. It’s a very small group, and we do this thing together in the middle of the woods when there’s nothing around. You’d have to drive tens of kilometers to the nearest place.

When it comes to Moonsorrow, you have released 7 full -length albums in last 16 years. Can you tell us something more about how you look upon this records right now? What are the most important ones? Also there was a big pause between the last two albums so, could you tell us something about that too?

We released our second album in the same time Finntroll released their second album, and I think those two albums are the most important in folk metal. But those are the albums that I like the least, from both our and Finntroll production, but I think they are the most popular.

How do you choose your songs for the shows, since your songs are a bit longer?

Yeah, that’s always the problem when we play live, for example tonight, we’re gonna play 6 songs, and that’s 75 minutes. Doing the set-list is always very hard because when you play one song, you need to have everything around it to play that song, you can just play random 6 songs, you need to make a story. It’s like mathematics. You can create a set-list that’s 65 minutes, but that’s way too short, or 80, which is way too long.

You have filmed one video clip in Belgrade actually, how are you satisfied with it and would you like to continue making videos with Moonsorrow since this is the very first video?

Absolutely, I would do stuff with them again if I had a chance. Great people, so professional, so friendly. They we’re driving me around in free time, showing me Belgrade.

Are there any plans for the next record or have you already started making songs?

We actually just started talking about that, like a couple of weeks ago. I don’t know yet but there might be something happening. But one thing’s for sure, the next album will always be different from the previous.

You’re in Century Media for two years now, how are you satisfied with that relation and could you compare it to any previous labels?

I don’t have to lie, I really like them. When we had the meeting with them, their artist in relations at the time, he was signing us, and he told me that he was following the band from the very beginning, like, since the demo times. And I was like, wow, this is the right label for us.

What is your message to all your fans in the world that you would like to send to them?

I would really want to see all of those people at least once in my life like, we need to play in those places where we haven’t played before, like Serbia for example. We want to play everywhere because, in every corner of the world, you can find someone that likes our music, and those people deserve to see us live.

• Henri Sorvali
• Interview by Marko Miranovic