Turisas

A Finnish Summer with Turisas is one of the better metal DVDs I've seen lately, offering a little insight into Finnish life and landscapes while documenting the development and summer touring of "battle metal" band Turisas. The video compiles 13 well-filmed tracks from Turisas's several 2008 festival performances, as well as multiple live clips punctuating the documentary footage. But the main feature follows the band's summer activities off-stage - in the Finnish wilderness, behind-the-scenes and on the road - with almost scientific, National Geographic-esque narration. Mid-summer celebrations, complete with campfire, lake and sauna, make up one of the most amusing scenarios but Turisas are surprisingly entertaining when talking about Finnish history and culture, when donning furry costumes and bloody make-up or while reminiscing about their progression as a band. It's only one disc, which includes a video for Turisas's cover of "Rasputin" and a few bloopers, but rather than overloading me with material the DVD turned a band I was barely aware of into an intriguing folk metal spectacle.