ALBUM REVIEW: Tunturihauta – Verikalpa

Hailing from the Finnish frontiers, VERIKALPA return with their third album Tunturihauta (‘Mountain Tomb’ in English). Chronicling battles and journeys through cold mountains, plains and forests, via black, death and folk metal, it’s a heady mix that promises epic grandeur. A project of this size needs fuel too, and according to the presser, these journeys include “rivers of beer” as well.

Sung entirely in their mother tongue, there’s not a whole lot to unpick for this author beyond how the songs are crafted and how they make a listener feel. Overall, Tunturihauta is a solid album. The instrumentation is clear and lush, vocals are never overshadowed and ultimately there is enough texture here to pique one’s interest. Starting out as what seems like a straight-ahead black metal record, it doesn’t take long for VERIKALPA to reveal their somewhat unorthodox secret weapon: the accordion. 

A staple of folk subgenres the world over, you’ll be hard pressed to find it used in a black metal-leaning record, certainly not to this extent. Serving as a solid spine to the whole record, it ranges from being an interesting addition to an amusing novelty until eventually it becomes slightly wearisome. Working in tandem with intricate and furious guitar work, we reach a point on Tunturihauta where it feels jarring against some of the heavier passages.

In fairness, on tracks like Raivokansa you can really see what VERIKALPA are going for. It’s a grand, brash, catchy tune that feels like a good time without becoming gimmicky and presents a highlight for the record. Rolling into Rautanen Herra though, the façade begins to crack and feels like a weird hybrid of NEKROGOBLIKON and DROPKICK MURPHYS. The full truth is that by track seven, Jotunnimalja, you feel like you’ve heard it all before and the whole shtick feels played out and strung out.

In a weird twist of fate though, this review will consider another viewpoint. As it turns out, if you listen to Tunturihauta and don’t take it too seriously, this is a rip-roaring fun time. The accordions are jaunty, the key changes are jubilant and the record as a whole is joyous. Therein lies the beauty of modern metal – it can be whatever the hell it wants to be, to whoever will listen.

At the end of the day, if you’re a fan of ALESTORM and goblin screams, then Tunturihauta will be your jam. If you’re indifferent or apathetic to either part of that equation though, perhaps this is a battle you won’t be able to win. From a critical point of view, this rating feels generous – there are too many songs, with not enough variation, and they tend to go on a bit too long – but from the other side, it feels quite harsh. Whichever way you approach it though, this album will find you tapping your toes at least once. Just go with it.

Rating: 6/10

Tunturihauta is out now via Scarlet Records.

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