Ensiferum
One Man Army
Metal Blade Records
2015
“Pagan/Folk” metal is a genre that was probably given birth by UK Thrash/Folk pioneers Skyclad, who back in the early 90s were bold enough to try to stick a violin/key in the place of a second guitar (and they at times even employed a rhythm guitarist as well anyway) coming up with a weird if not beautiful hybrid. Their songwriting prowess and excellent riffs and solos, provided by members of ex NWOBHM gods, Satan/Pariah, only cemented their fame with albums like “Jonah’s Ark” and “Prince of the Poverty Line” becoming quite successful and popular at the time. Somehow internal conflict and the conflicting interests of a particular member who really thought that he was entitled to make a living out of the band, got the best of the band and while they are still making music with a vastly different but steady lineup, they never, managed to recapture the same heights of popularity ever since.
In their wake, a load of bands, started using violins, tin whistles – hurdy gurdys – the kitchen sink, washboards, bouzoukis, you name it! :D While at times the results were good, a lot of the bands, that went on to adapt the said style, were rather fickle and didn’t really write their music with a mindset that allowed them to incorporate the folk elements into their playing, but used the melodies mostly like ornamentations, while largely following their chosen “genre’s” standards. Rarely have I encountered bands that successfully employ, traditional “ways” etc.
A lot of those bands are cartoony versions of Manowar or Amon Amarth with some layers of keyboards and choirs on top, to make them sound grandiose. Still the songs tend to be mostly boring, in most cases. Tyr were hit and miss at best, in a more straightforward style, Korpiklaani, a bit over the top and drunk, Turisas a bloody successful “joke” and even Ensiferum tend to be rather “generic” although at times, they have shown sporadic glimmers of promise, always a step ahead their immediate competition.
On this their sixth album, Ensiferum, maintain their style of Melo-Death metal with warfare/pagan themes with a plethora of folk elements to boot.
“March of War” is a cinematic intro that leads into the headlong charge of “Axe οf Judgement” a pretty straightforward, headbanger, that is succeed by the whole-lot more melodic mid-tempo “Heathen Hoard” that sounds pretty tame by comparison. The title-track is rather barren and simple/straightforward metal with minimal – folk elements, which goes for a more straight-death approach.
“Burden of the Fallen” is a soft, clearly sung interlude, which again is very cinematic and would have been fit for inclusion on one of those “Hobbit” films.
“Warrior ςithout a War” is a middle of the road track, that sounds again quite sound-track-ish once the choirs and chorus hit, tamer and more involved.
“Cry for the Earth Bounds” is too long winded and tries to be a self-contained epic, but is probably a bit misguided losing steam along the way.
“Two οf Spades” is almost folk-o-head, and this is not really, working in its favor.
“My Ancestors’ Blood” is a somewhat more minimalist, epic and slower number, that however seems to also not be able to recapture the “ooomph” of the early barrage of “strong” opening tracks and falls somewhat by the wayside.
“Descendants, Defiance, Domination” in its eleven and a half minutes, tries to tell a story and while it has a couple of good ideas, fails quite miserably to justify its length.
“Neito Pohjolan” is straight out weird, a bizarre pop-folk hybrid with female leads.
There are a few further numbers included on the second cd for those that might elect the 2 CD digibook.
“Candour and Lies” is quite “theatrical”, for better or worse, but at least is way more interesting than a good number of songs that precede it, but it's under no circumstances, typical Ensiferum fare.
“Rawhide” brings back some of the “fire and death” in the songs, but it’s too short and a bit too late in the record. At least it’s not too bad... but the “sfx” in the middle tend to be a little “disorienting”.
“War Metal” is a joke sung in a very clean voice and the “bonus” track is another useless exercise in taking the piss.
Overall, an uneven album, that has some fair songs for the style, early on and then loses its steam and doesn’t quite regain it until the very end.
In their wake, a load of bands, started using violins, tin whistles – hurdy gurdys – the kitchen sink, washboards, bouzoukis, you name it! :D While at times the results were good, a lot of the bands, that went on to adapt the said style, were rather fickle and didn’t really write their music with a mindset that allowed them to incorporate the folk elements into their playing, but used the melodies mostly like ornamentations, while largely following their chosen “genre’s” standards. Rarely have I encountered bands that successfully employ, traditional “ways” etc.
A lot of those bands are cartoony versions of Manowar or Amon Amarth with some layers of keyboards and choirs on top, to make them sound grandiose. Still the songs tend to be mostly boring, in most cases. Tyr were hit and miss at best, in a more straightforward style, Korpiklaani, a bit over the top and drunk, Turisas a bloody successful “joke” and even Ensiferum tend to be rather “generic” although at times, they have shown sporadic glimmers of promise, always a step ahead their immediate competition.
On this their sixth album, Ensiferum, maintain their style of Melo-Death metal with warfare/pagan themes with a plethora of folk elements to boot.
“March of War” is a cinematic intro that leads into the headlong charge of “Axe οf Judgement” a pretty straightforward, headbanger, that is succeed by the whole-lot more melodic mid-tempo “Heathen Hoard” that sounds pretty tame by comparison. The title-track is rather barren and simple/straightforward metal with minimal – folk elements, which goes for a more straight-death approach.
“Burden of the Fallen” is a soft, clearly sung interlude, which again is very cinematic and would have been fit for inclusion on one of those “Hobbit” films.
“Warrior ςithout a War” is a middle of the road track, that sounds again quite sound-track-ish once the choirs and chorus hit, tamer and more involved.
“Cry for the Earth Bounds” is too long winded and tries to be a self-contained epic, but is probably a bit misguided losing steam along the way.
“Two οf Spades” is almost folk-o-head, and this is not really, working in its favor.
“My Ancestors’ Blood” is a somewhat more minimalist, epic and slower number, that however seems to also not be able to recapture the “ooomph” of the early barrage of “strong” opening tracks and falls somewhat by the wayside.
“Descendants, Defiance, Domination” in its eleven and a half minutes, tries to tell a story and while it has a couple of good ideas, fails quite miserably to justify its length.
“Neito Pohjolan” is straight out weird, a bizarre pop-folk hybrid with female leads.
There are a few further numbers included on the second cd for those that might elect the 2 CD digibook.
“Candour and Lies” is quite “theatrical”, for better or worse, but at least is way more interesting than a good number of songs that precede it, but it's under no circumstances, typical Ensiferum fare.
“Rawhide” brings back some of the “fire and death” in the songs, but it’s too short and a bit too late in the record. At least it’s not too bad... but the “sfx” in the middle tend to be a little “disorienting”.
“War Metal” is a joke sung in a very clean voice and the “bonus” track is another useless exercise in taking the piss.
Overall, an uneven album, that has some fair songs for the style, early on and then loses its steam and doesn’t quite regain it until the very end.