Spirit of the Forest Reviews

• If I could give it more than 5 stars...

  
  By A230Z7M6UYT0FU on 2004-08-14
  ...you better believe I would! This has to be the most daring and innovative band on Napalm Records, which is really saying a lot, since that same label carries Atrocity, Vintersorg, Sirenia, and other fantastic artists. But Korpiklaani is likely to be some of the most captivating, yet very fun metal you'll ever hear. If you were put off by the overdose of black metal influence found on Finntroll's albums, then Korpiklaani is the antidote. First of all, they sing in English, so you can understand them. Their earlier works, under the band name Shaman, were in Finnish, but their first attempt in English is much better. Not that Jonne is any particularly wonderful lyricist, but hey, it's all based off of Finnish folklore, so in the end, it's all good. This album features searing guitar work, inspired by gothic and old-school metal and maybe even a tad of folk-noir, but the real highlight comes from Hittavainen, the violinist/flutist. It's not like Tristania or My Dying Bride, where you get a little melancholic violin sample now and then; Hittavainen is right up front there, playing alongside the guitars and often taking center stage. His work sounds exactly like what you'd expect to hear sitting around a campfire in the Finnish wilderness. As a friend of mine so kindly pointed out, Jonne (vocals/lead guitar) has the voice of a storyteller who's trying to scare little kids. It may sound contrary to the music at first, but his voice really grows on you after a while.
  
  One thing that might put many listeners off is the fact that many of the songs are rather short. There are a few long ones, like the absolutely exceptional "With Trees," but most of them never even exceed four minutes (some don't even reach three). There are six songs that are totally instrumental, with the best (and longest) being the closer, "Mother Earth." It sounds nothing like the sappy Within Temptation song by the same name, by the way. This one actually possesses fine musicianship. It reminds me a bit of a Native American tune, although it's really Native Finnish, hehe. Other highlights for me are "Pellonpekko" (an instrumental adaptation of a Finnish folk tune; there are several like it but this is the best), "Wooden Pints," and "Before the Morning Sun." There are no poor songs, although Jonne's vocals in "You Looked Into My Eyes" aren't very good (the song itself is, though). This is an excellent addition to any metal collection. If you like this type of 'nature metal,' I'd also recommend Agalloch and Nest; neither band sounds anything like Korpiklaani (Nest isn't even metal), but are great for forest souls. A must-have; Finland's best band easily!
  
  

• Awesome and innovative!!

  
  By A2EVXI7A6ECPJU on 2005-03-24
  Korpiklaani do an incredible job of blending traditional Finnish folk music and heavy metal together in a way that most similar bands fail in doing. In fact, the only other band that I've heard successfully attempt this, is Finntroll, and Spirit of the Forest is way better than anything Finntroll ever did. This is by far one of the most interesting, powerful and innovative albums I've heard in a long time. I absolutely love the instrumentals "The Pixie's Dance" and "Hullenhumppa". "Wooden Pints", "God of Wind", and "Man Can Go Even Through The Grey Stone" are probably my favorite songs on the album. The vocals aren't bad at all, ranging from low growls to gravelly throated singing at times, and the guitar work is quite good, though there could have been a few more solos in some of the songs, but that doesn't take away from the music whatsoever. What really makes it all worthwhile is the folk aspect, with the violins, accordians and flutes- like I said, not something that is done well very often. All in all, this is a great album, and if you like the mideival sounding folk influenced Scandanavian rock, this is definately for you. Awesome!!
  
  

• OH. MY. GOD.

  
  By A1IA8D8NJ7ME2T on 2006-01-16
  5 stars! 10 stars! This is some of the most hands down astounding music I have ever heard. I got this CD because it was recommended to me as a fan of Finntroll. Well, Korpiklaani surpasses even them, it's perfect, pure genius! I can listen to their music over and over again. The instrumentals are brilliant. And I disagree with those who don't like the vocals. The guy's vocals are great, sort of gruff-clean-slightly growly, and in fact quite sexy (I am a female so I can say this! heheheh).
  
  I see in other reviews that some people are comparing this band to Flogging Molly... admittedly I am not that familiar with them, but from the bits I've heard, I would disagree actually, to me they are a little more like Skyclad or Cruachan (but not celtic of course).
  
  
  

• 5 IS ONLY FAIR IF SCALE WENT TO 3

  
  By A49MNDDKTRPSV on 2004-10-08
  THE BEST MUSIC I'VE EVER HEARD . THOUGH IN ENGLISH WHICH I THOUGHT WAS GOING TO RUIN IT , BUT IT DIDN'T . THE LYRICS MAY AS WELL BE IN FINNISH AS THEY ARE VERY HARD TO MAKE ANY SENSE OUT IF . I KNOW SOME FINNISH FOLK TALES AND I UNDERSTAND THAT MANY OF THE LYRICS ARE BASED ON TRADITION AS WELL AS THE MELODIES . ANY WAY THE LYRICS ARE ALL LIKE SOME FINNISH DUDE WHO DOESN'T SPEAK ENGLISH WELL . AND THAT DOESN'T MAKE THIS ANY LESS GREAT . KORPIKLANNI ARE THE TOP MAN ON THE MIGHTY FOLK METAL MAY POLE . THE VOCALS ARE MORE OLD SCHOOL PUNK / THRASH, THE SINGER SOUNDS HUMAN . NO SCREAMING OR COOKIE MONSTER ROARS . EVERY ONE HAS TO ATLEAST HEAR KORPIKLAANI .
  
  

• Fantastic! Viking bards jam with heavy metal musicians

  
  By A1IAQJKRTTKC9R on 2006-08-20
  If some viking bards got caught in a time warp and met up with some heavy metal musicians, this is what I would expect to hear. The grooves, themes, and instruments of the traditional music blend seamlessly with the modern instruments and unmistakable metal attitude and style. I could not believe it when I first heard it. It totally WORKS musically. You really have to hear it to believe it, but I have played this for metal heads and people who don't much care for metal, and everyone loves it.
  The musicianship is outstanding, and the grooves just won't let you sit still. This is one of my all-time favorite albums.
  
  
• Hypnotic - will come to define the "Viking Metal" genre
  By ASDB0JARRJKJ4 on 2006-12-11
  Definitely a unique album. Wikipedia correctly classifies Korpiklaani as Finnish Folk Metal, but this album is multilayered with haunting celtic and Central European elements. There are even some wooden flutes that - darned if they don't sound like something done in a Mexican Mayan performance. More experimental than metal, but metalheads will be comfortable with this album.
  
  I heard the song Pellonpekko on WSOU - Seton Hall Pirate Radio - and was spellbound. Korpiklaani clearly didn't make this album in order sell it to the mainstream - which is why the "in your face" metal fans in New Jersey think they are worth listening to.
  
  
• what if...
  By A2ZCTUOGSW3ELS on 2007-01-12
  Imagine if you will that Metallica had been asked to do the soundtrack to Braveheart. That is what much of this album sounds like. I don't speak Finnish but I do enjoy this quite a bit. Where else does metal guitar and accordian gel so well?
  
  
• Flogging Molly Plays Metal
  By A12U1D3LOL1Y5B on 2005-06-19
  That's the best description of this band that I can think of. The vocalist and the violins give Korpiklaani that Flogging Molly sound, but this is not punk, it is metal. A warning to fans of Finntroll: you may be disappointed with this. I would recommend this to Flogging Molly fans before I recommended it to Finntroll fans. Those of you looking for a band to complement your Finntroll collections, check out Mithotyn or even Suidakra before this band.
  
  That being said, this band is good, if you like your metal with a bit of folk dipped in. I consider this a bit folkier than Finntroll or Mithotyn, but that's mainly due to the excessive fiddling and the terrible singer. Why is it that with folk, we feel we have to listen to someone who simply can't sing?
  
  The best song on this album is "With Trees", and it is excellent. However, this is let down by odd little interludes like "Hengettoemilta Hengilta" that do nothing for the album. I figured I was in an ancient Scandinavian woodland before we got to this point, thank you for reminding me. Get on with the actual music please.
  
  However, there are enough good songs to make this an above average album worthy of your purchase. Buy it, and enjoy.
  
  
• Korpi-catchy
  By A32A4DUYRXFUZ5 on 2007-01-05
  I was a huge Fintroll fan before I discovered this band, and I have to say that Kopiklaani isn't -quite- the same, but it's very good in a few other ways. This is, for the most part, a great companion to Fintroll because it still has some of the folk sound, but is less hard. If you're having not-so-great a day, and aren't really feeling like you want some HARD stuff, this is the band for you. My only complaint with the band as a whole (and with every album) is that some of the tunes are a bit repetetive. This especially sticks out in their beautiful musical pieces without singing. It doesn't make it any less beautiful, but after you've listened to it a few times, it starts to get old. I really enjoy this album, but highly advise anyone looking at this album to check out their newest "Tales Along This Road" first, as it is a much better album with a newer, not so "fuzzy" sound. After you check that out, then come back and grab this one up if you like what you heard. A great band if you like Fintroll, or if you're simply looking for something a little different.
  
  
• One of my favorites!
  By A3BEGUCWKKSV8Y on 2007-09-22
  This is an amazing piece of work! It's great if you just want to settle down after a long, hard, frustrating day. Korpiklaani completely master blending folk metal and heavy metal together to make an absolutely awsome listening experience for any folk metal fan. Tracks like "Wooden pints", "Shaman drum","Man Can Go Even Through the Grey Stone," and "With Trees" are among my favorites and get stuck in your head after the first time of hearing them. "Pellonpekko" and "Mother Earth" are tremendously brilliant instrumentals. I strongly recommend this album to fans of Finntroll, Kampfar, and Dragonlord. It trully makes you feel as though you are living in a deep forest away from all civilization and are up and about talking to animals....at least it does for me...
  
  

• Voice of Wilderness
• Tales Along This Road
• Tervaskanto w/ bonus DVD
• Korven Kuningas
• Slania