Folk metal is a fusion genre of heavy metal music and traditional folk music that developed in Europe during the 1990s. It is characterised by the widespread use of folk instruments and, to a lesser extent, traditional singing styles. It also sometimes features soft instrumentation influenced by folk rock.
In traditional Sámi music songs and joiks are important musical expressions of the Sámi people and Sámi languages. The Sámi also use a variety of musical instruments, some unique to the Sámi, some traditional Scandinavian, and some modern introductions.
A joik or yoik is a traditional form of song in Sámi music performed by the Sámi people of Sapmi in Northern Europe. A performer of joik is called a joikaaja, a joiker or jojkare. Originally, joik referred to only one of several Sami singing styles, but in English the word is often used to refer to all types of traditional Sami singing. As an art form, each joik is meant to reflect or evoke a person, animal, or place.
Finntroll is a Finnish metal band from Helsinki that combines elements of black metal and folk metal. Finntroll's lyrics are mostly in Swedish, the only exception being the song "Madon Laulu" on Visor om slutet. Finntroll's original singer, Katla, decided to use Swedish over Finnish since he was part of a Swedish-speaking minority in Finland and the sound of the language seemed to better suit the band's "trollish" outfit. Despite several vocalist changes, this tradition has continued.
Pagan metal is a genre of heavy metal music which fuses extreme metal with "the pre-Christian traditions of a specific culture or region" through thematic concept, rustic melodies, unusual instruments or archaic languages, usually referring to folk metal or black metal. The Norwegian band In the Woods... was one of the first bands commonly viewed as pagan metal. Metal Hammer author Marc Halupczok wrote that Primordial's song "To Enter Pagan" from the band's demo "Dark Romanticism" contributed to defining the genre.
Idja is the debut studio album by Finnish folk metal band Shaman, who later changed their name to Korpiklaani. The album was produced by Roope Latvala, best known as the guitarist of the Finnish metal bands Children of Bodom and Sinergy.
Shamániac is the second and final studio album by Finnish folk metal band Shaman, before they changed their name to Korpiklaani. The album has been produced by the Shaman frontman Jonne Järvelä and Samu Ruotsalainen, the drummer of the Finnish folk metal band Finntroll.
Spirit of the Forest is the debut studio album by Finnish folk metal band Korpiklaani. It was released in 2003 through Napalm Records.
Tales Along This Road is the third studio album by Finnish folk metal band Korpiklaani. It was released on 21 April 2006 by Napalm Records.
Ur jordens djup is the fourth full-length Finntroll album. It was released on March 28, 2007. The album is the first to feature vocalist Mathias Lillmåns, who replaced Tapio Wilska in 2006. Unlike in Nattfödd, the lyrics for this album were written by the band's original vocalist, Jan "Katla" Jämsen.
Tervaskanto is the fourth studio album by Finnish folk metal band Korpiklaani. It was released on 26 June 2007 through Napalm Records.
Korven Kuningas("King of the Woods") is the fifth studio album by Finnish folk metal band Korpiklaani. It was released on 21 March 2008 through Nuclear Blast Records. A record deal was signed with the company in September 2007. The cover was painted on this album, unlike the last few album covers, which were created using Adobe Photoshop. It features the old man, Vaari, who was also present on the Tales Along This Road and Tervaskanto covers.
Karkelo is the sixth studio album by Finnish folk metal band Korpiklaani. The title is the Finnish interpretation of the word "party", or otherwise meaning loosely "having fun" or "frolic".
Ukon Wacka is the seventh studio album by Finnish folk metal band Korpiklaani. It was released on 4 February 2011 through Nuclear Blast. The title refers to an ancient pagan sacrificial feast, dedicated to Ukko. The album is sung in their native language.
Manala is the eighth studio album by Finnish folk metal band Korpiklaani. It was released on August 3, 2012 through Nuclear Blast. "Manala" translated from Finnish to English is "Underworld".
Hunka Lunka is the only studio album by Finnish folk music band Shamaani Duo, who later changed their name to Shaman, and later to Korpiklaani. This album featured the original lineup of the band, which consisted of guitarist/singer/songwriter Jonne Järvelä and singer Maaren Aikio. Aikio departed following the release of this album, and the band morphed into Shaman.
Noita is the ninth studio album by Finnish folk metal band Korpiklaani. The title is the Finnish word for "witch", but is closer in meaning to "shaman," "witch-doctor," or "medicine man."
Kulkija is the tenth studio album by Finnish folk metal band Korpiklaani. Released on 7 September 2018, it features themes like travelling, nostalgia and homesickness. It is the band's longest studio album at 71 minutes and 20 seconds, thus beating 2008's Korven Kuningas by almost a minute. The album reached the top 30 chart positions in Finland and Switzerland.
Jylhä is the eleventh studio album by Finnish folk metal band Korpiklaani, released on 5 February 2021. It is the band's first album with new drummer Samuli Mikkonen.
Rankarumpu("Ragged Drum") is the twelfth studio album by Finnish folk metal band Korpiklaani. It was released on 5 April 2024 through Nuclear Blast and was produced by Janne Saksa.
