Korpiklaani – Rankarumpu
Korpiklaani – Rankarumpu
Nuclear Blast Records
Release Date: 05/04/2024
Running Time: 43:15
Review by Rory Bentley
8/10
The secret to being a good party guest is knowing when to fuck off. There’s a peak that a party hits where people start to outstay their welcome as the energy levels drop and the threat of the impending hangover grows more present. Korpiklaani have embraced this lesson on their latest release “Rankarumpu” and as a result it’s an adrenalised goofy riot through the land of a thousand lakes that will leave you reaching for the lucozade and bacon cobs the next morning.
The Korpiklaani boys have a signature sound that is both in danger of losing impact through repetition yet it loses its distinctive charm when there’s too much experimentation, as more recent albums have proved. ‘Kotama’ knows exactly what side its bread is buttered on with an impossibly catchy earworm chorus and everyone in the band playing on 10 whether it’s the riff sticks, fiddles, accordions or Jonne Järvellä’s gravelly demented vocals. It’s followed up immediately with two other pacy numbers in ‘Tapa Sen’ and ‘Aita’ which feature more furious Folk instrument abuse and some percussive vocals that would be borderline rapping were they not so unhinged and goofy.
What this barrage of adrenaline-fuelled goblin anthems does as a result is to lend significant impact and weight by contrast to the likes of ‘Kalmisto’. The song is a mid paced groover that hits home nicely and is one of the more successful examples of the band taking their foot off the gas, an area where they have come a cropper in the past. Peppering deviations like this and the accordion lead, howling wolf anthem ‘Oraakkerit’ between the warp speed performances of the band’s classic sound allows both elements to breathe and strikes a perfect balance that keeps the momentum going right until the end.
By the time the ‘even grizzled forest lads get sad’ ballad ‘Harhainen Höyhen’ tugs on the old heartstrings with mournful tin whistles and campfire vocals, the album is over before you know it and that play button looks mighty appetising all over again.
Having expected to be lukewarm on this when I trepidatiously plucked it from the review schedule, I’m delighted to report that although nobody’s learning any new tricks, there’s life in the old dog yet! Now someone pass me a tankard, I fancy another knees up!
TRACKLISTING:
01. Kotomaa
02. Tapa sen kun kerkeet
03. Aita
04. Saunaan
05. Mettään
06. Kalmisto
07. Rankarumpu
08. No perkele
09. Viikatelintu
10. Nouse
11. Oraakkelit
12. Harhainen höyhen
LINE-UP:
Jonne Järvelä – Vocals, acoustic guitar, mandolin, percussion, violafon
Olli Vänskä – Fiddle
Cane – Guitars, backing vocals
Jarkko Aaltonen – Bass
Sami Perttula – Accordion
Samuli Mikkonen – Drums
LINKS:
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