Korpiklaani and Crimson Shadows

Korpiklaani initially started off as a folk act, Shaman Duo, led by Jonne Järvelä, in 1993. The project then expanded into a band in 1996, named Shaman, who incorporated heavy use of Sámic music and Sámi lyrics, featuring traditional elements such as shamanic drumming, yolk and humppa, into their metal tinged music, releasing two albums, 1999’s “Idja” and 2002’s “Shamániac.” In 2003, Järvelä wanted to evolve the band’s style of music, moving towards a style still characterised by traditional Finnish folk, but with a more conventional metal sound, dropping the yoiking vocals for more of a thrash metal style.

From this change, Korpiklaani was formed, creating a sound inspired by other folk metal bands, most notably Finntroll, favouring riotous songs about alcohol and partying. Järvelä added violins, drums, bass and guitar to the band, as well as a percussionist, to help flesh out the sound. Their debut record, “Spirit of the Forest” was released in 2003, on Napalm Records. The album was a success, in its carefully constructed folk metal full of ‘humppa’ melodies that sounds distinctly Finnish.

In 2005, they returned with “Voice of the Wilderness," adding accordions and another guitarist to the lineup. Six further albums followed, released on Napalm Records and then moving to Nuclear Blast in 2008, for “Korven Kuningas.” Moving to Nuclear Blast, their albums have consistently charted well in European countries, breaking the top 40 in the Finnish charts, as well as the top 100 in Switzerland Austria and Germany.