Band:	Korpiklaani
Album:	Kulkija
Style:	Folk metal
Release date:	September 07, 2018
A review by:	ScreamingSteelUS

01. Neito
02. Korpikuusen Kyynel
03. Aallon Alla
04. Harmaja
05. Kotikonnut
06. Korppikalliota
07. Kallon Malja
08. Sillanrakentaja
09. Henkselipoika
10. Pellervoinen
11. Riemu
12. Kuin Korpi Nukkuva
13. Juomamaa
14. Tuttu On Tie

"Harmaja" had me excited about the possibility of a middle-aged Korpiklaani album; the morose, acoustic single suggested with its downtrodden sulk that some purer traditional pieces might be found on Kulkija. In part, the album follows through on its foreshadowing, but perhaps not quite enough to convince most folks that this is different from a typical Korpiklaani album.

A more serious tone grasps Kulkija; in a small way, it sounds like Korpiklaani trying its hand at aging gracefully - certainly the usual musk of frivolity and savagery has been subordinated to darker, more conservative melodies - and I can not only endorse that trajectory, I can get out of the wagon and push to make sure they get where they're going. "Harmaja" set the stage with its uncharacteristic sobriety, but unfortunately that feeling is not embraced as effectively everywhere. The modest and sunny "Riemu" is too friendly for my tastes, the lumbering "Kallon Malja" much too long; even the solid tracks of the album's first half lack the hooks that pounce on listeners like "Kunnia" or "Vodka" or "Cottages & Saunas," which makes our introduction to this greying aesthetic a little awkward. Parts of the album are tamer-than-usual retreads of middling Korpiklaani-brand folk metal insert muzak, leaving Kulkija stuck halfway between new ideas and old ones - and all this confict happens under the surface. At first blush, there really isn't a lot to set Kulkija apart other than the lack of immediately punchy singles.

The more I return to the album, however, the further I find I can settle into the grizzled-and-gloomy feel of "Neito," "Korpikuusen Kyynel," and "Aallon Alla." Kulkija does have its proper highlights, too, ferreted away in the album's midsection between the most egregiously unnecessary inclusions. The doom-tinged "Sillanrakentaja" picks up the mood of "Harmaja" in a heavier format; "Henkselipoika" and "Pellervoinen" keep the creativity flowing for a bit longer in its wake. The final track, "Tuttu On Tie," fittingly recapitulates what I had most hoped to find on this album. I'll probably revisit these songs as often as I revisit my other Korpiklaani favorites - but for an album that isn't as rambunctious, folk-heavy, or regular heavy as previous releases, the length is excessive, perhaps prohibitive. Kulkija is 72 minutes long. No Korpiklaani album needs to be 72 minutes long. Korpiklaani's Greatest Hits doesn't need to be 72 minutes long. Chop out "Kallon Malja," "Riemu," and "Kuin Korpi Nukkuva" and, baby, you got a stew going.

This album has thrown me for a loop, which is something I never thought I'd say about a Korpiklaani album. I sat down with Kulkija five times and wrote a different review each time. It's certainly not as accessible as usual, but neither is it all that esoteric, and I hesitate to call this substantially different from the norm for fear of being taken to task over that by other listeners. Still, viewing their discography from the bleachers, it's clear that Korpiklaani have been changing and evolving over time, whatever stereotypes to the contrary have dogged them, and I'm interested to see if the band goes further down this particular path, even if I can't imagine anyone aside from the most dedicated fans sitting through all of Kulkija more than once.