Kev Rowland
This is the 12th studio album from Finnish folk metal band Korpiklaani, or the 15th since Jonne Järvelä started on the musical journey which has seen a few name changes and a move from pure folk into folk metal. Given that my love of folk music is probably equal to my love of metal, this genre should be a match made in heaven for me, but while folk rock bands such as Fairport Convention and Steeleye Span have always managed to get the balance right, most bands in the folk metal genre somehow come across sounding a little twee and if they are playing at it as opposed to meaning it. Consequently, I have never been as much of a fan of this band as one might imagine, and when I saw this album had been released I was not exactly looking forward to it.
That changed as soon as I started listening to it, as I found that opening track "Kotomaa" grabbed my attention because it was as if The Levellers were being taken into a heavier direction. The metal was heavy, and both the accordion and violin felt like they totally belonged as opposed to being add-ons to the core sound. Comparing the line-up on this release to 2021’s ‘Jylhä’ one notes there has been just one change with violinist Olli Vänskä joining Jonne Järvelä (vocals, guitar), Kalle "Cane" Savijärvi (guitar), Jarkko Aaltonen (bass), Samuli Mikkonen (drums) and Sami Perttula (accordion), but musically we now have a band which are firing on every cylinder and the result is an album which to my ears is easily the best and most consistent they have released to date. The more I worked through the album I was amazed at how instead of having an album which I found jarring every now and then felt as if every part has been crafted together and it could not be imagined to have one without the other. There is a power here where the metal guitars and drums are enhanced by the folk meters and the use of violin and accordion as key soloists, yet they also provide some wonderful melodic harmonies when required. This means we can get a guitar/violin duel, with the accordion providing the riffs, or the six-strings competing against the four for dominance, and it is all vital and incredibly dynamic.
When I reviewed their last album I said it was a step in the wrong direction, but somehow they have totally changed course and instead have released an album which is essential and a highlight of the genre.