Korpiklaani and Ensiferum: The Regent - Los Angeles, CA - 3/15/25
The Folkfest of the North tour was announced, and it was a great package at that. The tour featured two of the biggest folk metal bands from Finland. Those bands being Korpiklaani and Ensiferum. The other two bands were Trollfest from Norway and Nini from Taiwan who were also making their North American debut. Metal fans were most definitely excited for the tour as a lot of dates were either selling out or were close to it. Halfway through the tour, Los Angeles was the SoCal stop. It being Los Angeles, it was no surprise to see that the show sold out ahead of time. Even before doors opened, there was a line outside as fans eagerly waited to get into the venue to let off some steam and to drink and dance to some folk metal.
Ensiferum (Latin for “Sword Bearing”) released their ninth studio album in 2024. It had been several years since they visited US soil, so it was great to have them back. The now fully packed venue cheered as the lights went out and Ensiferum made their way to the stage. The first song performed was “Fatherland”, one of the songs from the new album. Ensiferum wore their usual stage outfits making them look like as if they were ready for battle. Up next was the fan favorite “Twilight Tavern” and the fans loved singing along to the chorus as well as moshing to the fast folk metal music. Singer/guitarist Petri Lindroos would alternate between traditional metal growls and clean vocals. Regardless of the style, it would send fans into a frenzy as they moshed and even crowd surfers would make an appearance. Several more battle tunes were played including “Lai Lai Hei”, “Andromeda”, and “Rum, Women, Victory”. Nearing the end of their set, Ensiferum played one of their best songs, “In My Sword I Trust”. Fans loved singing along to its catchy chorus and the mosh pit never slowed down. The final song of their set was “Two of Spades”. It gave the audience one last chance to give it their all and show their appreciation for Ensiferum. The show ended with Ensiferum waving goodbye to the audience and thanking them for spending time with them. Now, it was time for the headlining band of the night.
Korpiklaani released their twelfth studio album Rankarumpu ("Ragged Drum") on April 5, 2024. They toured the USA last year in support of the new album and it was great to have them back. Being that they’re from Finland, it was no surprise to see that the majority of their songs are sung in the language of Finnish. As Korpiklaani was getting ready to hit the stage, you’ll notice that their stage was covered in wooden fences and plants, almost like being in a forest. Korpiklaani came out and started their show with “Rankarumpu”, the title track from the new album. Right away, you can hear the classic folk metal sound that has made the band famous. For a show like this, alcohol and dancing along are pretty much mandatory. Korpiklaani kept the dancing tunes going as they played songs like “Happy Little Boozer,” “Levan Polkka” and “Aita” (“Fence”). With fast folk metal music being played, it was no surprise to see a mosh pit that went on for the whole show. A surprise song that was played was a cover of “Iron Fist” originally by legendary rock band Motörhead. The mosh pit went extra fast as the fans appreciated the homage to one of the greatest bands of all time. After a long set, it was sadly time for Korpiklaani to call it a night. The last song of their performance was their most popular song, “Vodka.” With a very catchy chorus, fans could be heard singing along, moshing, and of course, drinking alcohol. Korpiklaani bowed to their audience, then left the stage. The whole package was great and if you see any of these bands coming to your area, it’s highly encouraged that you go see them.
