MOONSORROW: We Are Not Nazis

Finnish folk/pagan metal band MOONSORROW has issued the following statement:

"Recently there have been claims about MOONSORROW being a fascistic-orientated Nazi band. We would hereby like to declare that MOONSORROW is not affiliated or fascinated with the Nazi movement in any way. They are not political, they do not have connections to any political parties or societies, not in Finland nor elsewhere in the world."

Comments Ville Sorvali, MOONSORROW's lead singer and lyric writer, "We, MOONSORROW, have come across news that Antifa wishes to prevent our concert in Berlin on April 17th. We hereby announce that we are not a Nazi band, nor we have any political connections whatsoever. We are strictly against fascism and all restrictions against freedom of speech. We wish that Antifa would withdraw any actions they have taken against the concert and let it proceed normally."

The band continues, "Some have said that MOONSORROW have an SS rune in their logo. The logo has been handdrawn many many years ago and it has not been renewed since. The S in the logo is not intended to look like an SS rune, it has been drawn in an angular manner to suit the logos other letters.

"We apologise if drawing one letter in such a way makes the logo look national socialistic it is and has not been our or MOONSORROW's intention to sympathise with the Nazis by drawing the S in such a way. Changing the letters' appearance would make the whole logo look inconsistent and incomplete hence we have not even considered changing it nor do we intend to, it has never occurred to us or to the members of MOONSORROW that there could be such a problem as this with the logo.

"Some have said that the lyrics to the bands song 'Blood of an Apostate' are close to an old Nazi song which is against Jews. We have to say first that the members of MOONSORROW have not to this date heard of such a song, they are not familiar with any national socialistic songs or with German lore. Secondly we have to say that the lyrics come from a wholly different, easily recognisable FINNISH source. The lyrics to the bands song 'Blood of an Apostate' come from an old Finnish legend the murder of the Bishop Henrik committed by the peasant Lalli. MOONSORROW have made several lyrics based on this tale. This legend is told in Finland already in pre-schools, it is a very common Finnish folk tale. You can find more information about this legend from this address: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lalli.

"There have been claims that MOONSORROW's music is somehow sympathetic to the Nazis. MOONSORROW's metal is certainly epic, but it has nothing to do with politics. It is purely epic metal made in Finland that tells of ancient Finnish tales not about tales sympathised by the Nazis now or earlier."

MOONSORROW will release its new EP, "Tulimyrsky" (Firestorm),on April 30 via Spikefarm Records. The CD will contain over 60 minutes of music, including a cover version of METALLICA's "For Whom The Bell Tolls".

"Tulimyrsky" (cover artwork) track listing:

01. Tulimyrsky (new song)
02. For Whom The Bell Tolls (METALLICA cover)
03. Taistelu Pohjolasta (from the "Tm Ikuinen Talvi" demo)
04. Hvergelmir (from the "Mets" demo)
05. Back To North (MERCILESS cover)

MOONSORROW has been confirmed for the Bloodstock Open Air festival, set to take place August 15-17, 2008 at Catton Hall in Derbyshire England. This will be the band's only UK festival appearance of 2008.

MOONSORROW released its latest album, "Viides Luku Hvitetty", in North America in April 2007 via Unruly Sounds/The End Records. The CD 56 minutes of music comprised from two songs continues to place the group as one of the forerunners of the folk/viking metal scene due in part to their extensive use of folklore and pagan elements in their music and imagery.

Released in Europe in January 2007, "Viides Luku - Hvitetty" entered the German national chart at position No. 72. The CD was recorded between May and August 2006 at Tico Tico and The Stable studios and was mixed by Ahti Kortelainen and Henri Sorvali. Mastering duties were handled by Mika Jussila.

Fan-filmed video footage of MOONSORROW performing at Nosturi in Helsinki, Finland on December 30, 2007 can be viewed below.