January 2021, trapped once more in lockdown, short days, cold wet weather, surely one way to try to raise the spirits would be with a new Korpiklaani album? A bit of unbridled up-tempo folk metal to raise the January mood, and as Korpiklaani push their internationally familiar style ever further, they kick the whole thing off with a track unashamedly inspired by latter day Judas Priest, complete with shredding, duelling accordion and violin solos. Yep, we’re off and running.
It’s evident right from the start that the addition of new drummer Samuli Mikkonen has re-ignited an energy and exuberance in the band. 2018’s “Kulkija’ was at times quite an insular and serious affair, scattered liberally with sobriety and poignancy, which lyrically the band have always incorporated, but quite often on that release the music followed a similar path. I realize you can’t fill an album with ‘Happy Little Boozer’, it would be very one dimensional, but I also realised listening to “Jylhä” that Korpiklaani at their best, both live and in the studio is very much about energy and enthusiasm. And with two up-tempo folk metal anthems to kick the album off, it then gives the band room to mix things up later – which they do. There’s even a guest appearance by Exodus bassist Jack Gibson…on banjo. Which goes some way to emphasising the spirit of Korpiklaani right there!
“Jylhä” (which roughly translated means majestic, wild and rugged in a beautiful way), is nicely heavy in the guitar and rhythm department at its core (‘Puhja’ is as full-on Metal as anyone could wish for!), with added finesse and finish coming largely from their now traditional accordion and violin duo, but when that base core is pushed further as it is here, then the other elements seem to shine even brighter too – this seems to happen more and more as the album progresses. There are so many highlights for each person who takes their own favourite side of Korpiklaani – whether it’s bouncing folk, reflective tradition or even catchy vocal lines – it’s all here. Leave the cynicism at the door, embrace a little bit of sunshine in dark times and join Korpiklaani in a bit of Humppa-fuelled folk fun, festivity and frivolity…go on, you know you want to…
(8.5/10 Andy Barker)
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