Finland’s prolific, premier folk rocker return with album number four and after teasing me with three albums of superb folkish, pub rock littered with buzz killing somber moments, the forest clan have finally unleashed the ultimate, feel good, forest rock, beer swilling, sylph moshing fun fest.
As I mentioned, Korpiklaani’s last three albums were a mix of great, grin inducing folk metal mixed with oddly somber, mood killing tracks that brought the fun to a screeching halt. However, on Tervaskanto (The Old Man), with the exception of “Vesilahden Veräjillä” the tracks are all full on, jig causing, head bobbing anthemic party songs. Even when a couple of the tracks start at bit slowly, such as “Viima” and “Palovana” eventually gear up and deliver the rollicking goods. Otherwise, straight forward, up-beat and just downright fun tracks like the title track, “Veriset Äpärät”, ridiculously fun instrumentals “Running with Wolves” and “Nordic Feast”, equally catchy “Liekkiön Isku”, “Karhunkaatolaulu” and heck, pretty much every track on the album just deliver the bands gravelly vocalled, mead spilling, woodwind and string littered pub rock.
It’s a formula the band hasn’t changed since their debut, but as I said, the album seems to focus more on the more up-tempo moods and pace without as much moody melancholy hangover material. However, it’s a formula as reliable, addictive and perfected and a Big Mac and Coke and if you find Finntroll a bit dark and Moonsorrow a bit too lengthy, Tervaskanto will provide a short happy respite to even the glummest metalhead.
