ALBUM REVIEW: Winter Storm – Ensiferum
In what is their first album in nearly five years, Finnish folk metal legends ENSIFERUM are back with the release of their ninth album, Winter Storm. Full of Viking themed bangers, this album is an all assault on the senses, leaving very little time to slow down as it crafts a saga for all those who are fans of Viking metal tunes.
With a grandiose opening through the short track Aurora, Winter Storm launches into the fray with a one-two punch of Winter Storm Vigilantes and Long Cold Winter Of Sorrow And Strife. From the get go, this album feels like the love child between IRON MAIDEN and SABATON, particularly when it comes to the almost operatic vocal styles, with Markus Toivonen doing his best impression of Bruce Dickinson, and even being able to match his range many times throughout this record. Both of these tracks set the tone of what is to come throughout the album. Musically it doesn’t miss a beat at all, like a well oil machine it keeps going and going relentlessly, destroying everything in its wake.
If you feel like this album feels a bit like a concept album, you’re not too far away from that. Bass player Sami Hinkka revealed that the lyrics take inspiration for a soon to be released fantasy novel written by himself. If the music of ENSIFERUM is anything to go by then a book written by one of their members will be equally bombastic.
Fatherland serves as one of the main highlights of Winter Storm, a song backed up by an unforgiving double bass drum that pummels your ear drums mercilessly. Through the use of gang vocals and a symphonic element, the track itself truly feels epic. It helps to give the album a saga-like feel which coincides with its story being based on a book. Fatherland helps you imagine you’re being swept back in time to sweeping landscapes consumed by huge enormous battles. Following this is the track, Scars In My Heart, in what is the slowest song on the album. With all three of the band’s vocalists taking a back seat, the vocal duties fall to guest singer Madeleine Liljestam of Swedish band ELEINE, whose voice suits the tone of the song perfectly. The use of a harpsichord at the start does give the song a more mediaeval vibe, however as soon as the bombast of the band returns back to the fray, we’re back to our usual Viking feel. Scars In My Heart is yet another tale that this album contains but has an almost sinister feel to it as Liljestam’s powerful Valkyrie-like voice guides us through.
As we reach the back end of the album, you would imagine that a band with a gimmick such as ENSIFERUM would feel tiresome by the end but surprisingly, it doesn’t. You really buy into the whole Viking metal vibe of the album. The Howl is another tour de force of a track that continues to build upon the epicness of the record. Whilst the guitars and drums are constantly in your face, it has a nice orchestral piece that gives the song a fantastical feel to it and could easily provide the soundtrack to a series such as Vikings or a game like God Of War. In what is the boldest move on the album so far is the track, or in this case an actual saga of a song with From Order To Chaos.
A near nine minute opus of ENSIFERUM that combines all elements of the album to create an unrelenting track that sees each band member at the top of their game. Looking at the song’s length, you may feel it may have outstayed its welcome by the time it finishes, but thankfully, it never does. Closing out the album is track Victorious, arguably the most metal sounding track on the record, it brings the album to a satisfying close. By the time it finishes you’ll be wanting to sing along with the lyrics “WE ARE VICTORIOUS!”.
Whilst Winter Storm isn’t the best album you’ll ever hear, it’s a good amount of fun and that’s all that matters at the end of the day. It’s the musical equivalent of leaving your brain at the door of a cinema when you go to see a Marvel film. Don’t look too deeply into it and just enjoy the ride.
Rating: 7/10
Winter Storm is set for release on October 18th via Metal Blade Records.
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