Instrumental death metal track entitled "Sacrilege" for the upcoming EP "Unholy Divination"

Sacrilege

Welcome back to The Great Metal Debate podcast. Today I’ll be exploring the twelfth full-length release from of Finland’s folk metal powerhouse Korpiklaani, titled Ramkarumpu. Despite not having a massed a whole assemblage of performers Eluveitie-style, Korpiklanni manage to split the metalwork evenly among the instrumentalists such that you’re never sure what sound will be leading the break.

We’ll start with the accordion-work of Sammi Perttula. He’s classically trained and definitely knows what to do to derive the most out of his instrument. On “Tapa sen kun kerkeet” the accordion provides a heavy backing atmosphere in parts, and a smooth transition break between choruses, playing an effective foil between the guitar and violin. Similarly on “Nouse” Pertulla expertly sets the tempo and foundation for what the other instruments do. “Mettään” is a song where the guitar is in the driver’s seat, but the accordion is the glue that makes everything come together, and especially in the outro break briefly dueling with both violin and guitar. 

Working alongside Perttula as partner-in-crime is new violinist Olli Vänskä who also performs with bombastic symphonic Finnish metallers Turisas. Vänskä is amazingly adept with his instrument, able to create heavy passages that’ll have you banging your head as well as instigating blissful melodies that’ll leave your heart in your throat. The violin takes the lead on track number 11, “Oraakkelit,” splattering seething, writhing folky-flavored notes overtop as the accordion and guitar chug beneath in lock-step. I love the atmosphere the band builds with this song; that said, I didn’t think the chorus quite lived up to the rest of the composition, and the ending was a bit too abrupt for my liking.  With “Viikatelintu” Perttula lays a brilliant foundation providing a beautiful intro melody and, later in the song giving a signature break counterbalancing Jonne’s singing to create a crescendious ending. Another highlight – and one of my favs from this recording – is “Kalmisto.” This is heavy violin – as aggressive as any metal guitar you’ll encounter.

As expert as they are individually Vänskä and Perttula are at their best when they are working together. On “Saunaan” and “Mettään” the two split the main lead break, with accordion following the violin on each. The order is reversed on the break for “No perkele,” which has a primary melody that’s absolute fire. In a competition of which instrument is most dominant, Perttula and Vänskä are lock in a game that has gone into multiple overtimes.

I have yet to discuss the title track, “Rankarumpu.” This is a brilliant composition and my favorite song on the album, sadly tucked right in the middle of the track listing which, in my opinion, is a mistake not to have featured it at the beginning or end. You’ve got a great building guitar riff, and killer swinging violin melody. I don’t know whether I like the versing or chorus better – both are equally awesome. High energy and some of the best vocal-work by singer Jonne Järvelä on the record, with the backing vocals kicking in a just the perfect time.

Speaking of the vocals, Jonne’s unique vocal style is superbly consistent throughout. For the most part he does a great job of mixing up his approach, and it is very emotive. That said, on a few songs is his singing approach could sound a touch repetitive, although admittedly my total unfamiliarity with Finnish doesn’t allow me to do any lyrical analysis to truly understand the context.

If you have enjoyed some number of Korpiklaani’s previous albums from their discography you likely won't be disappointed with Rankarumpu. I’m giving Rankarumpu an 8 ½ out of ten rating. Rankarumpu is released on April 5th from Nuclear Blast records. You can pre-order the album via the band’s website, and be sure to check out plenty of opportunities to catch the band live in 2024 both in North America and Europe.

The Great Metal Debate

Metal Debate Album Review - Rankarumpu (Korpiklaani)

The Metal Debate podcast returns with another amazing album review...  the latest release by folk metal titans Eluveitie titled “Ànv” (Nuclear Blast Records, 2025).

QUOTES
"Eluveitie are the gold standard for the genre… I’m giving  a 9 ½ out of 10.  It’s my favorite metal album of 2025 so far!"

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Podcast intro music by CONTRA; intro voice by Greg Kyle (RIP).

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Metal Debate Album Review - Ànv (Eluveitie)

inadequate

Long live METAL, damn it! Hello everyone on my beloved SoundCloud channel, this last Friday of June 2025 I present to you METAL, Thrash, Heavy, Agro, Melodic and Hardcore as the protagonist of this new DJ set of mine with 30 songs from several of the heroes of Metal such as; Metallica, Accept, Ministry, Paradise Lost, Sabaton, System of a Down, Brujeria and several others with a duration of 1 hour and 44 minutes in its entirety, and called; #Thrash&HeavyKRUELTYatomicGENOCIDE&warMETALb2bHARDCORE. We are in the middle of Defqon.1 but this time I leave you with the noisy and HARD METAL with the tracklist and see you with another new track in 2 weeks:

1. System of a Down - Chop Suey
2. DIO - We Rock
3. Sabaton - The End Of The War To End All Wars
4. Slipknot - Left=Behind
5. SLAYER - Repentless
6. Motorhead - Ace of Spades
7. Sublind - Metalmorphosis
8. Lacuna Coil ft. Ash Costello - In the Mean Time
9. XONOR - Race War
10. PHANTOM - The Tower of Seth
11. Razor - Rebel Onslaught
12. Overkill - Scorched 
13. Helloween - Best Time
14. Metallica - Hardwired
15. Testament - Brotherhood of the Snake
16. Paradise Lost – Silence Like the Grave
17. ACCEPT - The Reckoning
18. Metallica - St. Anger
19. GRACELESS - Hardening of the Heart
20. Helloween - March of Time
21. MAJESTICA - A New Beginning
22. Ministry - Goddamn White Thrash
23. Lethal - Somos Thrash 2023
24. Babymetal x Slaugter to Prevail - Song 3
25. KillerSick - We Are Toxic
26. Brujeria - Bruja Encabronada
27. Metallica - Battery
28. Soulblast & Da Mouth of Madness - Nightmare Reborn
29. UDOW - Superman
30. Valhalla & DMRC - Brand New Felling

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©️ 2025 Alejandro Garrido, DJ Siglo 21. All Rights Reserved

Thrash&HeavyKRUELTYatomicGENOCIDE&warMETALb2bHARDCORE | DJ Siglo 21 Avanza Sessions #223

Instrumental death metal project based out of Nashville, TN. Follow me on Instagram --> @ohmygoshitsjuan

Podcast where Gomthog and co-hosts engage in lively debates on heavy metal music as well as interviewing artists and reviewing albums.  Occasional explicit language.

New tracks tagged #Nuclear Blast