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{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2022}}
{{short description|Finnish folk metal band}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name                = Korpiklaani
| image               = Korpiklaani - Rakuunarock 2013.jpg
| landscape           = Yes
| origin              = [[Lahti]], Finland
| genre               = [[Folk metal]]
| alias               = Shamaani Duo <small>(1993–1997)</small><br />Shaman <small>(1997–2003)</small>
| years_active        = 1993–present
| label               = [[Nuclear Blast]], [[Napalm Records|Napalm]]
| associated_acts     = [[Falchion (band)|Falchion]], [[Finntroll]]
| website                 = {{url| korpiklaani.com}}
| current_members     = <!--DO NOT CHANGE! Members are listed in the order indicated by Wikipedia guidelines. See page entitled "Template:Musical Artist" for reference.-->Jonne Järvelä<br />Kalle "Cane" Savijärvi<br />Jarkko Aaltonen<br />Sami Perttula<br />Samuli Mikkonen<br />Olli Vänskä
| past_members        = <!--DO NOT CHANGE! Members are listed in the order indicated by Wikipedia guidelines. See page entitled "Template:Musical Artist" for reference.-->Maaren Aikio<br />Juke Eräkangas<br />Ilkka Kilpeläinen<br />Tero Piirainen<br />Samu Ruotsalainen<br />Janne G`thaur<br />Hosse Latvala<br />Veera Muhli<br />Toni Näykki<br />[[Henri Sorvali|Henri "Trollhorn" Sorvali]]<br />Matti "Matson" Johansson<br />Jaakko "Hittavainen" Lemmetty<br />Toni "Honka" Honkanen<br />Ali Määttä<br />Arto Tissari<br />[[Juho Kauppinen]]<br />Teemu Eerola<br />Tuomas Rounakari
}}

'''Korpiklaani''' ([[Finnish language|Finnish]] for {{lang|en|The Backwoods Clan}}) is a Finnish [[folk metal]] band from [[Lahti]] that was formerly known as '''Shamaani Duo''' and '''Shaman'''.

==History==
===Shamaani Duo===
While other folk metal bands began with metal before adding folk music, Korpiklaani started with folk music before turning metal.<ref>{{cite web |author=Dicks, Britton |title=Interview with Jarkko Aaltonen of Korpiklaani |url=http://www.metalcoven.com/interview_korp_britton.html |publisher=Metalcoven.com |access-date=15 March 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080516220347/http://www.metalcoven.com/interview_korp_britton.html |archive-date=16 May 2008 }}</ref> The roots of Korpiklaani can be traced back to a [[Sámi people|Sámi]] folk music group under the name of "Shamaani Duo",<ref>{{cite web |author=Van Horn Jr., Ray |title=Interview with Jarkko Aaltonen of Korpiklaani |url=http://www.maelstrom.nu/ezine/interview_iss37_193.php |publisher=Maelstrom.nu |access-date=15 March 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080320233707/http://www.maelstrom.nu/ezine/interview_iss37_193.php |archive-date=20 March 2008 }}</ref> an "in house restaurant band" created by Jonne Järvelä in 1993.<ref>{{cite web |author=Sharpe-Young, Garry |title=MusicMight Shama |url=http://www.musicmight.com/artist/finland/lahti/shaman |publisher=MusicMight.com |access-date=15 March 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811173110/http://www.musicmight.com/artist/finland/lahti/shaman |archive-date=11 August 2011 }}</ref> An album of folk music (''[[Hunka Lunka]]'') was released under this name before Järvelä relocated and "Shamaani Duo" morphed into "Shaman".<ref name="Voice of Ramos">{{cite web |author=Ramos Jr, Octavio |title=Voice Of The Forest |publisher=Soundchecks.co.uk |url=http://www.soundchecks.co.uk/articles/korpikla.html |access-date=15 March 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080112032531/http://www.soundchecks.co.uk/articles/korpikla.html |archive-date=12 January 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Shaman===
Shaman was the second incarnation of Korpiklaani, formed in 1997 which is notable for the heavy use of original native [[Sami people|Sámic]] music elements and lyrics in [[Northern Sami language|Northern Sámi]]. The band's music was based on the folk music of Shamaani Duo.<ref name="High Korpi"/> The most widely used elements are the [[shamanism|shamanic drum]], [[yoik]] and [[humppa]]. Besides yoik, the vocals vary from clean to rather aggressive [[death grunt|growling]].

The musical style of Shaman is quite distinctive, especially in the slow songs, due to its entrancing atmosphere created by the monophonic, "narrow" [[synthesizer|synth]] sound making the deep contrast to the spacious sound of the acoustic guitar, the shamanic drum and yoik singing.

The first recording released under the name of Shaman was the demo single ''Ođđa máilbmi'' (''New World'' in Northern Sámi). The video clip shot for the song featured a wolf breaking free from its cage and running into the forest. Besides the single CD the song was included on the band's first full-length album ''[[Idja]]'' (''Night'' in Northern Sámi, 1999) as well.

The band released another album, ''[[Shamániac]]'', in 2002.<ref name="Voice of Ramos"/>

===Korpiklaani===
The band underwent another evolution in 2003, and "Shaman" became "Korpiklaani" (with only Järvelä and drummer Samu Ruotsalainen remaining from the last "Shaman" lineup), with the music style to a more conventional [[folk metal]] with [[Folk metal|folk]]/[[Thrash metal|thrash]] vocals instead of [[yoik]]ing. ''Shamániac'' had already featured a strong resemblance to the future Korpiklaani style. In fact, the song, "Vuola lávlla", has the same music as the Korpiklaani song, "Beer Beer".
[[File:Korpiklaani - Agglutination 2010.jpg|thumb|Korpiklaani at the [[Agglutination Metal Festival]] 2010]]
The change in name was accompanied by a change in the music. The traditional yoik vocals and the use of the [[Northern Sami language|Northern Sámi language]] were dropped while the synthesizer was replaced with real folk instruments.<ref name="Yoik">{{cite web |author=Lehtinen, Arto |title=Interview with Jonne Järvelä of Korpiklaani |publisher=Metal-rules.com |url=http://www.metal-rules.com/interviews/Korpiklaani-March2004.htm |access-date=15 March 2008}}</ref> Jonne Järvelä credits his work with [[Finntroll]] as the catalyst for the shift in emphasis from folk to metal.<ref name="Tartare Korpi">{{cite web |author=Fjordi |title=Interview with Jonne Järvelä of Korpiklaani |publisher=Tartareandesire.com |url=http://www.tartareandesire.com/interviews/korpiklaani.html |access-date=15 March 2008 |archive-date=27 March 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080327134649/http://www.tartareandesire.com/interviews/korpiklaani.html |url-status=usurped }}</ref> Their song lyrics are often related to alcohol and partying. In their first three albums, most of their songs were in English and only a few in Finnish. However, in the following releases this changed, with most of the songs in their latest albums being sung in Finnish.

According to Jonne Järvelä, Korpiklaani's music would be seen as "old people's music with heavy metal guitars"<ref name="df_de">{{cite web |author=Fruehauf, Stefan |title=Interview with Jarkko Aaltonen and Jonne Järvelä of Korpiklaani |date=31 March 2007 |url=http://www.dark-festivals.de/2007/03/31/korpiklaani-interview-english/|publisher=Dark-Festivals.de |access-date=4 March 2013}}</ref> in Finland.

There has been some collaboration between Korpiklaani and Finntroll, as Samu Ruotsalainen of Finntroll provided session drums for their debut album ''[[Spirit of the Forest]]'' and Järvelä provided the yoiking for the title track of Finntroll's album ''[[Jaktens Tid]]''.

Juha Jyrkäs has written some Finnish lyrics to Korpiklaani and from 2011 lyrics are written by poet Tuomas Keskimäki, who writes lyrics in the old Finnish "kalevalametre".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.inferno.fi/uutiset/perisuomalaista-black-metalia-katso-uusi-hiidenhauta-musiikkivideo/ |title=Perisuomalaista black metalia kalevalamitassa – Hiidenhaudalta tuore musiikkivideo! |publisher=Inferno.fi |date=27 October 2014 |access-date=1 May 2015}}</ref>

The name Korpiklaani means "Backwoods Clan" in the [[Finnish language]].<ref name="High Korpi">{{cite web|author=Morton, Kenneth |title=Interview with Jarkko Aaltonen of Korpiklaani |url=http://www.highwiredaze.com/korpiklaani.htm |publisher=Highwiredaze.com |access-date=12 May 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080225172928/http://highwiredaze.com/korpiklaani.htm |archive-date=25 February 2008 }}</ref> In spoken language "korpi" means dark old forest. In biology it refers to [[boreal forest]] appearing on moist moraine soils, characterized by dense growth of spruce and a deep layer of moss as undergrowth.

In September 2011, Korpiklaani announced that Jaakko "Hittavainen" Lemmetty would be leaving the band due to personal health issues which made the constant touring and recording impossible. First his replacement was violist Teemu Eerola and later, Tuomas Rounakari until 2022, where he was replaced by former Turisas violinist Olli Vänskä.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.metal-archives.com/artists/Tuomas_Rounakari/398804 |title=Tuomas Rounakari - Encyclopaedia Metallum |publisher=Metal-archives.com |access-date=1 May 2015}}</ref> In 2013 accordion player Juho Kauppinen left Korpiklaani and the new accordion player is Sami Perttula.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.metal-archives.com/artists/Sami_Perttula/496927 |title=Sami Perttula - Encyclopaedia Metallum |publisher=Metal-archives.com |access-date=1 May 2015}}</ref>

==Personnel==
<!--Albums are used to define members' years of service due to more specific information being unavailable. If this information is known it should replace the album names.-->

===Members===
<gallery perrow="6" caption="Korpiklaani live at Rocklharz Open Air 2019" widths="150" heights="150">
Korpiklaani Rockharz 2019 02.jpg|Jonne Järvelä
Korpiklaani Rockharz 2019 03.jpg|Matti "Matson" Johansson
Korpiklaani Rockharz 2019 16.jpg|Kalle "Cane" Savijärvi
Korpiklaani Rockharz 2019 14.jpg|Jarkko Aaltonen
Korpiklaani Rockharz 2019 15.jpg|Tuomas Rounakari
Korpiklaani Rockharz 2019 05.jpg|Sami Perttula
</gallery>
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
'''Current lineup'''
* Jonne Järvelä – vocals, guitar (1993–present)
* Kalle "Cane" Savijärvi – guitar (2003–present)
* Jarkko Aaltonen – bass (2005–present)
* Sami Perttula – accordion (2013–present)
* Samuli Mikkonen – drums (2019–present)
* Olli Vänskä – violin (2022–present)
{{col-2}}
'''Former members'''
<!--Please do not remove the musicians who were members of the band prior to the name "Korpiklaani" being used. These were still members of the band, albeit under a different moniker.-->
* Maaren Aikio – vocals, percussion (1993–1997)
* Juke Eräkangas – drums, keyboards, backing vocals (1999)
* Ilkka Kilpeläinen – bass, backing vocals (1999)
* Tero Piirainen – guitar, keyboards, backing vocals (1999)
* Samu Ruotsalainen – drums (2002–2003)
* Janne G`thaur – bass (2002)
* Hosse Latvala – drums, percussion (2002)
* Veera Muhli – keyboards (2002)
* Toni Näykki – guitar (2002)
* [[Henri Sorvali|Henri "Trollhorn" Sorvali]] – keyboards (2002)
* Matti "Matson" Johansson – drums (2003–2019)
* Jaakko "Hittavainen" Lemmetty – violin, jouhikko, bagpipes, flute (2003–2011)
* Toni "Honka" Honkanen – guitar (2003–2005)
* Ali Määttä – percussion (2003–2005)
* Arto Tissari – bass (2003–2005)
* [[Juho Kauppinen]] – accordion (2004–2013)
* Teemu Eerola – violin (2011)
* Tuomas Rounakari – violin (2012–2022)
{{col-end}}

===Timeline===
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  id:Keyboards  value:purple      legend:Keyboards
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  at:01/08/1999 color:black   layer:back
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  at:04/21/2006 color:black   layer:back
  at:06/26/2007 color:black   layer:back
  at:03/21/2008 color:black   layer:back
  at:08/25/2009 color:black   layer:back
  at:02/15/2011 color:black   layer:back
  at:08/14/2012 color:black   layer:back
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  at:09/07/2018 color:black   layer:back
  at:02/05/2021 color:black   layer:back
  at:04/05/2024 color:black   layer:back

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 bar:Teemu     text:"Teemu Eerola"
 bar:Tuomas    text:"Tuomas Rounakari"
 bar:Olli      text:"Olli Vänskä"
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 bar:Janne     text:"Janne G`thaur"
 bar:Arto      text:"Arto Tissari"
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 bar:Veera     text:"Veera Muhli"
 bar:Henri     text:"Henri Sorvali"
 bar:Juho      text:"Juho Kauppinen"
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 bar:Juke      text:"Juke Eräkangas
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  bar:Tero      from:01/01/1998 till:01/01/2001 color:guitar
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  bar:Henri     from:01/01/2001 till:01/01/2003 color:keyboards
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  bar:Kalle     from:01/01/2004 till:end        color:guitar
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  bar:Honka     from:01/01/2003 till:06/01/2005 color:guitar
  bar:Ali       from:01/01/2003 till:06/01/2005 color:percussion
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  bar:Tuomas    from:01/01/2012 till:12/20/2022 color:violin
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  bar:Olli      from:12/20/2022 till:end        color:violin
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==Discography==
===Studio albums===
;as Shamaani Duo
*''[[Hunka Lunka]]'' (1996)

;as Shaman
*''[[Idja]]'' (1999)
*''[[Shamániac]]'' (2002)

;as Korpiklaani
{{Main|Korpiklaani discography}}
* ''[[Spirit of the Forest]]'' (2003)
* ''[[Voice of Wilderness]]'' (2005)
* ''[[Tales Along This Road]]'' (2006)
* ''[[Tervaskanto]]'' (2007)
* ''[[Korven Kuningas]]'' (2008)
* ''[[Karkelo]]'' (2009)
* ''[[Ukon Wacka]]'' (2011)
* ''[[Manala (album)|Manala]]'' (2012)
* ''[[Noita (album)|Noita]]'' (2015)
* ''[[Kulkija]]'' (2018)
* ''[[Jylhä]]'' (2021)
* ''[[Rankarumpu]]'' (2024)

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Korpiklaani|lcfirst=yes}}
* [http://www.korpiklaani.com/ Official website]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070527134546/http://www.napalmrecords.com/promo/korpiklaanip.html Korpiklaani] at [[Napalm Records]]
{{Korpiklaani}}

[[Category:1993 establishments in Finland]]
[[Category:Finnish folk metal musical groups]]
[[Category:Musical groups established in 1993]]
[[Category:Nuclear Blast artists]]
[[Category:Sámi musical groups]]
[[Category:20th-century Finnish folk musicians]] 
[[Category:21st-century Finnish folk musicians]]