With unwonted hardness back to its former strength

Ensiferum had for me in the Pagan and folk scene has always been particularly important: not so deadly serious and humorless as Tyr or Moonsorrow (which I incidentally both appreciate very much), but not as party-ready as Korpiklaani and Alestorm. Somewhere in the middle, similar to their countrymen Finntroll, with whom they have music but not too much in common. Merry meet and dramatic melodies with Ensiferum on consistently well presented folklore, including martial externals - all excited about a musical framework that uses mainly of traditional heavy metal and melodic death metal. Nevertheless: Anno 2015 in the year of publication of "One Man Army", the wave of success of the Pagan festivals and Heath seem to be largely subsided and the scene can be slow "downsized". Ensiferum that already exist since 1995, are among the veterans (even if their self-titled debut from 2001 dated) that are likely to survive both rise and fall of their scene.

At least I think after drinking "One Man Army" firmly believe that it will be so. After the predecessor "Unsung Heroes" (2012) which was a different place. Yes, "In My Sword I Trust" could be applied, in "Passion Proof Power" there was a nice good-bye with the apocalyptic horsemen. But otherwise? Nothing had to be remembered too lax everything and in the end just weak songwriting. And as so often happens when an album is not good, you start to see road the band slowly but surely going down hill. All the better that Ensiferum with "One Man Army" can work against it, however, such a tough all-round and clearance is, in my opinion, was not expected. For 2015, in the "swordtails" (as the translation of Ensiferum) something new: First, the label was changed, Metal Blade is now home to the band, which seems very appropriate when looking at the potpourri of the record company. Was changed also the artist who designed the album cover. So far, here always a work by Kristian "Necrolord" Wåhlin admire (unmistakable!), Now there is something of Gyula Havancsák to see who has skillfully managed a visual link to the old cover art despite the new style. The third innovation is in my opinion the eye and ohrenfälligste: On Mixer has this time with Anssi Kippo (Children Of Bodom, among other things) a new man seated and Ensiferum missed a sound that is so organic and hard as a board that you can not out of the wonder comes out. Just so must the sound!

But finally the songs. Using the intro "March Of War" it goes very traditional going slow acoustic strumming that you've heard something like this many times before, also from Ensiferum itself. Well, even better if you z. B. "Ferrum Aeternum "(on" Iron ", 2004) takes as a benchmark. But after that all hell breaks loose: direct the second piece, "Axe Of Judgement" skin so pure right, like no other Ensiferum-piece of the past years. From the cry of singer Petri Lindroos be opened on the double-drum gallop up the perfect guitar work: Everything is great here. But what particularly impressed and that's not just in this song as the rhythmic foundation. Incredible how the band grows in this area beyond itself. Various "Oh-Oh-Oh" choirs also underpin again the hero-feeling, a discipline in which Manowar were sole masters earlier.

It is after this grand opening even better: Impressed "Axe Of Judgement" especially with sheer hardness, follows with "Heathen horde" equal to a proper anthem. Typical Ensiferum aggressive vocals in the verse, then super-catchy chorus with clean vocals and chorus (which it also is in between), all supported by one of these typical-folky guitar melodies catchy Alert The same applies to the title track with its unusual thrashy riffs and sung in epic-sublime fashion words that give the track and the album its name. The guitar solo at halftime incidentally extra supple and heard, despite its brevity, with the best of what the duo have Lindroos / Toivonen hammer out in this area so far. At this track, incidentally also a video was produced.

After this opening with three heavy songs, there is a short break called "Burden Of The Fallen". An acoustic interlude with (English) Clear Voice in Ensiferum-typical, sympathetic-naive accent. In itself, but that's just a short (1:49 minutes) adapter, a kind of intro for another hardness monster that takes the melody of "Burden Of The Fallen" in the chorus again: "Warrior Without A War", my favorite song on "One Man Army". The verse is not quite as fast, rather groovy and in this great mid-tempo gallop before being rotated so right in the chorus part to full throttle and Petri Lindroos shares the vocals with bassist Sami Hinkka. Simply good, as is the choir, which underpinned the whole and the gentler interlude towards the end of the piece.

At this point, ie half of the plate, followed by a break first. "Cry For The Earth Bounds" is more of a piece that would fit into the soundtrack of "Conan" or "The Lord of the Rings". Majority supported tempo, choir, between scream vocals; interrupted in the middle by a little female vocals, then again as in the first half. That's all very nice indeed epic (Fire'schen in a Rhapsody Of sense), so all I can not make friends with it. Especially because the piece is simply too long.

It becomes interesting when "Two Of Spades", a speedy turn piece. Musically it sounds a bit like the hard stuff of Turisas (including the soundtrack with the Fidel or there is a banjo - contributes). In the intermediate part is there music in pop style with all sorts of "Huh-Hah!" hear Disco backed by Western-backed securities. It reads now dreadful, but it fits surprisingly well in and is quite party-ready. The text gives rise to frown is it not going to battles and heroes but the cards luck. Personally, I like the song, but understand when it the ghosts.

"My Ancestor's Blood" and "Descendants, Defiance, Domination" are then settled according to their titles again in classic Ensiferum-cosmos. The former begins like a lost song of Children Of Bodom and then becomes a flawless anthem, roughly comparable to "Tale of Revenge" from "Iron". The second option this time the song-long, 11:20 minutes it became. And yes, they did it the first time since "Victory Song" (in "Victory Songs", 2007) likes me back a long piece of the Finnish heroes. Abwechlsungsreich, beautifully sung with poignant melody what more could you want. If there would be a good chorus here, it would fit perfectly.

Yet that is contrary to the expectations of the end of the CD, then there is to hear "Neito Pohjolan". This coincides with his Wild West melody and the female vocals even more out of the ordinary, as "Two Of Spades". As there, I also mention here Turisas, because their former accordion player Netta Skog are here to give this instrument and also on micro honor. A nice conclusion for the album, even though I had seen here rather one of the harder pieces. Even so, does that quite well.

A bonus CD there is "One Man Army" by the way also. The pieces it contains are as so often a nice gag, but nothing more. At least I feel that way. "Rawhide" is the theme song of a Western series, gecovert inter alia of the Blues Brothers (for the eponymous film) and here just by Ensiferum, who continue their cover-tradition with it. Well. Great done differently. Better is the second cover, "Warmetal", originally performed by the obscure Finnish troops Barathrum, succeeded. This has almost Black Metal-trains and is Ensiferum quite well to face. In position three, the bonus CD with male (clear) stands with "Candour And Lies" the English-language version of "Neito Pohjolan", this time singing. Rather unnecessary, I would say I like the regular version better. The last piece on this CD is simply called "Bonus Song" sounds like Children Of Bodom in the rehearsal room and is quite fun - could in principle also of Alestorm, if you want to hire a humor Comparison.

Conclusion: "One Man Army" leaves the listener after the first round back with his mouth open. So hard, with such Thrash and Death bonds has Ensiferum rarely (actually never) heard. The falls especially when compared to the more lax predecessor, who was also the first album of the weaker Finns on. With "One Man Army" the military band from Suomi makes at least as good as everything correctly and can re-connect with old heydays (to excel without them, of course). A bit of room for improvement is so still, the reparation but worked out fine.

Published on weltending.wordpress.com.