In Finland, alternative bands such as Korpiklaani and Ensiferum spent most of the 1990s ushering in a wild new subgenre now known as “folk metal,” which blends accordions, violins and everything in between into traditional heavy metal. Finland, after all, is home to the Heavy Metal Capital of the World — the small town of Lemi has the most metal bands per capita, about 423 bands per 100,000 inhabitants, than any other place on Earth. So it’s no surprise that folk metal is now one of the Nordic country’s biggest musical exports.
Korpiklaani, which is Finnish for “the Backwoods Clan,” started as a straight-up folk act in 1993 under former names Shamaani Duo and Shaman before morphing more and more into metal in the ensuing years. The reason for forming folk metal is simple, according to founding Korpiklaani vocalist and guitarist Jonne Järvelä. “There’s just a lot of fun in this sound of music,” he says.
Fair enough. The group — which currently includes guitarist Kalle “Cane” Savijärvi, bassist Jarkko Aaltonen, accordionist Sami Perttula, drummer Samuli Mikkonen and violinist Olli Vänskä — is also responsible for some of the subgenre’s best drinking songs, including “Vodka,” “Jägermeister,” “Tequila” and “Bring Us Pints of Beer.” Short and sweet.
“If you’re into drinking hard, you’re in the game,” Ensiferum vocalist and guitarist Petri Lindroos explains.
Lindroos and Järvelä are stateside for the Folkfest of the North tour, along with Norway troupe Trollfest and traditional Taiwanese folk musician Nini. The first four shows in Boston, Quebec City, Montreal and Ottawa all sold out, so it’s safe to say North American metalheads are into it. The bands come to the Gothic Theatre on Sunday, March 9.
“We’re rocking and rolling,” Lindroos says. “Prepare to party. It’s lots of good bands having a lot of fun on stage. It’s going to be a good night.”
Ensiferum, also from Finland, brings more medieval might to the subgenre.
Courtesy Jeremy Girard Photography
Ensiferum, which is Latin for “sword-bearing,” hasn’t visited this side of the globe since 2019. This time, the band is armed with a new album, Winter Storm, which released in October via Metal Blade Records. The swashbuckling five-piece — which includes vocalist and guitarist Markus Toivonen, bassist and vocalist Sami Hinkka, drummer Janne Parviainen and keyboardist and vocalist Pekka Montin — indulges with the best of them (see “Rum, Women, Victory” and “Twilight Tavern”) but pulls most of its inspiration from native folklore and new-age art, as well as The Lord of the Rings, Lindroos explains. Basically, it’s perfect music for taking a cruise to Valinor aboard the White Ship.
“The melodies are extremely important in the music and the overall vibe of the music,” he adds. “We do it seriously, but it’s not serious, in a way. There’s a little bit of a blink of the eye when you’re playing this one.”
Trollfest, from Oslo, embodies that aspect of folk metal more than anything. The tongue-and-cheek ensemble — which includes vocalist Jostein “Trollmannen” Austvik, guitarist John “Mr. Seidel” Sagstad, drummer and bouzouki player Eirik “Trollbank” Renton, saxophonist Dag “Drekka Dag” Stiberg, bassist Alexander “Böesse Basshöl” Bøe, accordion and keys player Kai “Fjernkontrollet” Renton, guitarist Fabian “Fabio Grimdrap” Jiru and drummer Bjørn “Kjellkjé” Rønnow — has carved a quirky path since its 2005 debut album, Willkommen Folk Tell Drekka Fest! (that’s Welcome Folk to the Drinking Feast! in English).
The best example of Trollfest’s offbeat offerings is Flamingo Overlord, the 2022 record about — you guessed it — pink flamingos. Holiday single “Doomsday Christmas Song,” which doubles as a weirdo ode to Wham! classic “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go,” is just the latest from the Norwegian party animals.
No one can really explain why this type of music springs up in that particular part of the globe more than other places, but Austvik tries: “Everybody has to stay inside for the winter, so there’s a lot of people going..." (he mouths and mimes a shredding guitar solo).
Whatever it is, folk metal is here to stay, so raise your glass and enjoy it.
“When we started, it was many years until we made it, so it means the world,” Järvelä says.
“Yeah, so far, so good,” Lindroos concludes.
Cheers!
Korpiklaani, with Ensiferum, Trollfest and Nini, 6 p.m. Sunday, March 9, Gothic Theatre, 3263 South Broadway. Tickets are $45.
