Folk Metal A-Z, Part 7 - Ensiferum

Well, well, well....

It appears as if we have come back to our long-awaited and long-anticipated continuation of covering one of my favorite forms of the everlasting Metal genre.... Folk Metal. This has been a long time coming, as my absence has likely left a good deal of you who read this series to fend for yourselves as the metal world continues to evolve. And for that, I apologize. But I am here again, and with a passionate vengeance.... fitting for a metal post, would you not agree?

But I digress....

Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to introduce you to one of Folk Metal's leading names, both in musicianship as well as live performance. Please raise your metal horns to....

Ensiferum

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Hailing from Helsinki, Finland (which seems to continually be the birthplace of countless influential rock/metal bands throughout the past 20 years or so), Ensiferum chose their name from the Latin neuter gender adjective "ensiferum", which translates as "sword bearer". Perfectly fitting for the style of music if I do say so. Their sound has been self-described by virtually every band member as "melodic folk metal", and I have to agree in that respect. While their sound in general is very intense, practically bordering on melodic death metal in many of their songs, they do also dabble in many cases with the more melodic side of the metal spectrum, both instrumentally as well as vocally. Clean vocals are almost a must in folk metal (in most cases at least).

The band was founded in 1995, and their first demo containing three songs was released in 1997. A second demo was recorded and released in January 1999, which boosted their confidence as well as fan base. Though it wasn't until later that year, in November 1999, when they would release a third demo that would finally gain them record label attention and nail them a record deal with the infamous Spinefarm Records. Their debut full-length self-titled album was released in 2001, solidifying the beginning of an era in the world of folk metal the world around. Since then, they have shared the stage with many renowned artists, folk metal or not, such as Finntroll, Tyr, Eluveitie, Moonsorrow, Korpiklaani, Turisas, Megadeth, Amon Amarth, Necrophagist, Darkest Hour, Suffocation, Dying Fetus, Beneath the Massacre, Origin, Winds of Plague and Children of Bodom.

In 2014, after 13 years of being with Spinefarm Records, Ensiferum left the label and are now signed with Metal Blade Records. Still.... no matter what label they're on, or who replaced whom in the band (Ensiferum have had their fair share of lineup changes.... too many to record here in fact), there is no denying that they are here to stay, and that they still create music that is relevant in the modern era of folk metal. And now, please enjoy the four songs I have carefully selected for your listening pleasure. As always, Stay Metal. \m/

Abandoned, from their self-titled 2001 debut album

Wanderer, from their 2007 album, "Victory Songs"

Star Queen (Celestial Bond Part II), from their 2012 album, "Unsung Heroes"

Cry For the Earth Bounds, from their 2015 album, "One Man Army"

-@damiancraymond