16. April 2025
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Media Review

Korpiklaani – Jylhä

Florian Buechtingby Florian Buechting

Korpiklaani - Jylhä

Korpiklaani - Jylhä
4.4

Rating

 4.4/5

Flyctory.com Pros

  • Very different musical settings
  • Catching songs, even if you do not speak Finnish

Since I ran into the music of Korpiklaani at a Lordi gig in Helsinki, I am really a fan of the Finnish folk metal band from Lahti. On 5th February 2021, they released a new album Jylhä. Even though I was quite afraid of doing a review of a Finnish language album, I was really looking forward to some new tunes from the Scandinavians.

Korpiklaani – About The Artists

Korpiklaani are a folk metal band band from Lahti in Finland. They are doing music together since 1993, when their original member, Jonne Järvelä, founded a Sami folk music group, Shaamaani Duo. The band renamed to Shaman in 1997, which later turned to Korpiklaani in 2003. Overall, the two previous projects released three albums. The debut album under this name was the 2003 release Spirit of the Forest. Korpiklaani releases music in English as well as in English. Their first Top 100 album was the 2007 Tervaskanto, which hit this chart position in Finland, Germany and Japan. Especially during their first year, the band really actively released music, so that Jylhä is already their eleventh studio proction. On the singles side, Korpiklaani had their great moment, when Keep on Galloping from the Korven Kuningas album made it to the seventh place in Hungary. On Spotify, their most popular song is the opener of the 2009 Karkelo album, Vodka, which has been streamed over 20 million times.

 

Korpiklaani – Jylhä – Track by Track

The thirteen track album lasts 60 minutes.

1. Verikoira

Welcome to the world of Korpiklaani! With Verikoira (“Bloodhound”), the band starts the album with the longest track of the album. Take a seat for more than six minutes to enjoy the opener. The drums drive the songs, even while the bloodhound is roaring in the background and the guitars power riffs. Fasten your seat belts, that’s Korpiklaani.

2. Niemi

Niemi is a song which is dealing with the murders at Lake Bodom. The song is the latest single release of the album. A very dark song, which also comes with a lot of power, which is driven by Sami Perttula on the accordion.

3. Leväluhta

Kevyt on keinua kevyellä puolen tuolla
Leuto on leijua kevyenä leväluhdan suolla
Vaikea vankina hallita huomisen huolia
Hento on heilua höyhenen kevyenä vaan

(I could only translate the lyrics with google translate, I am sorry…)

The song has a strong folk character in the verses – the more, it is having a blast when it comes to the chorus.

4. Mylly

Mylly (“Mill”) tells the story of a Finnish folklore. On the way to a mill, a man passes a figure of the devils and immediately freezes. There is the myth that the devils is living in the mill. Mylly is a lovely folk rock track, which uses the characteristic sounds of the violin and the accordion to a slow, stately sound.

5. Tuuleton

The almost six minute long Tuuleton is something like the signature track of the album to me. Starting just with vocals and some acoustic guitars, it is a lovely change of these very quiet parts and speedy, rocking elements. Very well done.

6. Sanaton maa

What if classic rock bands would start recording songs with the instrumental lineup of Korpiklaani (and maybe having some more-than-basic knowledge of the Finnish language as well)?. They would publish Sanaton maa (“Worldless land”). Indeed, this track feels like stadion rock. Just not Don’t stop believin’ or Livin’ on a Prayer, but Sanaton maa. I love it – and it makes me smile.

7. Kiuru

The “Lark” (Kiuru) is driven by its imperturbable, steady rhythm, which is created by the guitar and drums. Indeed, you feel all the Finnish myths, trolls and whatever beings are out there in this track.

8. Miero

The chorus of Miero almost feels like a prayer. I would love to enjoy this on a Korpiklaani concert in Helsinki – will be cool to see the people sing along to it.

9. Pohja

Pohja (“Base” or “Bottom”) is a track for the fans of speedy, rhythmic tracks. It is very powerful and rocking as well. One of my favorites, which again comes with some nice parts for audience interaction when the Scandinavians are back on stage.

Luokseni vieraat hiipii
Luonani luopuneiden talo
Niin kuin teltta terhenessä
Pohjalta ei voi pudota
Luokseni vieraat hiipii
Luonani luopuneiden talo
Niin kuin teltta terhenessä
Pohjalta ei voi pudota syvempään

10. Huolettomat

The following track, Huolettomat (“The Careless”) is a fun track. Speedy, the accordion and the violin are adding this folk-ish, medieval character to the song. A track to be careless, to dance along to the music – even though it has a break in the the middle with a short, slower bridge.

11. Anolan aukeat

Ten songs so far – and the eleventh one is already a new flavor, almost a surprise. The witty melody almost makes Anolan aukeat feel like a pop song, performed folk style. The track is thus something like the hidden gem of the album to me.

12. Pidot

Pidot (“Feast”) makes me feel of some Finnish people at a pub, having a beer together. A touch of Irish folk music is spread over Jylhä. The album is very diverse in this final part. It is fun to travel with the Finns through all these different settings.

13. Juuret

Juuret means “roots” – maybe they should rather have called this song “Essee” (essay) – the song feels like a sumup of the twelve songs before, matched together to a melodic masterpiece of 6:18 minutes. After all the different settings and sounds, this might feel weird at first sight – but Korpiklaani do it in a great way, so that Juuret is indeed a fascinating track.

 

Korpiklaani – Jylhä – Spotify

Here is the Spotify widget to Jylhä:

 

Korpiklaani – Jylhä – My View

Making music in Finnish which is successful in other parts of the world is already quite a challenge. Die hard fans might dig deep into the lyrics and study the translations – all others will simply not understand a word. The more you see what an amazing job Korpiklaani is doing with their music. The album is catching – and during the one hour playtime, there is hardly a sequence which feels lame or boring. The match of folk elements and metal works perfectly again. The album is a bit more mature and darker as previous ones. If you can’t stand that you do not get the stories that easily, you should listen to Jylhä – also outside of Finland.

 

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