Korpiklaani

Korpiklaani is a folk metal band from Finland who were formerly known as Shaman. The name Korpiklaani means "Forest Clan" in the Finnish language.

Biography

While other folk metal bands began with metal before adding folk music, Korpiklaani started with folk music before turning metal. The roots of Korpiklaani can be traced back to a Sami folk music group under the name of Shamaani Duo, an "in house restaurant band" created by Jonne J?rvel? in 1993. An album of folk music was released under this name before J?rvel? relocated and formed a new band Shaman. The folk metal act Shaman was based on the folk music of Shamaani Duo. Two albums were released in 1999 and 2001 before Shaman changed their name to Korpiklaani. The change in name was accompanied by a change in the music. The traditional yoik vocals and the use of the S?mi language were dropped while the synthesizer was replaced with real folk instruments. Jonne J?rvel? credits his work with Finntroll as the catalyst for the shift in emphasis from folk to metal. Their song lyrics are often related to alcohol and partying.

According to Jonne J?rvel?, Korpiklaani's music would be seen as "old people's music with heavy metal guitars" in Finland.

There has been some amount of collaboration between Korpiklaani and Finntroll, as Samu Ruotsalainen of Finntroll provided session drums for their debut album Spirit of the Forest and J?rvel? provided the yoiking for the title track of Finntroll's album Jaktens Tid.

There is also collaboration between Korpiklaani and the Finnish ethnic rock band Poropetra. Hittavainen from Korpiklaani also plays in Poropetra, and Juha Jyrk?s from Poropetra writes the Finnish lyrics on Korpiklaani albums using the Kalevala-metre. Jyrk?s has also played some kantele in two Korpiklaani songs, K?det siipin? and Tuli kokko, under the pseudonym "Virva Holtiton".

Korpiklaani released a sixth studio album in summer 2009, titled Karkelo ("Party" in English).

Line-up

Current members
Jonne J?rvel? ? vocals, guitar
Jaakko "Hittavainen" Lemmetty ? violin, jouhikko and woodwinds
Kalle "Cane" Savij?rvi ? guitar (Voice of Wilderness and onwards)
Matti "Matson" Johansson ? drums (Voice of Wilderness and onwards), also member of Falchion
Jarkko Aaltonen ? bass (Tales Along This Road and onwards)
Juho Kauppinen ? accordion (Tales Along This Road and onwards), also member of Falchion
Former members
Ali M??tt? ? percussion (pre-Tales Along This Road only)
Arto Tissari ? bass (pre-Tales Along This Road only)
Toni "Honka" Honkanen ? guitars (pre-Tales Along This Road only)
Samu Ruotsalainen (of Finntroll) ? drums (Spirit of the Forest only)

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Original Wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korpiklaani