Ensiferum – Two Paths


If you have even the slightest interest in Viking Folk Metal, then you are sure to have heard of Ensiferum. Formed in 1995, the Finnish five-piece took six years to release their eponymously titled début album, but quickly built up a reputation as one of the major players on the scene. A lofty position they still find themselves in today.Continue reading


Ensiferum – One Man Army


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Ensiferum’s last album, 2012’s Unsung Heroes (Spinefarm), was met with pretty harsh reviews when it came out, though the Finnish quintet look to be back on track and making things right with their sixth effort, One Man Army (Metal Blade). While the band – Markus Toivonen (Guitars), Sami Hinkka (Bass), Petri Lindroos (Guitars & Vocals), Janne Parviainen (Drums) and Emmi Silvennoinen (keyboards) – haven’t drastically changed their sound, the usual combination of Viking-themed folk, bombast and thrash is present, it is simply that the quality has just been improved.

Intro track ‘March of War’ sets the tone; there’s chanting, pipes, and a real sense of preparation as if for some unnamed medieval battle, before segueing straight into the furious ‘Axe of Judgement’ – it’s a furious combination of shredding guitars, epic synths and Lindroo’s rasping vocals where you can perceptively hear the urgency, all captured in analogue warmth by award winning producer Anssi Kippo (Children of Bodom). ‘Heathen Horde’ is a stomping mid-paced sing-along anthem, while title track is almost pure melo-death bar the huge operatic chorus, before ‘Burden of the Fallen’ provides another medieval interlude for respite. There’s plenty of rousing chant-along moments that will have live audiences eating from the palms of their hands, big moments that are cleverly worked into what are often out-and-out thrash songs complete with some blistering solos, and are a sizeable part of what makes this such an enjoyable listen. It’s hard to remember the last time an album made me want to see a band live the way One Man Army does.

‘Two of Spades’ is a bit of a wildcard and sees a polka/disco sound sneak in – Turisas’ cover of Boney M.’s ‘Rasputin’ is the nearest comparison. The second half of the record then sees the band delve into more progressive territory, containing both the seven minute ‘Cry for the Earth Bounds’ and eleven minute epic ‘Descendants, Defiance, Domination’; the former  a slow epic featuring clean female vocals, while the latter is more upbeat and even hints at 70s prog and boasts spoken word segments. With clean female vocals and country guitar, closer ‘Neito Pohjolan’ barely sounds like the same band.

On top of a great main album, the bonus disc is worth hunting down purely for the Ensiferum’s take on the classic Rawhide theme tune, while their cover of Barathrum’s ‘Warmetal’ is addictive. Overall, One Man Army is a very enjoyable experience, combining heavy with epic bombast and folk touches. Best of all, though, this is damn fun.

A definite return to form.

 

8.5/10

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DAN SWINHOE


Ensiferum Streaming Entire One Man Army Album


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Ensiferum is streaming their new album One Man Army on Spotify, out now via Metal Blade Records, here.

Captured by award-winning producer Anssi Kippo (Children Of Bodom, Impaled Nazarene, Entwine etc.) at Astia-Studios in Lappeenranta, Finland, ENSIFERUM’s predominantly analog-recorded One Man Army brandishes eleven stunning tracks of the band’s signature synthesis of Viking, folk and power metal swathed in fantastical themes of Scandinavian lore.

Forged in 1995 as a trio by guitarist/vocalist Markus Toivonen, and presently featuring current and former members of October Falls, Rapture, Norther, Barathrum and Sinergy, ENSIFERUM has been flying the flag of epic, folk-infused death metal high and proud for two decades.

One Man Army Spotify Schedule:
1. March Of War – 2/13/2015
2. Axe Of Judgement – 2/13/2015
3. Heathen Horde – 2/14/2015
4. One Man Army – 2/13/2015
5. Burden Of The Fallen – 2/15/2015
6. Warrior Without A War – 2/15/2015
7. Cry For The Earth Bounds – 2/16/2015
8. Two Of Spades – 2/17/2015
9. My Ancestors’ Blood – 2/18/2015
10. Descendants, Defiance, Domination – 2/19/2015
11. Neito Pohjolan – 2/20/2015

As previously announced, the band has a number of upcoming tour dates booked.

ENSIFERUM w/ Frosttide:
Feb 27: Pakkahuone – Tampere, FI
Feb 28: Rytmikorjaamo – Seianajoki, FI
Mar 06: Lutakko – Jyvaskyla, FI
Mar 07: Nosturi – Helsinki, FI
w/ Craving:
Mar 10: Schlachthof – Lingen, DE (“Fan Appreciation Show” by EMP)

w/ Insomnium, Omnium Gatherum:
Mar 11: Zeche – Bochum, DE
Mar 12: Rockfabrik – Ludwigsburg, DE
Mar 13: Backstage – München, DE
Mar 14: Masters of Rock Café – Zlin, CZ
Mar 15: Club 202 – Budapest, HU
Mar 16: Szene – Wien, AT Mar 18: Live Club – Milan, IT
Mar 19: Les Docks – Lausanne, CH
Mar 20: La Laiterie – Strasbourg, FR
Mar 21: Z7 – Pratteln, CH
Mar 22: Ninkasi Kao – Lyon, FR
Mar 23: Le Bataclan – Paris, FR
Mar 24: O2 Academy Islington- London, UK
Mar 25: Patronaat – Haarlem, NL
Mar 26: Hedon – Zwolle, NL
Mar 27: Biebob – Vosselaar, BE
Mar 28: Tivoli – Bremen, DE
Mar 29: Grünspan – Hamburg, DE
Mar 30: Vega – Copenhagen, DK
Mar 31: Göta Källare – Stockholm, SE
Apr 01: Sticky Fingers – Gothenburg, SE
Apr 02: Inferno Metal Festival – Oslo, NO

2015 Summer Festivals:
Jun 19-21: Hellfest – Clisson, FR
Jul 30:-Aug 01: Wacken Open Air – Wacken, DE
Aug 06-08: Party San Open Air – Schlotheim, DE
Aug 08: Into The Grave Festival – Leeuwarden, NL
Aug 09: Bloodstock Open Air – Walton-On-Trent, GB
Aug 13-15: Summer Breeze – Dinkelsbühl, DE
Aug 13: Rockstadt Extremefest – Rasnov, RO

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