Ensiferum

Biography

Ensiferum (Latin: ensiferum, n adj., meaning "sword bearing") is a Finnish folk metal band from Helsinki. The members of the band label themselves "melodic folk metal". The group has released nine studio albums.

Formation, demos and Ensiferum (1995−2002)

Markus Toivonen (guitar), Sauli Savolainen (bass), and Kimmo Miettinen (drums) founded Ensiferum in 1995. The following year, Jari Mäenpää joined the band as singer and second guitar-player. In 1997, they released their first, three-song demo.
In 1998, Savolainen and Miettinen left the band and were replaced with Kimmo Miettinen's 14-year-old brother, Jukka-Pekka Miettinen, and Oliver Fokin. In January 1999, they recorded a second demo that did not produce a record deal but boosted the band's confidence. In November 1999, they recorded a third demo, Hero in a Dream, which earned them a deal with Spinefarm Records. Tuomas Tahvanainen designed the band logo for the third demo by. He also designed the logos for the earlier demos. In 2000, the band went into the studio to work on their first album, Ensiferum, released in July 2001. In the same year, keyboardist Meiju Enho joined them.

Iron, line-up changes, Dragonheads and 10th Anniversary Live (2003−2006)

In early 2004, after completing work on the second album, Iron, Mäenpää was fired due to conflicts between scheduled studio work on his side project Wintersun and touring with Ensiferum. For the tour with Finntroll starting in April, Petri Lindroos from Norther replaced Mäenpää on guitar and vocals, and became an official member after the tour. In December 2004, Jukka-Pekka Miettinen left the band and Sami Hinkka (Rapture) replaced him. Fokin left in 2005, replaced with Janne Parviainen.
The new line-up entered the studio later that year to record the EP Dragonheads×Dragonheads15 February 2006 · EPSpotifyYouTube MusicTracklist · 6 tracks1Dragonheads5:212Warrior's Quest4:533Kalevala Melody1:484White Storm4:575Into Hiding3:496Finnish Medley: Karjalan kunnailla / Myrskyluodon Maija / Metsämiehen laulu5:10, released in February 2006. In addition to the title track, it contained two reworked demo songs: an Amorphis cover and a short rendition of the Kalevala melody, as well as a medley of three traditional Finnish songs.
In June 2006, Ensiferum released the live DVD 10th Anniversary Live, recorded in Nosturi, Helsinki, on 31 December 2005.

Victory Songs and Meiju's departure (2006−2009)

The third studio album, Victory Songs×Victory Songs23 March 2007 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 9 tracks1Ad Victoriam3:112Blood Is the Price of Glory5:173Deathbringer From the Sky5:114Ahti3:565One More Magic Potion5:216Wanderer6:337Raised by the Sword6:118The New Dawn3:429Victory Song10:38, was recorded between November 2006 and early 2007, and released on 20 April 2007. The single "One More Magic Potion×One More Magic Potion7 February 2007 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1One More Magic Potion5:222Lady in Black4:34" (after the track of the same name) was released on 7 February. Following the album's release, the band released through the producer's MySpace page, a music video for the song "Ahti", which included the band members as extras. The video was released after the album release due to video filming problems.
On 10 September 2007, it was announced that keyboardist Meiju Enho would leave the band. This was posted in a bulletin on their MySpace page and later confirmed on their website. The band used Emmi Silvennoinen of Exsecratus as a touring fill-in. Silvennoinen later became a permanent member during the recording of the From Afar album.
Ensiferum headlined the Paganfest tour in Europe and North America in 2008. Others playing the tour included Týr and Eluveitie, with Moonsorrow and Korpiklaani joining them on the European part of the tour, and Turisas in North America. They supported Megadeth on the opening night of their United Abominations – Tour of Duty European tour. Ensiferum supported Amon Amarth on their North American Twilight of the Thunder God tour.
Shortly before their Russian tour in 2008, Lindroos fell "seriously ill" and was unable to participate. The band hired ex-bassist Jukka-Pekka Miettinen to play guitar, while bassist Sami Hinkka took over lead vocals for the tour.
In the first half of 2009, Ensiferum performed at festivals including Frostrock in Belgium, Finnish Metal Expo and Tuska Open Air in Finland, Winterfire, Rocktower, Legacy and Rock am Härtsfeldsee in Germany, Summer Nights in Austria, and Z7 Metal Dayz in Switzerland. In June and July, they toured North America as part of the Summer Slaughter Tour with Necrophagist, Darkest Hour, Suffocation, Blackguard, Dying Fetus, Beneath the Massacre, Origin, and Winds of Plague. In August, they performed at the Global East Rock Festival in Ukraine, Ankkarock and Jurassic Rock in Finland, and Let's Open Air in Turkey.

From Afar and Unsung Heroes (2009−2012)

Ensiferum released their fourth studio album, From Afar×From Afar9 September 2009 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1By the Dividing Stream3:502From Afar4:523Twilight Tavern5:394Heathen Throne11:095Elusive Reaches3:266Stone Cold Metal7:257Smoking Ruins6:408Tumman virran taa0:539The Longest Journey (Heathen Throne, Part II)12:5310Vandraren3:42, on 9 September 2009 with Spinefarm Records. The album was produced by Nightwish producer Tero Kinnunen and Victory Songs×Victory Songs23 March 2007 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 9 tracks1Ad Victoriam3:112Blood Is the Price of Glory5:173Deathbringer From the Sky5:114Ahti3:565One More Magic Potion5:216Wanderer6:337Raised by the Sword6:118The New Dawn3:429Victory Song10:38 producer Janne Joutsenniemi, and it was mixed by producer Hiili Hiilesmaa. The limited edition of the album includes a cover of Swedish folk rock group Nordman with guest vocalist Heri Joensen of Faroese band Týr. Following the release, the group embarked on a European tour with Estonian folk metal band Metsatöll and Finnish melodic death metal band Tracedawn. In October, they performed at Hellflame Festival – The South Side of Hell and Devil's Revenge festival in Germany, and Tattoo the Mind in France. Ensiferum performed on the second day of the inaugural Screamfest Festival in Sydney, Australia, on New Years Day 2010. In November/December, they toured North America with Ex Deo (on selected dates) and Blackguard.
Ensiferum were confirmed to play Bloodstock Open Air at Catton Hall, UK in 2010. In October 2010, Ensiferum embarked on their first South African tour. This tour consisted of four shows in two cities. They were accompanied by numerous local metal bands, including Riddare av Koden, Empery and All Forlorn. The final show, at The Black Dahlia in Johannesburg, was filmed to potentially appear on their next live DVD. In early 2011, Ensiferum embarked on The Ugly World Tour 2011 with labelmates Children of Bodom, Amon Amarth, Machinae Supremacy supporting them for segments of their tour in the US and Canada. The tour took place within a four-month period of time and spanned 23 countries.
The band's fifth studio album, Unsung Heroes×Unsung Heroes1 January 2012 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Symbols1:512In My Sword I Trust5:203Unsung Heroes5:554Burning Leaves6:035Celestial Bond4:156Retribution Shall Be Mine4:277Star Queen (Celestial Bond Part II)5:558Pohjola6:069Last Breath4:2910Passion, Proof, Power17:00, was released on 24 August 2012, their final album for Spinefarm Records after thirteen years. The next year, Ensiferum signed with Metal Blade Records. After the release, Ensiferum embarked on a tour of Europe and South America.

New label, One Man Army and Two Paths (2013−2019)

Ensiferum's sixth album, One Man Army×One Man Army20 February 2015 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 15 tracks · 2 discsDisc 11March of War1:322Axe of Judgement4:333Heathen Horde4:134One Man Army4:265Burden of the Fallen1:506Warrior Without a War5:247Cry for the Earth Bounds7:328Two of Spades3:399My Ancestors' Blood4:3110Descendants, Defiance, Domination11:2111Neito Pohjolan4:11Disc 21Rawhide2:352Warmetal2:543Candour and Lies4:114Bonus Song4:29, was released on 20 February 2015. The album was recorded at Astia Studio with producer Anssi Kippo. A music video for the title track was released prior to the album's release. In March of that year, Ensiferum announced on their Facebook page that keyboardist Emmi Silvennoinen would not make the European and North American "One Man Army Tour" due to personal commitments at home. Former Turisas accordion player Netta Skog filled her role for the tour. Skog had performed clean vocals on the One Man Army songs "Cry for the Earth Bounds" and "Neito Pohjolan". Heri Joensen of Týr makes an appearance on the track "Heathen Horde", quoting stanza 16 of Hávamál in Old Icelandic.
On 31 March 2016, it was announced that Emmi Silvennoinen would take a leave of absence because of personal issues. Netta Skog was confirmed as her permanent replacement. The band entered the studio to record their seventh studio album, Two Paths×Two Paths15 September 2017 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 29 tracks · 2 discsDisc 11Ajattomasta Unesta2:122For Those About to Fight for Metal5:173Way of the Warrior3:574Two Paths4:485King of Storms5:166Feast with Valkyries4:087Don’t You Say3:398I Will Never Kneel5:009God Is Dead4:1510Hail to the Victor5:1011Unettomaan Aikaan2:1412God Is Dead (alternative version)3:5513Don’t You Say (alternative version)3:39Disc 21Twilight Tavern6:312Burning Leaves5:223Tears4:244Heathen Horde4:365Battle Medley: Battle Song / Into Battle / Victory Song5:036Bass solo1:357Burden of the Fallen1:228Warrior Without a War6:159From Afar5:2410In My Sword I Trust6:5911Two of Spades5:5112Eternal Wait5:2113Neito Pohjolan6:3914Iron6:1215Celestial Bond5:5216LAI LAI HEI7:21. Anssi Kippo, who had produced One Man Army, was chosen to produce. The band focused on a more "organic" sound for Two Paths, using analog recording and neglecting to use a click track for certain songs. Two Paths was released on 15 September 2017.
Skog left the band in December 2017.

Thalassic and Winter Storm (2020−present)

On 7 January 2020, the band announced that they had begun recording a follow-up to Two Paths, at Studio Petrax in Hollola, Finland. This release coincided with the band's 25th anniversary.
On 27 February, the band confirmed Pekka Montin as their new keyboard player and clean vocalist.
The single "Rum, Women, Victory×Rum, Women, Victory3 June 2020 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Rum, Women, Victory4:20" was released on 6 May, followed by a music video of the second single "Andromeda×Andromeda17 June 2020 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Andromeda4:15" on 17 June. The band's eighth studio album, Thalassic×Thalassic10 July 2020 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 9 tracks1Seafarer’s Dream3:022Rum, Women, Victory4:163Andromeda4:044The Defence of the Sampo4:515Run From the Crushing Tide4:226For Sirens4:407One With the Sea6:118Midsummer Magic3:429Cold Northland (Väinämöinen, Part III)8:42, was released on 10 July 2020.
The band's ninth studio album, Winter Storm×Winter Storm18 October 2024 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube MusicTracklist · 10 tracks1Aurora1:142Winter Storm Vigilantes5:123Long Cold Winter of Sorrow and Strife6:594Fatherland4:525Scars in My Heart4:396Resistentia1:187The Howl5:548From Order to Chaos8:439Leniret Coram Tempestate0:3810Victorious3:43, was released on 18 October 2024.
The band will tour in support of DragonForce's Inhuman Rampage 20th anniversary tour in November and December 2026, and Orden Ogan's Tour of the Grave in January 2027.

Musical style

The band has been described as folk metal, melodic death metal, power metal and Viking metal.

Current

Markus Toivonen – guitars, backing vocals (1995–present), clean vocals (2004–2020)
Petri Lindroos – guitars, harsh vocals (2004–present)
Sami Hinkka – bass, clean and harsh vocals (2004–present)
Janne Parviainen – drums (2005–present)
Pekka Montin – keyboards, clean vocals (2020–present)

Touring

Jari Mäenpää – lead vocals, guitars (2027-Present)

Former

Sauli Savolainen – bass (1995–1998)
Kimmo Miettinen – drums (1995–1998)
Jari Mäenpää – lead vocals, guitars (1996–2004)
Oliver Fokin – drums (1998–2005)
Jukka-Pekka Miettinen – bass (1998–2004)
Meiju Enho – keyboards (2001–2007)
Emmi Silvennoinen – keyboards, backing vocals (2007–2016)
Netta Skog – electric accordion, female vocals (2016–2017)

Studio albums

Ensiferum (2001)
Iron (2004)
Victory Songs (2007)
From Afar (2009)
Unsung Heroes (2012)
One Man Army (2015)
Two Paths (2017)
Thalassic (2020)
Winter Storm (2024)

Compilation albums

1997–1999 (2005)
Two Decades of Greatest Sword Hits (2016)

EPs

Dragonheads (2006)
Suomi Warmetal (2014)

Live DVD

10th Anniversary Live (2006)
Ensiferum Acoustic Live @ On the Rocks, Helsinki, Finland 28.10.2016 (DVD included in the Two Paths limited edition) (2017)

Videos

"Ahti" (2007)
"From Afar×From Afar9 September 2009 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1By the Dividing Stream3:502From Afar4:523Twilight Tavern5:394Heathen Throne11:095Elusive Reaches3:266Stone Cold Metal7:257Smoking Ruins6:408Tumman virran taa0:539The Longest Journey (Heathen Throne, Part II)12:5310Vandraren3:42" (2009)
"Twilight Tavern" (2009)
"One More Magic Potion×One More Magic Potion7 February 2007 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1One More Magic Potion5:222Lady in Black4:34" (2010)
"In My Sword I Trust" (2012)
"One Man Army×One Man Army20 February 2015 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 15 tracks · 2 discsDisc 11March of War1:322Axe of Judgement4:333Heathen Horde4:134One Man Army4:265Burden of the Fallen1:506Warrior Without a War5:247Cry for the Earth Bounds7:328Two of Spades3:399My Ancestors' Blood4:3110Descendants, Defiance, Domination11:2111Neito Pohjolan4:11Disc 21Rawhide2:352Warmetal2:543Candour and Lies4:114Bonus Song4:29" (2015)
"Way of the Warrior" (2017)
"For Those About to Fight for Metal" (2019)
"Rum, Women, Victory×Rum, Women, Victory3 June 2020 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Rum, Women, Victory4:20" (2020)
"Andromeda×Andromeda17 June 2020 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Andromeda4:15" (2020)
"Run from the Crushing Tide" (2021)
"Winter Storm Vigilantes×Winter Storm Vigilantes18 June 2024 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Winter Storm Vigilantes5:12" (2024)

Singles

"Tale of Revenge×Tale of Revenge18 March 2004 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1Tale of Revenge4:322Battery5:13" (2004)
"One More Magic Potion×One More Magic Potion7 February 2007 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1One More Magic Potion5:222Lady in Black4:34" (2007)
"From Afar×From Afar9 September 2009 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1By the Dividing Stream3:502From Afar4:523Twilight Tavern5:394Heathen Throne11:095Elusive Reaches3:266Stone Cold Metal7:257Smoking Ruins6:408Tumman virran taa0:539The Longest Journey (Heathen Throne, Part II)12:5310Vandraren3:42" (2009)
"Stone Cold Metal×Stone Cold Metal8 September 2010 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1Stone Cold Metal7:272Breaking the Law2:26" (2010)
"Burning Leaves×Burning Leaves30 July 2012 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1Burning Leaves (radio edit)4:522Wrathchild3:15" (2012)
"In My Sword I Trust" (2012)
"One Man Army×One Man Army20 February 2015 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 15 tracks · 2 discsDisc 11March of War1:322Axe of Judgement4:333Heathen Horde4:134One Man Army4:265Burden of the Fallen1:506Warrior Without a War5:247Cry for the Earth Bounds7:328Two of Spades3:399My Ancestors' Blood4:3110Descendants, Defiance, Domination11:2111Neito Pohjolan4:11Disc 21Rawhide2:352Warmetal2:543Candour and Lies4:114Bonus Song4:29" (2015)
"Way of The Warrior" (2017)
"For Those About to Fight for Metal" (2019)
"Rum, Women, Victory×Rum, Women, Victory3 June 2020 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Rum, Women, Victory4:20" (2020)
"Andromeda×Andromeda17 June 2020 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Andromeda4:15" (2020)
"Winter Storm Vigilantes×Winter Storm Vigilantes18 June 2024 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Winter Storm Vigilantes5:12" (2024)
"Long Cold Winter of Sorrow and Strife" (2024)

Demos

Demo (1997)
"Frost"
"Old Man (Väinämöinen)"
"Knighthood"
Demo II (1998)
"Dreamer's Prelude"
"Little Dreamer (Väinämöinen part II)"
"Warrior's Quest"
"White Storm"
Demo III: Hero in a Dream (1999)
"Intro"
"Hero in a Dream×Hero in a Dream1999 · EP · DemoSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 5 tracks1Intro1:012Hero in a Dream3:413Eternal Wait5:214Battle Song3:365Guardians of Fate3:26"
"Eternal Wait"
"Battle Song"
"Guardians of Fate"

Recorded cover songs

"Into Hiding" (by Amorphis from Tales from the Thousand Lakes) − Found on Dragonheads, 10th Anniversary Live as a live version and Victory Songs Special Edition
"Battery" (by Metallica from Master of Puppets) − Found on "Tale of Revenge×Tale of Revenge18 March 2004 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1Tale of Revenge4:322Battery5:13" single and Iron digipak
"Lady in Black" (by Uriah Heep from Salisbury) − Found on "One More Magic Potion×One More Magic Potion7 February 2007 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1One More Magic Potion5:222Lady in Black4:34" single and Victory Songs digipak and Japanese version
"Breaking the Law" (by Judas Priest from British Steel) − Found on the digipak version of their eponymous album. Song was covered again in 2010 and released as a bonus track of "Stone Cold Metal×Stone Cold Metal8 September 2010 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1Stone Cold Metal7:272Breaking the Law2:26" digital single.
"Vandraren" (by Nordman) – Found on the limited-edition version of From Afar
"Wrathchild" (by Iron Maiden) − Released as a bonus track of "Burning Leaves×Burning Leaves30 July 2012 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1Burning Leaves (radio edit)4:522Wrathchild3:15" digital single
"Bamboleo" (by Gipsy Kings) − Released as a bonus track on "Unsung Heroes×Unsung Heroes1 January 2012 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Symbols1:512In My Sword I Trust5:203Unsung Heroes5:554Burning Leaves6:035Celestial Bond4:156Retribution Shall Be Mine4:277Star Queen (Celestial Bond Part II)5:558Pohjola6:069Last Breath4:2910Passion, Proof, Power17:00"

Covers only played live

"Battle Hymn" (by Manowar)
"Enter Sandman" (by Metallica)
"Fight Fire with Fire" (by Metallica)
"Näitä polkuja tallaan" (by Matti ja Teppo)
"Olen suomalainen" (by Kari Tapio)
"Rentun Ruusu" (by Irwin Goodman)
"Run to the Hills" (by Iron Maiden)
"The Trooper" (by Iron Maiden)
"Tsingis Khan" (by Frederik)
"Sweet Child o' Mine" (by Guns N' Roses)