After delving in the dim mists of atmospheric nordic black metal tradition since our inception with POHJOLA - the third Korpituli album - we take a bold step into the world of Black Metal with a fresh folky Pagan perspective.
My Pohjola is a cold and harsh place, the people are serious, honest and straightforward with big hearts and this is the side of us I wanted to portray with this album. I draw inspiration from the Finnish folklore and pagan mythology and from Classic Nordic Folk / Pagan Black Metal bands such as Storm and Isengard with minor nods into our countrymen in Moonsorrow and Finntroll and from these ingredients the Pohjola of Korpituli was born.
The album is split into two logical chapters:
Part I: Pohjoisen Kansan Taruja (Tales of Our Northern People)
Part II: Suomalaista Sielunmaisemaa (Finnish Soulscape / Landscape of the Finnish Soul)
The first half of the album concentrates on the mythology side of things from the point of view of the Pohjola folk rather than the usual Kalevala perspective, inspired by selected old poems and rhymes from the "Suomen Kansan Vanhat Runot" database. We hear of Pohjan Akka - Louhi,the Queen of the North, her fierce wrath on the theft of the mythical Sampo device, about the famous feasts of the North where men travelled from afar to woo on the beautiful maidens of Pohjola and we pay tribute to our national hero Lalli and his justified slaying of the Bishop Henrik at the ice of the frozen lake Köyliö as highlighted on the cover art of the album.
The basis for the latter half of the album comes from old Finnish folk songs rearranged and extended with original material for the context of melodic Nordic Pagan Black Metal. Sorrow, stubborness, sauna, nature and the sacred importance of all these things to us gives insight into the nature of our northern people, a window into our minds and thoughts, how we are and how we behave.
Despite the serious and harsh nature of our being we also have big, warm, passionate hearts and this album has been made with love for the ways of the days gone, our past and our present and I'm utterly delighted to start sharing this journey with you.
The cover art is a classic painting by Albert Edelfelt, an illustration of Lalli the peasant slaying the crooked Bishop Henrik at the lake Köyliö.
Welcome to the Pohjola of Korpituli!
- S.Korpituli 8.3.2024
Credits
Cover Art “Piispa Henrikin Kuolema” by Albert Edelfelt.
Other illustrations by Albert Edelfelt and Akseli Gallen-Kallela.
Photo of “Pohjan Akka” by Paul Heckscher.
Korpituli Logo by Blood and Fire Ritual Art.
Front frame design by MM.
Mastered by S.D at The Empty Hall Studios.
Tracks "Pohjola" and "Pohjan Akka" include old texts from the
"Suomen Kansan Vanhat Runot" collection.
Tracks "Soittajapaimen", "Saunavihdat", "Yksi, Kaksi, Kolme, Neljä"
and "Kalliolle Kukkulalle" include re-arrangements of old Finnish folk songs.
Drums by S.Redeemer.
Everything else by S.Korpituli.
Thank you to Esa Juujärvi for loaning microphones again.
