Korpiklaani – Ukon Wacka

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Nuclear Blast
Produced by Aksu Hanttu

Anyone who hasn’t heard of Korpiklaani by now either doesn’t have much interest in metal, or has been living under a rock for the last five years. Arguably the most prolific folk metal band around, Korpiklaani are constantly on tour, appear at nearly every festival you care to mention and have released albums on an almost annual basis. Love them or hate them, one can’t help but admire the band for their energy and work ethic.

Keeping so busy often brings a declining quality of output in a lot of cases, but it is with great surprise that the band’s seventh album still has as much energy as they always did. Ukon Wacka (roughly “Feast For Ukko”) isn’t quite as over the top as prior album Karkelo (roughly “Party”), with the over abundance of drinking songs narrowed down to just two. This is mostly a ‘serious’ rock record – but don’t let that put you off if you’re in it for the drinking, this is a rather good rock record.

Whilst on some of the band’s earlier albums it always felt like they were mostly a folk band with metal guitars, this album feels much the opposite. There’s certainly folk-heavy songs like intrumental Vaarinpolkka (“Grandpa’s Polka”) and the intro to sombre closer Surma (a type of murder), and slower songs like the album’s title track. But otherwise, this is a consistently up tempo and rock-orientated album.

There is certainly nothing wrong with that, of course. Whilst there will definitely be parts of Korpiklaani’s fanbase that will yearn for a deeper, folk-driven album, the majority listen to Korpiklaani because they are an uncomplicated good time. This album is certainly that – Louhen Yhdeksäs Poika (“9th Son of Louhi”) opens the record with a fast energetic anthem, quickly followed up by Päät Pois Tai Hirteen (“Off with their heads” or “hang ‘em”, roughly), a danceable tune with a great rock guitar riff.

Of course there’re also the songs about drinking, as well. Tuoppi Oltta (“A Pint of Beer”) is a jolly jig that will no doubt get the fans dancing come this summer, whilst Tequila is a fast paced tribute to the band’s central and south american fanbase. Its a bit predictable that the band would be singing about drinking, but at the end of the day that’s what the fans want, and Korpiklaani have no problem meeting their expectations. One does have to wonder what drinks the band will be singing about next album – a tribute to Jägermeister? The virtues of scotch? A tribute to their eastern european fans with a song about slivovitz? Who knows.

Overall all this record is a very good, respectable entry in the band’s catalogue. If you haven’t been able to enjoy Korpiklaani up until now, this album won’t likely sway your opinion. Everybody else however won’t be disappointed by this thoroughly enjoyable folk metal album, which is bound to be the soundtrack of every metal festival this summer whether you like it or not.

“ consistently up tempo and rock-orientated ”

Tracklist: Louhen Yhdeksäs Poika / Päät Pois Tai Hirteen / Tuoppi Oltta / Lonkkaluut / Tequila / Ukon Wacka / Korvesta Liha / Koivu Ja Tähti / Vaarinpolkka / Surma

Written by James Donovan
More: 2011, Albums, Folk Metal, Korpiklaani