Finnish metal band Moonsorrow will give a show March 1 at B10 Live.

    Musically, the band incorporates elements of black metal and folk metal in their sound. The band calls their sound “epic heathen metal” and tries to distance themselves from the term “Viking metal.” They have distanced themselves from other folk metal bands, emphasizing that their music is pagan and spiritual and is challenging for its listeners, rather than happy or danceable. The band members have varying levels of pagan beliefs but they draw on pagan spirituality for lyrics and inspiration. They also draw inspiration from Finnish mythology, legends and poetry for lyrics.

    The group’s earliest formation consisted of cousins Ville Sorvali (vocals and bass) and Henri Sorvali (guitar and keyboards; also keyboards for Finntroll, Barathrum, and session member of Ensiferum) who released various demos that were much more characteristic of melodic black metal than future releases.

    Their debut album “Suden Uni” was released in 2001, along with “This Everlasting Winter,” a re-release of a 1999 demo. “A Wolf’s Dream” combined Finnish paganism and folk elements. After recruiting Mitja Harvilahti and Markus Euren, Moonsorrow started playing live, releasing “Of Strength and Honor” in late 2001. However, the real takeoff for the band was their 2003 release “Stonebearer.” In 2005, the band followed it up with their fourth full-length album, “Blood Verses.” The album is also their first to use ambient sounds such as birdsong and crackling fire between tracks.

    In January 2006, the band played their first U.S. show at the Heathen Crusade Metalfest. In fall 2010, Moonsorrow entered the studio to record their sixth full-length studio album, “As Shadows We Walk in the Land of the Dead.”

    In June 2013, the band announced a vinyl box set of its collected works to be released through Blood Music. At a projected 13 LPs, it is being advertised as the largest metal box set in history.

    Time: 8:30 p.m., March 1

    Tickets: 160-200 yuan

    Venue: B10 Live, North Area, OCT-LOFT, Nanshan District (南山区华侨城创意文化园北区B10现场)

    Metro: Luobao Line, Qiaocheng East Station (侨城东站), Exit A

    (SD News)