ALBUM REVIEW: Thalassic – Ensiferum

When you consider the history of Finland’s folk metal stalwarts ENSIFERUM, it feels ludicrous that a band so built for it has never recorded a true concept album. For all their tales of warriors and battles and the nature of the Scandinavia of old, not one album in their almost twenty year old discography has had a true, centralised concept. That is, until now. Their latest record, Thalassic, is the band venturing into uncharted waters in more ways than one. Their first themed record is all about the sea, from its beauty and adventure, to its darkness and myth. And it’s a hell of a lot of fun. With almost every song on this record, you can tell the band had a blast making it and were certainly not phoning it in. There’s nothing particularly groundbreaking on this album, but you’ll be too engrossed in the joy and adventure of the music to notice most of the time.

Seafarer’s Dream, provides an epic tone setter for the record. The dirge-like orchestral track would have fit nicely in the latest Pirates of the Caribbean film. Showcasing the use of a thunderous orchestral sound that pervades the rest of the album, the track captures the expansive scope, freedom, adventure, and darkness of the sea. And so we set sail to Rum, Women, Victory. Hang on, because this track is a whole lot of rollicking fun in one four minute track. Really nice harmony and fretwork between guitarists Markus Toivonen and Petri Lindroos shines and keeps the mood light and playfully adventurous. The addition of new clean vocalist Pekka Montin adds yet another versatile tool to ENSIFERUM‘s toolbox, and one they’ve exploited to great use right from the hop on this album. His vocals stand out as a whole new colour to the band’s sound, and one that will surely be interesting to note moving into the future. Andromeda keeps the playful tone up with a bouncing, Celtic riff that’s sure to get people jumping at a live show. Harmonies stand out again on this one and Lindroos, who is also the lead harsh vocalist, sounds cuttingly good on this track as well.

The Defense of the Sampo, is what happens when you cross Ennio Morricone spaghetti western sensibility with pirates and the sea. The track gallops at a rider’s pace, and features classic western whistling and horns that add a cool texture to the song. Orchestral backing gives nice depth while a fun, throaty gang chorus conjures dark sea magic and mythical sea monsters from the depths. To be noted are bassist Sami Hinkka and drummer Janne Parviainen, who hold down the rhythm section nicely and sturdily from track to track. Also evident is the production on this album. It’s crisp and clear all the way through, which only adds to the enjoyment of the record.

Run From the Crushing Tide starts with a cool riff and blistering pace, but this is one of the few tracks where nothing really stands out too much. There’s a power metal chord progression on this one, more so than usual, but it totally works. The intensity does build as the last quarter of the song comes in, which was nice to hear. For Sirens brings back some nice Celtic riffs, and some more great growls from Petri right off the bat. The melody is really well written in this one and the band did a great job putting this whole song together melodically. Again, the fun they had recording the album really comes through on a track like this.

The darker aspects of the sea are finally captured on One With the Sea, with its mournful violin and acoustic opening. Lyricist Hinkka also has penned some evocative words on this one that go a long way in painting the picture the music is bringing. You’ll picture storms and sea burials and the crushing emptiness of an open ocean. The vocals from Montin are stellar on this track as well, and the orchestra is once again perfectly suited to the imagery and feels epic in all the right ways, instead of coming off as cheesy. The timpani and horns pound like waves on the sides of boats hull, and all the elements come together on this track, making it a standout.

Going in the opposite direction, Midsummer Magic is some classic ENSIFERUM folk metal. Here, the rollicking Scandinavian/Celtic feel brings to mind faires, festivals, and a bustling village preparing for Midsommar. Some deep voiced Finnish singing will have you thinking of Vikings with mugs of ale around a roaring fire or in a great hall, or, as is probably intended, on a ship. But this song is the aperitif to the epic final quest that is Cold Northland. Just when you think that AMORPHIS has mined the Kalevala for all its metal worth in their career, ENSIFERUM bring back a saga taken from that most beloved Finnish text that began on their very first self-titled record almost two decades ago, and this is a journey worth taking. A lovely piano opening crashes into a thunderous vista of an opening. As the track progresses we get some really great vocal performances from Lindroos and especially Montin, who absolutely hits the ceiling on this track. At the halfway mark there’s awesome staccato guitar that goes right into some fierce blast beats, and the intensity rises and builds until a final, triumphant chorus that brings all the ships back home in this love letter to Finland.

Again, ENSIFERUM‘s Thalassic, though it contains new flourishes of colour and texture, is nothing particularly novel. But sometimes, fun wins the day, and this record is nothing if not tons of fun to listen to from a talented band that consistently delivers it without feeling old or tired. With a new clean vocalist in hand, the band has a whole new expansive future ahead. And this first concept album now under the band’s belt is most certainly a taste of the potential that lies on the ocean ahead.

Rating: 7/10

Thalassic is set for release on July 10th via Metal Blade Records.

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