Review ENSIFERUM “Winter Storm”

Sometimes it is amazing how quickly time flies. Next year, Ensiferum will have been a constant in folk metal for three decades, and numerous albums show the of this Finnish powerhouse. From their self-titled debut released in 2001 to their latest effort, quality has been a constant companion.

Although the northern hemisphere is still enjoying some sunny autumn days, “Winter Storm” announces the next season. “Winter Storm” is the title of Ensiferum’s new longplayer, created by Markus Toivonen and his bandmates. The new album shows once again why Ensiferum is at the top of folk metal. It’s the infectious mix of harsh riffs, Nordic heritage and catchy melodies. These are the trademarks of the band and “Winter Storm” has all of them.

At the same time, the process to get to the finished product was a little different than before and the pandemic has a part in that. Being an “old school” composer, Toivonen had to start in a different way as it wasn’t possible to meet the band. The first demos were done with the help of the computer, which fed the inspiration due to the new possibilities. Except for the thunderous “Fatherland”, written by Sami Hinkka, all the music was penned by Toivonen, while the lyrics were written by the bassist.

“Winter Storm” is a concept album with lyrics based on text from an unpublished fantasy book that Hinkka is working on. It’s about the battle between good and evil, with a resilient Nordic tribe fighting a group called Vigilantes, and two chapters provide the platform for the latest Ensiferum album. “Winter Storm Vigilantes” and “Fatherland” are these sections.

Musically, Ensiferum deliver what fans expect. Heavy, bombastic and catchy – that’s how the songs of “Winter Storm” roar out of the speakers. There is the mid-tempo anthem “Scars in My Heart” with a guest appearance by Eleine‘s Madeleine Liljestam. Her voice gives the album a refreshing twist, as does the intro “Aurora” and some of the interludes. With these elements in place, the album is more of a Nordic Metal musical, showing the width of Ensiferum’s musical range.

Besides that, fans still get what they are looking for. “Winter Storm Vigilantes”, “Victorious” and the groove-laden “The Howl” are typical Ensiferum songs, and with keyboarder Pekka Montin adding some clean vocals again, as he did on “Thalassic”, the band’s repertoire gets even wider.

“Winter Storm” is an album that seamlessly connects to the previous releases. Fans can expect a well-crafted and powerful metal album that immediately unfolds its Nordic charm and at the same time provides songs with a lasting entertainment factor.