Winning against attack Nordic warriors!

Ensiferum is back, after an "Unsung Heroes" (released in 2012) which had not packed me more than that. You could even say it was a disappointment, after the terrible "From Afar" (2009) whom he succeeded.
It is therefore with some suspicion I mapprêtais to listen to "One Man Army". Distrust all relative because the first extracts that have filtered through the net were quite auspicious. Remained course whether the entire album would keep the promises of these excerpts.

"March Of War" is the intro to the album, folk and epic at the same time. It already feels from our steed, sword in one hand and shield in the other. This takes us quietly on the first piece that is anything but quiet him furious rhythm, "Oh Oh Oh Oh" do you want, here is still as aggressive voice Petri Lindroos. It was a title of medium and large choirs slowdown coming (and return of the "Oh Oh Oh" before it reparte more beautiful behind), with a nice guitar solo passage. It starts very well, this new album!
"Heathen Horde" that follows is more traditional for the group, with warriors everywhere choirs, a refrain to resume loudly and clearly marked folk melody. The title track will be a good speed tempo, with a well thrashy riff. The piece does not lack big choruses either. This one, we already knew, the group has even made a video which has already almost 250,000 views on youtube. In any case, it is dalbum start already now much more friendly than the group gave us in 2012.
And it is not over, as would say the pub. It is then the sequence "Burden Of The Fallen" (small well folk instrumental) and "Warrior Without A War", a well-epic song that reminds me of the atmosphere of the album "From Afar". "Cry For The Earth Bounds" is even more (epic) with its songs a cappella intro. The instrumental part in the middle of the song is excellent, with the key to some female vocals. We find choirs on the end of the title. There really has a big voice work on this piece. I feel that he will quickly become one of my favorite tracks on this new album.
Stay in the epic to evoke "Descendants, Defiance, Domination," as more than eleven minutes. There I am more circumspect because after more than four minutes, it still does not take off. We must wait six minutes for it to become a little more interesting. There has yet few attempts to vary the game as the clear vocals but again, there's something missing on this title that drags on. Again because it is precisely the long piece on "Unsung Heroes" ("Passion, Proof, Power" - well, the same kind of title in three words, really, it will not succeed) that had disappointed me. But fortunately, this time, there are other pieces. But especially those mentioned above, both of which I will tell you now.
"Two Of Spades" is very catchy and the band played a surprise by piece medium with a rather anachronistic way, downright disco (it looks like a mix Abba / Boney M). In any case nice and original! It's a bit missing from this madness "Unsung Heroes" and we are happy to be here. And if lon like that kind of delirium from the group, necessarily appreciate the last song of the album, "Neito Pohjolan" entirely sung by a woman, with music that makes western atmosphere and reminds us of the course even successful attempt on the track "Stone Cold Metal" "From Afar".

Verdict: if the group is not returned to the level of "From Afar" (their best album from my point of view), but it is much more inspired than his last delivery. "One Man Army" Ensiferum that revives the love lon, aggressive, pugnacious and does not shrink some risk taking, giving us a welcome diversity. Nice work!
16/20

PS: the limited edition includes four more titles that are worth the trip (two typed still quite "western".)

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