First impression with Ensiferum is that the Children of lake Bodom have finally put their toys aside and become mean, bearded true men.
Musically this is a mixture between traditional melodic "hero" power metal and viking metal bands. There are also very folkish parts added, which makes Ensiferum sound very Scandinavic. You can find Mr. Trollhorn playing amazing keyboars on Ensiferum's debut, so it's no wonder that Finntrollish ghosts also haunt their sound.
Songs go ahead like viking boat catched by a tornado, fast and furious. But even during the ultra fast breaks, this viking boat doesn't loose its direction. The songs are majestically melodic, even bombastic. Vocalist also sounds very much like a viking. Regretly this viking seems to be suffering a very bad hangover, or otherwise he has drank too much salty seawater on his last trip. But comparing to the crow, who's supposed to do the vocal parts on C.O.B., this viking has balls. Big ones. But don't worry, vocals suit Ensiferum's music more than well. There's also many choir parts and even female vocal parts, so no problem vocalwise either.
Sound is great as always on Finnish "Spine" metal bands. Can't find anything to complain there. Only the bonus track, 'Goblins' Dance' sound a bit ridiculous. Clinking of a beer case doesn't sound very mature! Should they use wooden tankards? Could this be an old song found beneath the remains of empty beer bottles?
Very impressive, solid debut anyway. Very much recommended, considering the price (89 FIM) also. Good work boys and Spinefarm too!
Reviewed by Mikki
16/08/2001 13:52
When a friend of mine played Ensiferum's self-titled debut album to me, I was totally taken by surprise by it. I mean the band had already released three demos between 1996-1999 and the internet was already there, as well as good ol' metal music radio show Metalliliitto. They must have played Ensiferum, and the band must've been on the Suomi Finland Perkele magazine... But no, when hearing the band, they didn't ring any bell in my brain. "This sounds pretty good, I think I'll grab the album, too," was my first thoughts and some time later I bought the fucker. Listened to if a few times and thought "now this is a long platter and among a few highlights, this is just monotonous..." I kept the album through the years, but hardly listened to it. Then in 2006 I bought the DVD '10th Anniversary Live' and the Ensiferum spirit really seized me. Why didn't this album grab me earlier? I can't accuse the oversupply of the folk metal back in the 2001, because it never hit me that early. Nowadays, there's so bloody much of the Fennoscandian style folk metal coming from all around the world, that it is really hard to find gems among the dirt.
I think this shows how good Ensiferum are, and already were on their debut album. Hundreds of bands of the similar ilk have come and gone, but Ensiferum stay. The band weaved their metal from the familiar elements, but made it sound all their own. The harmonic yet shredding guitar work loans from power metal, melodic death metal and heavy metal. The folk/traditional elements appear in the way of the melodies, the instrumentation and the lyrics. Think about melting Amorphis, Eternal Tears Of Sorrow and Finntroll into an alloy; this alloy is Ensiferum. Bluntly put, yes, but that's the easy way to characterise the band's sound. Ensiferum sound 99.9% Finnish, since there's one Unanimated riff on 'Old Man (Väinämöinen)'. Well, fuck it, you can't find a band sounding more Finnish as Ensiferum do! The feelings in the music fluctuate from joyful to quarrelsome, from melancholic to proudness, so there is a lot to be found here, and to tell the truth, it is far from monotonous. The album persists extremely well for the 10 songs, but the final pair feels a tad amateurish. They are good songs, but the first ten songs are so much better.
The band members were young when they did 'Ensiferum', and this can be heard in the explosive energy discharges throughout the album. The performances are very skilled, especially the playful guitar work. The drumming is accurate and powerful, yet jolly at the same time. Makes you want to hit the dance floor... The guesting synth player Trollhorn of Finntroll created epic (as one might except from him, because of his Bal-Sagoth fixation) and very much fitting soundscapes. The vocals are varying, although mainly the lacerating, high-pitched growl is in the big role. There's also some okay clean singing and, of course, the bloke choir. The lyrics cope with mythologic, folklore and fantasy themes, but also with normal life. Finland's national epic Kalevala and the Finnish poetry represent more aesthetic side, while lyrical lines such as "I want to give my life to you but my will is tied with puppet strings / I am fighting and screaming alone inside this empty room" portray the Finnish mentality, making you feel like you're a part of this album.
Ensiferum had found their own niche prior to their debut album. They are still one of the leading folk metal bands in Finland, but also worldwide. In my opinion, Ensiferum still haven't excelled this album. Cool the ale, get this album and enter the metal heaven. Or maybe I should put it this way: Enter the Promised Land of metal!
Rating: 8½ (out of 10) ratings explained
Reviewed by Lane
11/20/2008 14:25
