Goes completely ko in the second half

The Finns Ensiferum had in my opinion delivered three masterpieces by predecessors of "Unsung Heroes" ("From Afar", 2009). Addressed "From Afar" was still very, very strong, but needed a few exceptions the odd run more to ignite so right. "Unsung Heroes" (2012) falls over this impressive back catalog, however, significantly. There are in my opinion two main reasons.

Reason number 1 has something to do with the production. The album is the sound of her not really bad, but it sounds a little lax. In connection with the songwriting, especially in the second half of the plate, which acts actually made clearly audible. Moreover the mix for my For holding is sub-optimal, especially with regard to the voice of Petri Lindroos, the very weak in my opinion, comes out of the speakers. The acts almost as the frontman would have changed anything in his vocal style, but I think at least actually more than is the mix of his own. Moreover, obviously a lot of tracks were used and a lot of details in the songs built for that reason alone would be in my opinion a "different" production have been better.

Reason number 2 is much more serious: Half of the ten songs kindle not the effect that you would expect from a band like Ensiferum and hoped by far. It goes "Unsung Heroes" very good and very typical los. "Symbol" is a nice intro and much better than much of what else often gets to hear in this area. Immediately thereafter follows with "In My Sword I Trust" and the highlight by far the strongest song of the record. The typical combination of gegrowlter stanza, clean sung Bridge and gebrülltem in chorus Chorus is a veritable, catchy hit, as well as on any other panel of the slack belt could have stood. Also the following on this fireworks theme song has its moments, at least, the listeners after several passes clear on the first try ignites "Unsung Heroes" not yet. Then you learn to appreciate, however, the excellent guitar melody and good vocals, even if the piece has no classic catchy character. The great opener of the album is rounded off still can score by "Burning Leaves", which is located more in the mid-tempo and with Hymnenhaftigkeit. Again: The combination verse / bridge / chorus is beautifully matched and once again backed by outstanding guitar work. Where the piece is not quite as strong as the two songs before and the first time one has the feeling that there is here with the song-length Ensiferum overdo something and a bit faster might get to the point. But so be it, a whole can definitely convince "Unsung Heroes", the first four pieces.

Then it goes downhill unfortunately. "Celestial Bond" is sound, reminiscent of the style forth a little to "Tears" (on "Iron", 2004), but without reaching its quality. Whether one likes it, is probably due to the fundamental question of whether you want to hear a singer with Ensiferum or not. Do not disturb the female vocals, but the songwriting should fit just as well, and that is in the case of "Celestial Bond" rather mediocre. Or, put another way: Would fit great in Nightwish, works with Ensiferum but this way not very good. "Retribution Shall Be Mine" is as a contrast board hard and fast but it does not come into its own as a result of the production, as it was probably intended. Apart from the song sounds as if a polyphonic chorus was simply forgotten. Although rapidly is basically good, but "only rapidly", other also, in the case of "Retribution Shall Be Mine" is missing a unique selling point, because there is not the typical hero chorus. After this quick "interlude" follows with "Star Queen", the second part of "Celestial Bond". This piece has trains ballad, this time with male vocals, making it better instead gravitate towards Nightwish more towards Sonata Arctica. Would in my view not necessarily have to be. Afterwards, there with "Pohjola" again something on the ears and that in Finnish. The chorus you can sing along anyway otherwise the piece with his bombastic operatic choir is not so great. Moreover it is (including spoken-word part that is somewhat reminiscent of Rhapsody Of Fire) longer than necessary. Would have been concluded after three or four minutes, but that would be no problem more than six minutes? But the song is not exciting enough. Penultimate piece on the regular album with "Last Breath" is another ballad about the one but the best cloak of silence enveloped, considering how well Ensiferum can be in this area. In "Last Breath" leave of the vocal line here Primordial greet a little; more positives not comes to mind.

But that would be to get over everything, if there was not the final track. 17 minutes takes "Passion Proof Power", making it the longest song to date, have posted the Ensiferum. There are certainly people who keep this work for the ultimate, find varied, sophisticated and epic it. I can understand that not for me "Passion Proof Power" acting incoherently, over complicated and sad but true hardly reasonable audible. The song contains various set pieces that are known specifically to this album from the second half already: A little Arctica (parts of keyboards, remarkable lead guitar sound), a bit of Nightwish as (parts of the song), garnished with a pinch of Rhapsody Of Fire (theatrical / drama). Unfortunately, these parts do not interfere with each other so that one could say that at the end comes out the innate Ensiferum-feeling. On the one hand it lacks accessibility, on the other hand it does have mixed many different ingredients, but just do not want to come together.

Also worth mentioning is still the brief guest appearance by the apocalyptic horsemen in "Passion Proof Power" also because you can see the playing time of the songs into perspective somewhat by (and by quite a long intro of the song). Basically, it is to give a small (German!) Voice is a nice gimmick, the Thuringians. The fact that they actually manage to name the band Ensiferium, is almost a classic. Would be interesting to know whether this was planned.

On the Limited Edition of "Unsung Heroes" can be found with "Bamboleo" by the way, a cover version of the Gipsy Kings. Well, have at Cover Ensiferum tradition, so why not. The excitement was at release of the album yet big wrongly, in my opinion. The selection of cover songs testifies in my opinion quite of humor. Was well established, the piece also. No reason to complain, then, is not so, that's more than a little bonus for the fans.

Conclusion: "Unsung Heroes" would not be so bad. Were it not for the second half of the album, which is totally screwed up. Nearly the album sounds as if you found somewhere a handful of classic Ensiferum pieces that you would like to put it on an album. Unfortunately, good idea, but the remaining material on the disk does not fit into this category. Or was it vice versa? They had good song ideas for a few strong points, but had to get on album-length, take a couple of discarded songs and song parts to it? Either way: "Unsung Heroes" is thanks to the strong first half, not a total failure, the weakest Ensiferum album to date is yet.

Published on weltending.wordpress.com.