Moonsorrow always have an unparalleled ability to combine folk elements with masterful compositions to create truly epic pieces of music. Varjoina kuljemme kuolleiden maassa is a very interesting album. It may sound like a repulsive, cold and barren piece of work on the first listen, but in this case, it's easy to say that that is exactly what the band aimed for. Because the feeling of desolation is so consistent, and fills every nook, cranny and pore of the album, that it simply is intentional. The album is heavy. It is heavy as the expectation of inevitable death in the mind of a depressed person. There are no bright spots, and even the fabled mouth harp sounds like a distant, sorrowful reminder of more joyous and hope-filled days.
Sure to please the fans, and sure to impress any lover of folk-black metal, Moonsorrow have certainly outdone themselves with a masterpiece which invokes many feelings when listening. There is a sense of mystery about the album, even after multiple listens.