Erin go bleargh!

Saint Patrick’s Day, the official holiday of alcoholics and green beer enthusiasts all across the country, is upon us again. Actually, by the time you’re reading this, it’s likely the day after St. Pat’s Day, otherwise known as National Hangover Day. Right now, millions of Americans are sucking down an ocean of green beer and Guinness and celebrating their Irish blood, even if the blood is from the guy they just punched out earlier in the evening. As a McDonald, I have chosen to uphold this fine tradition by celebrating the best alcohol-friendly band in the world.

That would be Korpiklaani, folk metal band from Finland.

Korpiklaani is a sextet with a fairly traditional lineup, with vocals, guitar, bass, drums, violin, and accordion. They originally started as a traditional folk band, but changed their name (from Shaman) and their style in 2003 with their first album ‘Spirit of the Forest’, from which the above video was taken.

While many of the folk/pagan metal bands take a more Dungeons & Dragons approach to songwriting, Korpiklaani have more than battle in mind. Songs like ‘Bring us Pints of Beer’, ‘Beer, Beer’, ‘Vodka’, and ‘Happy Little Boozer’ are among the staples of their concert, although they did insist that they couldn’t actually SING ‘Beer, Beer’ unless they were actually drinking beer. In addition to being functioning alcoholics, Korpiklaani are also pagans, and their songs also have a strong admiration for nature. Mind you, many of their songs are in Finnish, so they could be advocating Satanism and baby-eating on at least half their albums and I’d never know. If so, it sounds like a fun way to go.

Be seeing you.
Brian.