Time has passed and suddenly a decade has flown by since the release of “Turisas2013.” After all this time, verses like “Don’t waste your time searching for a beginning, all you’ll find there is the end” continue to echo in the back of my mind. Finnish folk metal band TURISAS remain dear to folk metal enthusiasts and have achieved a cult status on social media platforms such as Reddit. People eagerly anticipate “Turisas V,” a mystery yet to be unveiled.
The masterminds behind the band are none other than Mathias Nygård and Jussi Wickström. These two Hämeelinna natives joined forces in 1997, releasing their first album, “Battle Metal,” in 2004. Recently, Olli Vänskä, the violinist, shared an Instagram post celebrating the album’s 19th anniversary. However, our focus today is on celebrating the release of “Turisas2013,” which came out in Finland on August 21st, 2023. And indeed, “no good story ever starts with drinking tea.” Shall we begin?
The opening track, “For Your Own Good,” introduces a lighter side of the band through its instrumentation, highlighted by an initial piano sequence. Meanwhile, the lyrics provoke thought. Even with the leap of a decade, the struggle to define what is better is still lurking around every corner. Controversially, I really like this song and interestingly, I now appreciate it even more, as its depth has grown with age and our understanding has become clearer as naivety wanes.
The tone shifts dramatically with “Ten More Miles.” What stands out in this song? The quick uplifting of perspective, albeit at a cost, you’ll have to put in all the effort, after all, “when your ship has sailed, take the next and you’re on you’re way.” The chorus’ energy is reminiscent of the first albums TURISAS released and its music video shares an interesting take on comparing the olden days to the present. “Piece by Piece” is by far my favorite track on the album, if not in their whole discography, for that matter. What can we – either as individuals or as a society – actually learn from past mistakes to avoid not taking the leap? The rhythm leads to an apotheotic presentation to make the listener pay full attention. Seriously, why does this song not get more acclaim?
Moving forward, we delve into “Into the Free,” which could be interpreted as the path to happiness – envisioning a better future where escape is the answer: “The day I walk out through that gate, I’m coming back no more.” As a young adult during the album’s release, these lyrics carried a different weight than they do now. The chorus amplifies the bittersweetness: “My time is done, I’m free” delivers the needed punchline, particularly as the melody diverges from the lyrics, leaving one to ponder if the song is misleading.
On the other hand, “Run, Bhang-Eater, Run!,” is a little bit more difficult to decipher. Quite a few things pass by unnoticed in this song: the rhyme for one and maybe a nod to Jane Birkin. So a friendly reminder here: be careful and avoid listening to this song without headphones, especially in public, as it’s NSFW. A true banger, “Greek Fire” encapsulates TURISAS trademark components: Mathias’ vocal performance changing seamlessly from clean vocals to growling, Jussi’s heavy signature riffing, and the drumming that set the song’s tone. Story-wise, it’s a natural follow-up to “Ten More Miles.”
Do you get that sense of nostalgia while occasionally looking back to the past? “The Days Passed” captures this sentiment, evoking the feeling of accomplishment and begging the question of what deserves attention now, what should you pursue to fully appreciate and take in everything and not take anything for granted? This song would be perfect as the last song in a setlist, right before “We Ride Together,” obviously.
Next up, the album continues with “No Good Story Ever Starts With Drinking Tea.” The title is self-explanatory, isn’t it? The rhythm conjures the atmosphere of a night out with loyal friends, where anything can unfold. Olli Vänskä‘s violin enhances the cheerfulness of such an evening. The downside of this song is that it only lasts 2:50 minutes.
We reach the end with “We Ride Together,” which feels like the ending of a motion picture, leaving enough suspense for a sequence. The song wraps up the album with a positive message: if we all learn and adapt, good things can come: “Through the scorching sun, side by side we ride.”
In general, I can understand why some fans were not thrilled with “Turisas2013” back in the day. However, I also believe that for a band to remain relevant, they need to innovate and try new things, otherwise, their music will become get somewhat predictable. I salute the guys for being brave enough to bring new elements to the table while intertwining them with their well-known, refined arrangements.
As previously mentioned, I do have a special place for this album – both in my heart and on my shelf – so let’s see what the future holds. Perhaps a reunion for the last tour? Another album, which was long promised to TURISAS’ fanbase who were following the Varangian guards since the forum days to discuss history? I wish I could tell you. Mathias is no longer active on social media sharing his thoughts, but the website is still live, and admittedly, once in a while I still visit to see if anything new is cooking.
Written by Denise Di Lallo Ragazzo
Tracklist
1. For Your Own Good
2. Ten More Miles
3. Piece by Piece
4. Into the Free
5. Run Bhang-Eater, Run!
6. Greek Fire
7. The Days Passed
8. No Good Story Ever Starts With Drinking Tea
9. We Ride Together
Lineup
• Mathias Nygård – Vocals
• Jussi Wickström – Guitars
• Olli Vänskä – Violin
• Jesper Anastasiadis – Bass
• Jaakko Jakku – Drums
• Robert Engstrand – Keyboards
Label
Century Media Records
