Search - Korpiklaani :: Tervaskanto w/ bonus DVD

Truly one of the best folk-metal albums on the market.

Timothy Lazaroff | Fairfax, VA | 11/10/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"What can you say, Korpiklaani is one of the best folk-metal bands out there and Tervaskanto is their best work to date. What makes this album so good? Lets have at it!



Packaging: This is one of my favorite CDs I own just due to the packaging. It includes an 11-song CD plus an 11-song DVD of them playing at a festival. The booklet is superb quality and it even seems like everything contained within the packaging shines. Most songs on this disc are in Suomi, however, the booklet contains translations of all the Finnish songs, as well as a bit of history and lore about where the song inspirations came from. The artwork is absolutely beautiful.



Price: You can't ask for a better value for your money. An 11-song album plus a concert DVD? You get it all, I would have gladly paid more for this and not had a second thought.



Songs:

1) Lets Drink: Well, this is your drinking song for this album, as expected. It's very short, very fast, but also very singable. Enjoy it even more with a pint! 10/10



2) Tervaskanto: This was the first song that was released in video form from this album. It is about an old man whose been around and remembers all that he's done and seen. 9/10



3) Viima: As the booklet describes this song "This is a shamanistic portrayal of nature in which the man associates himself with other natrual phenomena." It's a simple song, sung in Suomi, and easy to listen to. 8/10



4) Veriset Aparat: This is one of my favorite songs on the album. It's very catchy and has a great melody. The subject matter is a bit different than what Korpiklaani sings about. It's about unwanted children who were abandoned in the woods and now taunt travelers. 10/10



5) Running with Wolves: This is the first of two instrumentals on this CD. As good as Korpiklaani are at conveying a folk song, they are better at their instrumentals. There is something about this song that lets you visualize it's subject. 9/10



6) Liekkion Isku: When you read what this song is about and it's lyrics it can be quite humorous. It is about a farmer whose crop was destroyed by Liekkio, the fire spirit, because he ignored the rites and believes of growing grain. 9/10



7) Palovana: This is the catchiest song on the album. It's folksy, heavy, and doesn't let up until the end. It regards our humanistic nature in that we can do anything we set out to do if we desire it enough.



8) Karhunkaatolaulu: This song's name translates to Bear Hunting Song, and that is precisely what you get. It is a tale about some men who are out hunting bear for food. They manage to kill it and perform a ritual to send it's spirit back to heaven so it can be with God. 8/10



9) Misty Fields: Ah, back to an English song. This is a simple song about a man reliving his childhood days. It is very easy to sing along with and like all other Korpiklaani songs (in English, for me at least), it isn't hard to learn. 8/10



10) Vesilahden Verajilla: By far the best song on the album. Musically, vocally, and lyrically this song is perfect. It's based on a legend of Vesilahti in Finland. It is about a warlord, Kirmu, who imprisons men of God. One of these men, Huntu, resisted and eventually was killed in the most brutal manner. 10/10



11) Nordic Feast: The second instrumental and the last song on the album. It's an appropriate song to finish the album and a nice change of pace from the dark Vesilahden Verajilla. Nice melody and also a good drinking song. 8/10



All in all I'd give this album a 9/10 but since I can only give up to 5 stars, it gets a 5. If you're a fan of Fintroll and have been looking for a more folksy metal band, this is your escape. Korpiklaani is one of the best in the business."

True pagan metal

James B. Whitney | Minneapolis, MN. USA | 07/29/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Finland, who knew? The answer is, anyone and everyone into high quality music. Bands such as Moonsorrow, Nightwish, Turisas, Finntroll, and of course Korpiklaani all hail from this Northern hotbed of metal. Korpiklaani play a sort of folkish thrash metal at breakneck speed while never losing the Finnish melodic roots of their music. Thematically, they stick to songs centered on pagan themes of nature and a hedonistic enjoyment of life. Tervaskpnto does not break any new ground which is fine since Korpiklaani is already unique. This album is reccomended for fans of Korpiklaanis' previous releases. As far as pagan folk metal goes, Korpiklaani deliver the goods as always."

Hoe-down down-central at Wacken

W. Myers | South of Metal | 09/30/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Most bonus dvds are just filler added to sell more product but this on of Korpiklaani's performance at Wacken in '06 is excellent. They are definitely a live band and of course the audience participates in the party (look, they're square-dancing in the pit!!!!) Seriously, if you are into Korpiklaani at all get the edition with the bonus dvd. How 'bout an American tour?!!"