In 2001-2003, Finnish folk metal band Moonsorrow released two brilliant albums: Voimasta ja kunniasta and Kivenkantaja. Both albums are widely recognised as classic pagan/folk metal releases, and for good reason. The albums are characterised by superb musicianship and innovative songwriting, combining cheerful folk melodies with melodic black metal, creating memorable songs that have earned Moonsorrow a well-deserved status as one of the leading Scandinavian folk metal bands active today. With the immense attention that Voimasta ja kunniasta and Kivenkantaja have received, one might forget that Moonsorrow had another full-length release in the two years mentioned at the very beginning. The forgotten album is their 2001 debut album, Suden uni. The music featured on the debut is much like its immediate successors, combining Finnish folk melodies and instrumental elements (performed with keyboards) with hard melodic black metal. Although the songwriting and musicianship of the album seems less spectacular compared to their later works, Suden uni is still a strong release that should not be overlooked.
Suden uni translates to ‘Wolf's Dream’ and the album appropriately begins with the howl of a wolf. This is the first of many samples typical of the folk metal genre featured on the album, which also includes wind noise, crashing waves and a recording of a Viking battle with swords clanging and warriors screaming. While the use of these samples may look formulaic, the band surprisingly manages to use them with great flavour. The samples are used sparingly and complement the music rather than detract from it. In the case of the battle sequence featured in the track ‘Kuin ikuinen’, the sample is accompanied by a folky acoustic guitar and percussion that fit the atmosphere of the song perfectly.
