Ensiferum Streaming “One Man Army” Music Video


ensiferum

Ensiferum is streaming the making of “One Man Army” video here, which will be out February 24, 2015 via Metal Blade Records.

The album was predominantly analog recorded by Anssi Kippo (Children of Bodom, Impaled Nazarene, Entwine) at Astia-Studios in Lappeenranta, Finland and delivers eleven punishingly epic odes alongside a four-track bonus CD featuring the band’s rendition of Barathrum’s “Warmetal,” Iron Maiden’s “Wrathchild,” Uriah Heep’s “Lady In Black,” and Judas Priest’s “Breaking The Law,” initially unveiled as the covermount CD of issue #94 of Germany’s long-running Legacy Magazine.

The band has confirmed a number of upcoming tour dates, including an appearance on 70,000 Tons of Metal Cruise, and supportomg Insomnium and Omnium Gatherum.

ENSIFERUM:
Jan 22-26: 70,000 Tons of Metal Cruise – Miami, FL
Feb 27: Pakkahuone – Tampere, FI
Feb 28: Rytmikorjaamo – Seianajoki, FI
Mar 06: Lutakko – Jyvaskyla, FI
Mar 07: Nosturi – Helsinki, FI

w/ Insomnium, Omnium Gatherum:
Mar 11: Zeche – Bochum, DE
Mar 12: Rockfabrik – Ludwigsburg, DE
Mar 13: Backstage – München, DE
Mar 14/2015 Masters of Rock Café – Zlin, CZ
Mar 15/2015 Club 202 – Budapest, HU
Mar 16/2015 Szene – Wien, AT
Mar 18/2015 Live Club – Milan, IT
Mar 19/2015 Les Docks – Lausanne, CH
Mar 20/2015 La Laiterie – Strasbourg, FR
Mar 21/2015 Z7 – Pratteln, CH
Mar 22/2015 Ninkasi Kao – Lyon, FR
Mar 23/2015 Le Bataclan – Paris, FR
Mar 24/2015 O2 Academy Islington- London, UK
Mar 25/2015 Patronaat – Haarlem, NL
Mar 26/2015 Hedon – Zwolle, NL
Mar 27/2015 Biebob – Vosselaar, BE
Mar 28/2015 Tivoli – Bremen, DE
Mar 29/2015 Grünspan – Hamburg, DE
Mar 30/2015 Vega – Copenhagen, DK
Mar 31/2015 Göta Källare – Stockholm, SE
Apr 01/2015 Sticky Fingers – Gothenburg, SE
Apr 02/2015 Inferno Metal Festival – Oslo, NO
Festivals Summer 2015:
Aug 13: Rockstadt Extremefest – Rasnov, DE
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 09: Bloodstock Open Air – Walton-On-Trent, GB
Aug 13 -15: Summer Breeze – Dinkelsbühl, DE

Ensiferum on Facebook


Dark Funeral, Entombed AD, Vader, Anaal Nathrakh Confirmed For In Flammen Open Air


in flammen open air 2015

In Flammen Open Air Festival will be held on July 2-4, 2015 in Turgau, Entenfang, Germany. Bands confirmed for the festival are:

DARK FUNERAL (SWE)
ENTOMBED AD (SWE)
TERRORIZER LA (US)
ANAAL NATHRAKH (UK)
VADER (PL)
OMNIUM GATHERUM (FIN)
DARKENED NOCTURN SLAUGTERCULT (D)
CLITEATER (NL)
HELL MILITIA (FRA)
STALLION (D)
RECTAL SMEGMA (NL)
DYSANGELIUM (HELL)
FUNERAL WHORE (NL)
IRON THOR
MAAT
CARNATION (BE)

In Flannen Open Air Festival on Facebook
In Flannen Open Air Festival on Twitter


Insomnium – Shadows of the Dying Sun  


Insomnium-New-Song-Shadows-of-the-Dying-Sun

 

Losing a longstanding member of an established band is never easy but when the musician in question doubles as a chief songwriter, it’s a predicament that can be career ending. Luckily for Finnish gloom merchants Insomnium, the loss of Ville Vänni in 2011 proved only to be a minor inconvenience as a worthwhile replacement was soon found in Omnium Gatherum axeman Markus Vanhala, a man well-versed in sombre melodic death metal. It’s no surprise then that he’s a perfect addition to the band and makes his presence known on sixth album Shadows of the Dying Sun (Century Media).

 

Given that Insomnium do what they do so well, it’s a case of ‘If it ain’t broke don’t fix it’ and this maxim is strictly adhered to across the board, although there are some nods to the band’s early days such as the return of Niilo Sevänen’s darkly intoned spoken word utterances on a couple of tracks, lending the tracks an even more solemn air, if that were possible. But don’t for one second think they’re not enjoying themselves, as the avenues explored on Shadows of the Dying Sun are lengthy and inspired. It may be variations on a theme, but it’s a damn good theme.

 

The building thrill of opener ‘The Primeval Dark’ gets pulses racing with its clinical chugs and swirling keys while the mournful melodic-doom workout of ‘While We Sleep’ has a strong whiff of fellow Finns Amorphis with its sorrow-filled riffs and death roars. Elsewhere, the blistering attack of ‘Black Heart Rebellion’ shows that there’s still plenty of fire surging through the band members’ veins while the infectious ‘Ephemeral’ is a catchy modern metal song done to absolute perfection without a nuance of integrity sacrificed in the process.

 

Like a fine wine, Insomnium just get better with age and like anything of beauty, you never want to stop experiencing it. Make no mistake; Shadows of the Dying Sun hits the sweet spot.

 

8.5/10

Insomnium on Facebook

 

JAMES CONWAY