A Lahti based band project mentored by Jonne Järvelä and previously having delivered two albums, 'Idja' in 1999 and 2002's 'Shamániac', under the previous guise of SHAMAN. Järvelä had also appeared on FINNTROLL's 2001 'Jaktens Tid' opus. Upon discovery of the high profile Brazilian act bearing the same name the band switched title from SHAMAN to KORPIKLANNI ("Clan of the woods") during July 2003.

With this name change the group also opted to change tack in musical too, adopting traditional Finnish folk melodies. This would be effected with the introduction of a fresh set of musicians in guitarist Toni Honkanen, bass player Arto Tissari of MASTERSTROKE and CRYSTALIC, violinist Jaakko 'Hittavainen' Lemmetty from MOONSORROW and THE MIST AND THE MORNING DEW, percussionist, Ali Määttä and drummer Matson. Signing to Napalm Records KORPIKLANNI debuted with the November 2003 release 'Spirit Of The Forest'. Session drums for these recordings came courtesy of Samu Ruotsalainen (a.k.a. 'B. Dominator') of SHAMAN, BARATHRUM, RAPTURE, SHAPE OF DESPAIR and FINNTROLL repute. KORPIKLAANI accordian player Juho Kauppinen also operates DEMONIC CREMATION and FALCHION. Following the release of 'Spirit Of The Forest', KORPIKLAANI added a second guitarist, Cane, to the line-up.

Second album 'Voice Of Wilderness' would be recorded during the Summer of 2004 with producer Samu Oittinen at Fantom Studios. KORPIKLANNI's 2005 line-up saw Jonne Järvelä being joined by guitarist Kalle Savijärvi, bass player Jarkko Aaltonen, violinist Jaakko Lemmetty, accordian player Juho Kauppinen with Matson retained on the drums. Touring in September saw Russian gigs in St. Petersburg and Moscow upfront of European dates. The band then entered the recording studio in mid November to craft the album 'Tales Along This Road'. Scottish pirate Metal band BATTLEHEART covered 'Journey Man' on their debut April 2006 EP.

The album 'Korven Kuningas', which came out on 21st March 2008 via Nuclear Blast Records, entered the national Finnish album charts at no. 16. 'Korven Kuningas' was also released as a limited first edition with bonus tracks and on white colored vinyl and a strictly limited digipak version, numbered to 500 copies, which included a drinking horn on a wall holder.

KORPIKLAANI, BATTLELORE, KIVIMETSÄN DRUIDI and FALCHION all teamed up for the "Finnish Fire" tour in November and December 2008.

KORPIKLAANI entered Petrax studio in Hollola on 15th February 2009 to begin recording their sixth album 'Karkelo', working with ENTWINE drummer Aksu Hanttu as producer. Further sessions were laid down at Grooveland studio in Lahti.

The band played the THIN LIZZY, SAXON, UFO, MOTÖRHEAD and HEAVEN AND HELL headlined August 2009 'Wacken Open Air' festival in Germany.