KORPIKLAANI –Tervaskanto

What a title?!?! The Folk Metal band KORPIKLAANI calls its fourth album Tervaskanto (“old man“) – but this header has nothing to do with retiree music at all. Already the swinging opener Let’s Drink kicks off with flutes, accordion and bloody delight in playing stout-hearted in proper style.
Naturally the listener wants to drink some beer and raise his glass for the clan of the wood because of this felicitous opening dance. Singer Jonne’s nice accent contributes its mite to good humour conjuring the one or other smile upon my face. The vocalist feels better and more confident performing in his national language, unfortunately the fan group’s lion’s share will face some problems while singing along the lyrics or refrains I guess... in fact the title song Tervaskanto invites to do so, but more than clumsy stammering won’t emerge. After this rapid starter double KORPIKLAANI add another chapter of good sentiments with Viima, this time Jonne uses more profound and harsh vocals. The song steps along like a march and hits the bones directly. The flute melodies are dominant and I cannot sit still on my chair any longer, eminently the fishermen choirs evoke a hilarious disposition. Following Veriset Äpärät grooves on quite portly, based on a sovereign bass line, virtuous fiddles and tastefully accordion sounds. In addition to that two pure instrumentals found their way on to Tervaskanto, namely Running With The Wolves (one could really keep up with the animals for sure while listening to this lively track) and Nordic Feast as conclusion. Most compositions appear in firm and short manner, there is little space for experiments; but no rule without exception – consequently KORPIKLAANI demonstrate their more epic aspect during two songs and this approach fits like a glove. The speed maintains swifty during the song Palovana, which means ballad-free zone here! Solely for the instrumental middle part’s arrangement the Fins take more time. The nearly monumental track Vesilahden Veräjillä is dominated by a formative rhythmical theme, which is varied slightly again and again, but in my opinion this stylistic device is used in exaggerated mode during seven minutes playing time.
KORPIKLAANI handle their profession well, without any doubt, but I think that some kind of danger could occur: the group should avoid copying their own past to stagnate in creativity. I am sure that the clan is aware of these dark clouds to blow them away with fresh ideas. In the moment no real cause for worry exists, at the utmost for the old man’s bones who has to shake his body inevitably to this album’s sounds, because not even a half dead human being could resist this intense and happy sing along and dance tracks!!!