Draft:Korpelarörelsen (band)

Korpelarörelsen
Origin	Sweden
Genres	Black metal, performance art
Years active	2020–present
Labels	Bleeding Heart Nihilist Productions

Korpelarörelsen is a Swedish black metal band formed in 2020. The band combines extreme music with performance art, drawing inspiration from the controversial Korpela Movement, a millenarian sect active in Tornedalen during the 1930s. Led by theater director and visual artist Markus Öhrn, the group explores themes of fanaticism, social norms, and transgression.

History

Formation

Korpelarörelsen was formed in 2020 under the direction of theater director Markus Öhrn, known for works that challenge taboos and examine power structures. The band consists of four members who take on the roles of "prophets":

• First Prophet: vocals, guitar, organ
• Second Prophet: bass, backing vocals
• Third Prophet: drums, backing vocals
• Fourth Prophet: synthesizers, noise

The First and Second Prophets originate from Kiruna, a town with strong cultural and historical ties to Tornedalen, grounding the band's concept in the authentic context of the original Korpela Movement. All members had previously collaborated on various musical projects, ensuring a cohesive artistic vision.

Conceptual Roots

Markus Öhrn's interest in the Korpela Movement stems from his upbringing in Tornedalen, where local oral history preserved stories about the sect's practices. Active in the 1930s, the Korpela Movement deviated from the strict Laestadianism of the region by embracing dance, alcohol, free sexuality, and apocalyptic beliefs. Central to their mythology was the idea that 666 chosen individuals would ascend to heaven in a silver ark landing on Loussajärvi Lake in Kiruna.

A distinctive practice of the Korpela Movement was the "kamning" (combing rituals), in which participants combed each other's pubic hair to verify that they were "of the right faith" (*av den rätta tron*). This ritual emphasized conformity, trust, and belonging within the group's spiritual framework. Another related ritual, "pensling" (brushing), involved participants bending forward to expose their lower backs while lukewarm water was poured over them with a brush, symbolizing purification and readiness for rebirth. These rituals complemented the movement's prophecy of a silver ark and reflected their broader focus on spiritual cleansing and apocalyptic salvation.

Early Performances

Korpelarörelsen's early shows, termed "revival meetings," were immersive events blending black metal with theatrical elements. The band members, styled as prophets, delivered poetic sermons by David Väyrynen against a backdrop of intense compositions. Visual aesthetics included black robes, corpse paint, and blood-like smears, contributing to an atmosphere of mystique and darkness.

Performances were staged in historically significant locations, including Kiruna and Loussajärvi Lake. In 2021, the band appeared at Stockholm's Fringe Festival, broadening their audience. Critics praised the "intensity and hypnotic energy" of the performances, describing them as "a visceral blend of historical ritual and contemporary artistry."

Discography

Korpelarörelsen released their debut album, Är du av den rätta tron? on April 9, 2022, through Bleeding Heart Nihilist Productions. The album consists of four lengthy tracks, each named after a phase of cell division:

1. Profas (18:22)
2. Metafas (21:03)
3. Anafas (20:14)
4. Telofas (19:07)

This thematic choice reflects the band's conceptual focus on transformation and rebirth, paralleling the cyclical nature of cell division with spiritual renewal. The album also draws from the rituals and numerology of the Korpela Movement. While *kamning* (combing rituals) symbolized conformity and spiritual belonging, *pensling* (brushing rituals) emphasized purification and preparation for salvation. These rituals were central to the movement's prophecy of a silver ark landing on Loussajärvi Lake in Kiruna to transport 666 chosen followers to salvation, with the number 666 representing spiritual trials and redemption.

In homage to these historical elements, Korpelarörelsen's limited edition of 666 vinyl copies includes a bread brush, referencing the *pensling* ritual, and a patch featuring the silver ark sewn in silver thread. These items symbolically resonate with the Korpela Movement's practices and numerological traditions.

Critics lauded the album for its innovative approach and challenging composition. *Metal Storm* described it as "a challenging listen," melding post-avant-black metal with acoustic folk ambiance and menacing drones, resulting in a "deeply disquieting" experience. *Arrow Lords of Metal* praised the release for transcending conventional black metal and delivering a "profound artistic statement," effectively translating the Korpela Movement's "twisted, perverse world" into sound.

Serving as a soundtrack to an avant-garde theatrical performance about the Korpela Movement, the album's music incorporates sepulchral preaching, ambient synth-scapes, analog noise, raw Scandinavian black metal, old-school death/thrash influences, and pagan metal elements derived from a Finnish folk song.

Är du av den rätta tron? exemplifies Korpelarörelsen's commitment to pushing black metal's boundaries by integrating historical narratives, performance art, and diverse musical styles into a cohesive, thought-provoking work.

Funding and Recognition

Korpelarörelsen has received support from Swedish cultural institutions, reflecting the ensemble's innovative blend of extreme music, performance art, and historical narrative. In 2020, the band was awarded a grant from Kulturbryggan, part of the Swedish Arts Council's funding initiatives, enabling them to develop and tour their conceptual performances.

A notable milestone was a limited performance at Dramaten, Sweden's national theater. This event featured the First Prophet delivering a separate poetic sermon written by Sven Anders Johansson, a professor of literature at Mid Sweden University and literary editor at Aftonbladet. Johansson, known for his works including Det cyniska tillståndet (2018) and Litteraturens slut (2021), contributed to the conceptual depth of the performance, which interwove literary expression and black metal themes.

Cultural journalist Daniel Fredriksson described Korpelarörelsen as a "pioneering example" of how extreme music can transcend traditional boundaries to probe themes of fanaticism, cultural identity, and apocalyptic beliefs. Writing in *Puls – Journal for Ethnomusicology and Ethnochoreology*, Fredriksson commended the project for fostering dialogue at the intersection of art, history, and contemporary cultural expression.

Sources

• Fredriksson, Daniel (2023). "From Devil's Music to Artistic Expression: The Korpela Movement, Black Metal, and Cultural Policy". Puls – Journal for Ethnomusicology and Ethnochoreology. 9. doi:10.16993/puls.91 (inactive 6 December 2024). Retrieved 2024-12-01.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of December 2024 (link)
• "Korpelarörelsen – Är Du Av Den Rätta Tron? Review". MetalStorm. Retrieved 2024-12-01.
• "The Unknown at Dramaten". Dramaten. Retrieved 2024-12-01.