Korpiklaani have shared a new version of “Beer Beer” called “Beer Kill Kill.” This track features Exodus vocalist Steve “Zetro” Souza and a lyric video for it can be found below. Souza commented:
“I was very excited, thrilled and honored to be asked and cannot wait to play this live with them! Trash ‘Beer Beer,’ time for ‘Kill Kill,’ Exodus style.”
Korpiklaani have premiered a new video for their new song “Jägermeister.” You can check that out below:
Frontman Jonne Järvelä commented:
“As our recent North American tour began, we were discussing making a new video and Jyrki (The 69 Eyes) recommended Vicente, and he was a perfect fit. At the time we did not even know what song to use and then we remembered we never released ‘Jägermeister’, as this was recorded during the Manala sessions. We contacted Vicente and found out that he had free time the day we had our last show in New York. He flew out to NY, met us at the PlayStation Theater and then filmed around Times Square, backstage and during the show. Now it is time for your favourite medicine, perfect to warm up the cold winter days and get you in that party mood! Come and drink with us!”
In other news, Korpiklaani also have the following dates booked:
12/13 – St. Petersburg, Russia – Aurora Concert Hall (with Trollfest)
12/14 – Moscow, Russia – Red (with Trollfest)
02/29 – Osaka, Japan – Umeda amHALL (with Skyclad and Skiltron)
03/01 – Tokyo, Japan – Shibuya Stream Hall (with Skyclad and Skiltron)
03/06 – Lahti, Finland – Möysän Musaklubi
03/07 – Lievestuore, Finland – Laukaanhovi
03/13 – Manchester, UK – Rebellion (with Burning Witches)
03/14 – Liverpool, UK – O2 Academy 2 (with Burning Witches)
03/15 – Sheffield, UK – Corporation (with Burning Witches)
03/17 – Bristol, UK – Thekla (with Burning Witches)
03/18 – Southampton, UK – The 1865 (with Burning Witches)
03/19 – Birmingham, UK – Asylum (with Burning Witches)
03/20 – Glasgow, UK – The Classic Grand (with Burning Witches)
03/21 – Pwllheli, UK – Hammerfest
03/26 – Bratislava, Slovakia – Ateliér Babylon (with Arzén)
03/27 – Trenčín, Slovakia – Piano club (with Arzén)
03/28 – Ružomberok, Slovakia – Kultúrny dom Andreja Hlinku (with Arzén)
03/29 – Košice, Slovakia – Colloseum Club (with Arzén)
04/03 – Inari, Finland – Papana
04/04 – Kempele, Finland – ZRock
06/12 – Zamora, Spain – Z! Live Rock Fest
06/18 – Nummijärvi, Finland – Nummirock
08/28 – Crispendorf, Germany – Wolfszeit Festival
09/06 – Selb, Germany – Festival Mediaval
Eluveitie and Korpiklaani have announced a co-headlining North American tour. Gone In April will serve as support.
Eluveitie’s Chrigel Glanzmann commented:
“Hard to find words here and to express our excitement. First of all it’s been incredibly long this tour is overdue! We cannot wait to finally come back to North America! Secondly, we have our brand new album Ategnatos under our belts, plus we’ve finally released the much-anticipated second part of our purely acoustic Evocation cycle since we’ve been to North America the last time. And so we cannot wait to share all the new songs with you! And last but not least it feels simply great to once again tour with our very dear friends and fellow road warriors of Korpiklaani! Long story short: We’re super excited and very much looking forward to soon tour in the USA and Canada again! See you all soon!”
Korpiklaani’s Jonne Järvelä added:
“We are very much looking forward to the second North American leg of our Kulkija world tour. This time it will be a co-headlining tour with the Switzerland’s own Eluveitie. First half of the North American tour at the end of the last year was a great success, so it is only natural that we will return there this soon. This will be our seventh North American tour, and we’ve played over 1,000 shows around the world since 2003. Yet this still feels like we’ve only begun and have just now got the wheels properly rolling. However, before North America we still have a tour in Australia and New Zealand in May and of course a busy summer raising our pints around the various festivals in Europe.”
Tour Dates:
09/19 Tampa, FL – The Orpheum
09/20 Atlanta, GA – The Masquerade
09/21 New Orleans, LA – House of Blues
09/22 Houston, TX – White Oak Music Hall
09/23 Austin, TX – Come And Take It Live!
09/24 Dallas, TX – Gas Monkey Bar & Grill
09/26 Mesa, TX – Club Red
09/27 Los Angeles, CA – The Regent
09/28 Oakland, CA – Metro
09/29 Portland, OR – Bossanova Ballroom
09/30 Vancouver, BC – Rickshaw Theater
10/01 Seattle, WA – El Corazon
10/03 Denver, CO – Summit Music Hall
10/04 Lincoln, NE – Royal Grove
10/05 Minneapolis, MN – Cabooze
10/06 Chicago, IL – Concord Music Hall
10/07 Toronto, ON – The Opera House
10/08 Ottawa, ON – Brass Monkey
10/09 Montreal, QC – Corona Theatre
10/10 Quebec City, QC – Imperial Bell
10/11 Worcester, MA – The Palladium
10/12 Reading, PA – Reverb
10/13 Baltimore, MD – Baltimore Soundstage
10/14 New York, NY – PlayStation Theatre
Korpiklaani have premiered a lyric video for their song “Kuin Korpi Nukkuva.” This track is from the band’s latest album “Kulkija.”
Jonne Järvelä commented:
“For some reason, while recording the first demo of this song, I kept hearing it as a traditional tango. I haven’t been able to drop that thought and while playing this live I still hear the tango and drag behind the beat like Topi Sorsakoski. I wanted to leave a trace of that original form and therefore there is a bit of tango in the end of the song. So the tango is not a joke even if it may sound that way. Of course, it is also possible that there is a tongue or even two in cheek, but that was the case with Sorsakoski too.
In a certain way, this is a nice and light song, but still also strong and even a little sad. Tuomas Keskimäki’s lyrics are in line with that. The basic message of the lyrics is the importance of living in the moment, which is also one the fine features of KORPIKLAANI. This band has always been able seize the moment and enjoy life right there and then.”
Korpiklaani have premiered a lyric video for their new song “Aallon Alla.” This track is from the band’s new album “Kulkija,” which will be released on September 7.
Founding member Jonne Järvelä commented:
“The melody of this song was written first, then I added the chords. First there was too much, but then I fixed that by simplifying it as much as possible. The electric guitar plays no riff of any kind, but it’s included with the bass only to support the violin, accordion and vocal melodies.
This song definitely wouldn’t work for Yngwie Malmsteen since this is a prime example of a song where less is more. Of course, there is a slight exception to that rule; it has a bit of a progressive part after the first verse, which is also something new and previously unheard on a KORPIKLAANI album. The drum arrangement however is very complicated through the whole song, although it may seem rather simple at first.”
A press release also added the following about the song:
A song of the drowning one. The lake and the sea are unpredictable. They are the oarsman’s grave. No wings or riches are of help when the drowning man falls into waves. The oarsman in the story cannot hear the cry of the drowning one. The waves can sometimes feel safe: they drift you silently towards eternity.
Korpiklaani and Turisas have announced a co-headlining European tour. Trollfest will serve as support.
Tour Dates:
Feb. 21 – (LUX) Esch-sur-Alzette – Kulturfabrik
Feb. 23 – (NL) Tilburg – 013
Feb. 24 – (BE) Antwerp – Trix Muziekcentrum
Feb. 25 – (UK) London – Islington Assembly Hall
Feb. 26 – (FR) Lille – Le Splendid
Feb. 27 – (FR) Paris – La Cigale
Feb. 28 – (FR) Mérignac – Krakatoa
Mar. 01 – (ES) Bilbao – Santana 27
Mar. 02 – (PT) Porto – Hard Club
Mar. 03 – (PT) Lisbon – Lisboa ao Vivo
Mar. 05 – (ES) Málaga – Paris 15
Mar. 06 – (ES) Murcia – Garaje Beat Club
Mar. 07 – (ES) Zaragoza – Centro Cívico Delicias
Mar. 08 – (FR) Marseille – Espace Julien
Mar. 09 – (CH) Pratteln – Z7
Mar. 10 – (FR) Bourg-en-Bresse – La Tannerie
Mar. 11 – (IT) Trezzo sull’Adda (MI) – Live Club
Mar. 12 – (HR) Zagreb – Tvornica Kulture
Mar. 13 – (HU) Budapest – Barba Negra Music Club
Mar. 14 – (SK) Bratislava – Majestic Music Club
Mar. 15 – (PL) Krakow – Klub Kwadrat
Mar. 16 – (PL) Warsaw – Progresja
Mar. 17 – (PL) Gdansk – B90
Mar. 19 – (DE) Berlin – Huxleys Neue Welt
Mar. 20 – (PL) Wroclaw – Centrum Koncertowe A2
Mar. 21 – (DE) Jena – F-Haus
Mar. 22 – (DE) Munich – TonHalle
Mar. 23 – (DE) Mannheim – MS Connexion Complex
Mar. 24 – (DE) Cologne – Essigfabrik
Korpiklaani have premiered a new video for their new song “Henkselipoika.” This track is from the band’s new album “Kulkija,” which will be released on September 7.
Founding member Jonne Järvelä commented:
“‘Henkselipoika’ pretty much wrote itself. The first thing to come to my head was the verse riff, on top of which the melody wrote itself. The song was a very easy piece to write and it was finished in one day. As far as I can remember this was the first finished song for the new album Kulkija.”
“I wrote this one to a finished text that I got from Tuomas Keskimäki back when I was making the latest JONNE album Kallohonka. That album had the song ‘Hulivili’, and this text is about the same young rascal who is still very much into partying and having fun but is at the same time already longing for a woman by his side.”
Keskimäki added:
“It is quite interesting that these songs got connected this way, even though they are on different albums and are even by different bands.”
Järvelä continued:
“The video was shot in Kuhmoinen around the Huhtala torp, which is also portrayed on the cover of the album Kulkija. It is is a bit exceptional with a slight home-made feeling to it. Many of the actors are actually family members of other contributors. These include Cane’s father with his wife, my daughter Tinja and her friend Sanni, the director’s both sons Konsta and Otto and so on.”
“The video also shows Finnish nature and the idyllic countryside at its best. This might also seem rather exotic for KORPIKLAANI fans from outside of the Nordic countries.”
Korpiklaani have announced a North American tour in support of their new album “Kulkija” (out September 7). Arkona will serve as support.
Tour Dates:
10/31 Boston, MA – Brighton Music Hall
11/01 New York, NY – Gramercy Theatre
11/02 Québec, QC – Impérial Bell
11/03 Montréal, QC – Corona Theatre
11/04 Toronto, ON – Mod Club Theatre
11/05 Chicago, IL – Bottom Lounge
11/06 Minneapolis, MN – Varsity
11/07 Winnipeg, MB – The Park Theatre
11/08 Regina, SK – The Exchange
11/09 Edmonton, AB – The Starlite Room
11/10 Calgary, AB – Marquee Beer Market
11/12 Vancouver, BC – Rickshaw Theatre
11/13 Seattle, WA – El Corazón
11/14 Portland, OR – Bossanova Ballroom
11/15 San Francisco, CA – The Fillmore
11/16 Sacramento, CA – Holy Diver
11/17 San Diego, CA – Aztec Theatre
11/18 Los Angeles, CA – Regent Threater DTLA
11/19 Phoenix, AZ – Crescent Ballroom
11/20 – TBA
11/21 Dallas, TX – House of Blues
11/23 Atlanta, GA – Masquerade
11/24 Richmond, VA – Capital Ale House
11/25 Philadelphia, PA- Theatre of Living Arts
11/26 Baltimore, MD – Soundstage
Korpiklaani have premiered a new video for their new song “Harmaja.” This track is from the band’s new album “Kulkija,” which will be released on September 7.
Founding member Jonne Järvelä commented:
“‘Harmaja’ is an unusual KORPIKLAANI song with its slow tempo and emotional strength. The song is about longing and I managed to charge it with a great emotional atmosphere. When making the album we mostly used the first takes; we didn’t get stuck in details when there was no particular need to. It was important for us to keep the emotion and mood at the forefront even if the technical side wasn’t absolutely perfect at times.
I was surprised – although in a positive sense – that Nuclear Blast wanted to release ‘Harmaja’ as a single and a video. Usually they prefer more uptempo, fun drinking songs. The new album ‘Kulkija’ of course has that material too since being over an hour long it contains the entire scope of different emotions.
I bought a new classical guitar and started to reacquaint myself with the 5-finger picking technique. I created a finger exercise that then formed the basis of the song. The exercise started to sound more and more like an actual piece of music and suddenly a melody came out of that. I sent a very basic version of the song to our lyricist Tuomas Keskimäki who, in the same evening, sent back the lyrics for ‘Harmaja’. The text refers to ‘Sylvian Joululaulu’, a well known poem about longing by Zachris Topelius. I sang the demo in my home studio immediately and that was it – the song felt good and strong right away and I knew that it was going to end up on the album.
The video was shot in the pool of the Maritime Safety Training Centre in Lohja. The water was so cold that even constant visits to the sauna couldn’t stop the coldness from creeping into my bones. It was very difficult to remember the lyrics, keep my head above the surface of the water and sing – while at the same time trying to look like I wasn’t freezing to death. All for art!
We managed to create a nice contrast in the video with the angel. Director Ville Lipiäinen found her accidentally while grocery shopping. I don’t know if he stumbled on her wings or what, but the angel also flew to the same pool in Lohja. The story is about a man missing his dead wife who then returns from the afterlife for one last goodbye, so that the poor man can go on with his life. He manages to drag himself out of the stormy waters back to dry land. Lipiäinen knew exactly what was needed for the video and managed to create just the right atmosphere. The shots change slowly, there is no rush with anything and the story stays just right above the surface until the more stormy ending.”
Keskimäki added:
“An expensive repair was done for my long lost friend, a Collin-Mézin violin from 1896, giving it a new lease of life. It was used for the first time in ten years for this album and its sound exceeded all expectations. Harmaja is a good example of it. What you hear is basicly the best of two run through takes combined.”
The following was also shared about the track:
“The blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla), the bird in the song, has been unable to migrate south because of a broken wing. The song depicts anxiety and the fading memory. A Finnish poet Zachris Topelius wrote in 1853 a poem titled ‘Sylvian joululaulu’ about homesickness which is referred to by ‘laulu kaipauksen’ (a song of yearning) in the song. The song can also mean the “greyness” when a partner of an old couple dies.”
Korpiklaani have premiered a lyric video for their new song “Kotikonnut.”This track is from the band’s new album “Kulkija,” which will be released on September 7. Accordionist Sami Perttula commented:
“It’s a midtempo song with a lot of melodies. It was surprising how our lyricist managed to write it, he really captured the feeling and the character of the song. We hope you enjoy it as much as we do!”
The press release also offered the following about “Kotikonnut”:
During his journey, a wanderer yearningly looks back on his home, childhood and the beauty of everything. He remembers running with his girl on the meadow, believing it to last till the end of times. Although his home is now, the road and a carriage run by joy, he will still always remember the happiness of his home and youth. At the time, the moon was golden, shining everywhere at night, lighting up the otherwise-dark countryside and the forest. The wanderer eventually accepts that everything that comes, will one day fade into a distant memory.
