Der Metal Krieger Let's make this world metal shall we?
On September 13, 2012, Korpiklaani, Moonsorrow, and Týr filled the barren cement fields of Santa Ana, CA, with a joyous drunken gathering of dancing folk metal fiends. Celebrating in true Finnish folk style, this show was like no other metal concert I had ever been to. Never have I seen so many grown men sporting kilts and war paint and absurdly fascinating beards. Never before have I seen such camaraderie in the mosh pits; everyone was in such friendly unison with each other, linking arms in the mosh pit and smiling more than a child on his first visit to Disneyland. While having a conversation with Korpiklaani’s guitarist Kalle, he proudly declared, “We make metal fun. Nobody ever said metal had to be so damn serious.”
DMK had the privilege to interview Moonsorrow and Korpiklaani before the show. You can check out our pleasant conversations on the links below. After finishing our business and taking tons of pictures, we all gathered around the van for our folk metal version of a tailgate: a Sierra Nevada in one hand, an American Spirit in another, and endless conversations about metal that always seemed to end with us shitting on Dave Mustaine’s ego. We did eventually enter the interview where a few of our rather buzzed members walked in unknowingly to a neighborhood hip hop show. By the time they realized we weren’t here to see “Brother Ali,” we made our way up to our stage in the Galaxy Theatre to watch Týr perform.
Týr set the powerful folk tone for the rest of the night, with their Viking-like spirits shouting “Hold The Heathen Hammer High” and leading my favorite ballad of theirs “By the Sword in My Hand.” Whether it was the newer “Lay of Thrym” or the classic “Trondur I Gotu,” Týr led the charge and pushed the energy to a peak that would be coaxed even closer to a dangerous edge by Moonsorrow. The stage lighting had darkened, Moonsorrow was soaked in blood, and the pit got a hundred times more intense than the Slayer pits on the lawn at the Rockstar Mayhem Fest. With only five songs, but each with a probable minimum of ten minutes, Moonsorrow brought to the stage a black metal intensity that just could not possibly duplicated by other folk bands. It was wonderful to see how after six albums, the band seemed to find a perfect balance between cultural instrumentation and the downright Satanic structures of black metal. I am a true believer in the statement that you truly cannot judge how much you like a band until you see them live, and I am a greater fan of Moonsorrow now after watching them perform, even after listening to their discography.
As Korpiklaani made their way to the stage, it became clear that this audience was anything but exhausted from the events of the night. Beers and vodkas were spilling, heads were banging, bodies were moshing and sweating, voices were shouting. The energy never ceased, and neither did Jonne’s antics. Before playing “Vodka,” he made his way through the audience and stood alongside some very gleeful fans as he sang nearly the entire song off the stage. 
During an instrumental break, we all carried him back to the stage, and Jonne proceeded to drink shots of tequila offered by fellow inebriated fans as well as regurgitate his beer on the daring people located front-and-center. Yet Jonne was not the only one to put on a scene. Our very own editor of Der Metal Krieger was “feeling strong,” and thus proceeded to jump on the stage with his drunken dignity during “Wooden Pints.” While accordion player Juho was trying his best to avoid an awkward hug, Jonne appreciated his ballsy moves. These moves by our beloved founder were not only repeated by him but also served as the basis for several others to do the same! But it is this kind of liberated behavior that even further enhanced the entertainment factor of this show. What fun is it if we can’t be spontaneous every once in awhile Too often, one sees a crowd with crossed arms and a half-assed mosh pit that tuckers out after three songs. This gathering of folk brothers and sisters was a refreshing change from that inhibited social environment, and I savored every minute of it!
KORPIKLAANI INTERVIEW
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oW816-jxB7c]
MOONSORROW INTERVIEW
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bmZrLF2sVBo]
