Korven Kuningas (Nuclear Blast)

Roam the streets and forests of Finland, and you’ll occasionally encounter bearded vagrants loitering with vodka from the state-operated Alko stores and rasping random comments at passersby. Korpiklaani, whose name translates as “forest clan”, is what might result if you handed these fellows thrash-metal instruments, added cranked-up accordions, violins, and flutes, and got them all jamming proficiently to the stomp-along rhythms of folk and humppa (Finnish polka).

Singing along is a challenge on the hirsute sextet’s fifth studio album, as most of the tracks are in Finnish. Paradoxically, it’s still a more “mainstream” project than the band’s original early ’90s incarnation as Shaman, which leaned heavily on Lapland’s obscure Sami language.

What transcends linguistic issues, however, are the outrageously hummable, let’s-dance-in-a-circle melodies of “Nuolet Nomalan” and “Keep on Galloping”. Guitarist Kalle Sävijarvi steps up with Judas Priest–like rhythm work on “Runa-moine” to propel Juho Kauppinen’s intoxicating accordion lines. For a group that’s gained attention for alcohol-fuelled ditties like “Happy Little Boozer” and “Beer Beer”, Korpiklaani still delivers more fun than a 40-pounder of Finlandia on a Saturday night.