Ensiferum 999848 226172667 2008-07-17T04:01:45Z CircafuciX 4067712 [[WP:UNDO|Undid]] revision 226171329 by [[Special:Contributions/24.247.238.239|24.247.238.239]] ([[User talk:24.247.238.239|talk]]) {{Onesource|date=May 2008}} {{Infobox musical artist | Name = Ensiferum | Img = Ensiferum Metalcamp2007 01.jpg | Img_capt = Ensiferum performing live at [[Metalcamp]] festival in [[Tolmin]], [[Slovenia]], 2007 | Img_size = 250 | Landscape = yes | Background = group_or_band | Alias = | Origin = [[Helsinki]], [[Finland]] | Genre = [[Viking metal]]<br />[[Folk metal]]<br />[[Melodic death metal]] | Years_active = 1995−present | Label = [[Spinefarm]] | Associated_acts = [[Wintersun]]<br />[[Arthemesia]]<br/>[[Cadacross]]<br/>[[Norther]]<br/>[[Waltari]]<br/>[[Sinergy]]<br/>[[Rapture (band)|Rapture]] | URL = [http://www.ensiferum.com/ www.ensiferum.com] | Current_members = [[Petri Lindroos]]<br />[[Markus Toivonen]]<br />[[Sami Hinkka]]<br />[[Janne Parviainen]]<br />[[Emmi Silvennoinen]] | Past_members = [[Kimmo Miettinen]]<br />[[Jukka-Pekka Miettinen]]<br />[[Sauli Savolainen]]<br />[[Jari Mäenpää]]<br />[[Oliver Fokin]]<br />[[Meiju Enho]]<br />[[Henri "Trollhorn" Sorvali]] }} '''Ensiferum''' (Latin [[:wikt:ensifer|ensĭfĕrum]] (neuter adjective) meaning "sword bearing") is a [[heavy metal music|heavy metal]]<!-- See WP:Lead for word usage at the start of articles. It is to generalize the genres as a whole and not to be used as a descriptor. --> band from [[Helsinki, Finland]]. The band label themselves as "heroic folk metal."{{Fact|date=May 2008}} ==Musical Characteristics== * Harsh vocals often mixed with clean vocals for choruses and bridges; * Melodic Metal/outspoken vocals. Very well coordinated. Touring with Turisas and Týr at Pagan Fest concert. * Metal and folk melodies played on lead guitar or keyboard overlaying heavier traditional heavy metal backing rhythms such as the classic [[gallop (drumming)|gallop]] rhythm; * Lyrical themes relating to fantastical, archaic, or historic stories usually with heroic sentiment. Lyrics are inspired by literature, films, and poetry, such as the great Finnish epic "[[Kalevala]]" and the [[Norse sagas]]. ==Band history== ===Formation, demos, ''Ensiferum'' (''1995'' - ''2003'')=== ''Ensiferum'' was founded in 1995 by [[Markus Toivonen]] ([[guitar]]), [[Sauli Savolainen]] ([[bass guitar|bass]]) and [[Kimmo Miettinen]] ([[drum]]s). For the band's name, they took the [[Latin]] [[neuter gender]] adjective ''ensiferum'', which means "sword-bearing". In the next year, [[Jari Mäenpää]] was taken into the band as singer and second guitar-player. In 1997, the first demo was released, containing three songs. [[Image:Ensiferum.svg|180px|thumb|right|The highly stylized logo of Ensiferum has appeared on all of their releases.]] In 1998, Sauli and Kimmo left the band and were replaced by Jukka-Pekka Miettinen (Kimmo's little brother, then 14 years old) and Oliver Fokin. In January 1999, a second demo was recorded, which although it did not produce a recording deal, boosted the band's confidence. In November 1999 a third demo, "Hero in a Dream", was recorded, which was successful in obtaining a record deal with [[Spinefarm Records]]. The logo that appears on all the bands releases was designed for the third demo by Tuomas Tahvanainen, who also designed the logos for the earlier demos.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ensiferum.com/e_html/e_history.htm |title=Story of Ensiferum |accessdate=2008-01-25 |format= |work=Ensiferum site}}</ref> In 2000, the band went into the studio to work on their first album, ''[[Ensiferum (album)|Ensiferum]]'', which was released in August 2001. In the same year, Meiju Enho joined them as a [[Synthesizer|keyboard]]-player. ===''Iron'', Line-up changes, ''Dragonheads'' and ''10th Anniversary Live'' (''2003'' - ''2006'')=== In 2003, after the work was completed on the second album, ''[[Iron (Ensiferum)|Iron]]'', Jari left the band to concentrate more on his project [[Wintersun]]. For the tour with [[Finntroll]], Petri Lindroos from [[Norther]] replaced Jari on guitar and as singer, and became a member of the band after the tour. In December 2004, Jukka-Pekka left the band and was replaced by Sami Hinkka ([[Rapture (band)|Rapture]]). Oliver also left in 2005 to be replaced by Janne Parviainen. The new Ensiferum line-up entered the studio later that year to record an [[EP]] to be called ''[[Dragonheads]]'', which was released in February 2006. As well as the title track, it also contained two reworked demo songs; an [[Amorphis]] cover and a short rendition of the [[Kalevala]] melody, as well as a medley of three traditional [[Finland|Finnish]] songs. In June 2006, Ensiferum released their live [[DVD]], ''[[10th Anniversary Live]]'', which was recorded in [[Nosturi]], [[Helsinki]], on [[December 31]] [[2005]]. ===''Victory Songs'', Meiju's departure & the future (''2006'' - ''Present'')=== The recording of the third studio album, called ''[[Victory Songs]]'', took place between November [[2006]] and early [[2007]], and was released on [[April 20]], [[2007]]. A single titled "[[One More Magic Potion]]" (after the track of the same name) was released on [[February 7]]th. Following the album release, the band released through the producer's [[MySpace]] page, a music video for the song "Ahti," which included all band members featured as extras. The video was released after the album release due to video filming problems. On [[September 10]], [[2007]], it was announced that keyboardist [[Meiju Enho]] would leave the band. This was posted in a bulletin on their MySpace page and later confirmed on their website [http://www.ensiferum.com/e_html/e_news.htm]. A replacement for her has not yet been named, and the band is currently using [[Emmi Silvennoinen]] of [[Exsecratus]] as a touring fill-in. Ensiferum headlined the Paganfest tour in Europe and the US in 2008. Others playing the tour included [[Týr (band)|Týr]] and [[Eluveitie]], with [[Moonsorrow]] and [[Korpiklaani]] also joining them on the European part of the tour, and [[Turisas]] in the US. They are also booked to support [[Megadeth]] on the opening night of their [[United Abominations|United Abominations - Tour Of Duty]] European tour. ==Band members== ===Current line-up=== *[[Petri Lindroos]] – harsh vocals, guitars *[[Markus Toivonen]] – guitars, clean & backing vocals *[[Sami Hinkka]] – bass, clean & backing vocals *[[Janne Parviainen]] – drums ===Touring members=== *[[Emmi Silvennoinen]] – keyboards (2007-) (Exsecratus) ===Former members=== *[[Kimmo Miettinen]] – drums (ex-[[Arthemesia]], [[Cadacross]]) *[[Jukka-Pekka Miettinen]] – bass (Arthemesia, ex-Cadacross) *[[Sauli Savolainen]] – bass *[[Jari Mäenpää]] – vocals, guitars (ex-Arthemesia, [[Wintersun]]) *[[Oliver Fokin]] – drums (ex-Arthemesia, ex-Wintersun) *[[Meiju Enho]] – keyboards ===Session members=== *[[Henri Sorvali|Henri "Trollhorn" Sorvali]] – session keyboards on ''Ensiferum'' ([[Finntroll]], [[Moonsorrow]], ex-[[Korpiklaani]]) ==Discography== ===Albums=== *''[[Ensiferum (album)|Ensiferum]]'' (2001) *''[[Iron (Ensiferum)|Iron]]'' (2004) *''[[1997-1999]]'' (Ltd. edition re-release of first three demos, 2005) *''[[Victory Songs]]'' (2007) ===EPs=== *''[[Dragonheads]]'' (2006) ===Singles=== *"[[Tale of Revenge]]" (2004) *"[[One More Magic Potion]]" (2007) ===Demos=== *''Demo (1997)'' *#"Frost" *#"Old Man (Väinämöinen)" *#"Knighthood" *''Demo II (1999)'' *#"Dreamer's Prelude" *#"Little Dreamer (Väinämöinen part II)" *#"Warrior's Quest" *#"White Storm" *''[[Hero in a Dream]]'' (1999) *#"Intro" *#"Hero in a Dream" *#"Eternal Wait" *#"Battle Song" *#"Guardians of Fate" ===DVDs=== *''[[10th Anniversary Live]]'' (2006) ==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== {{commons|Ensiferum|Ensiferum}} *[http://www.ensiferum.com Ensiferum Official website] *{{myspace|OfficialEnsiferum}} *[http://www.spinefarm.fi/showband.php?id=27 Ensiferum] at [[Spinefarm Records]] {{Ensiferum}} [[Category:Finnish heavy metal musical groups]] [[Category:Folk metal musical groups]] [[Category:Viking metal musical groups]] [[Category:Musical groups established in 1995]] [[de:Ensiferum]] [[es:Ensiferum]] [[fr:Ensiferum]] [[hr:Ensiferum]] [[it:Ensiferum]] [[he:אנספיריום]] [[hu:Ensiferum]] [[nl:Ensiferum]] [[no:Ensiferum]] [[pl:Ensiferum]] [[pt:Ensiferum]] [[ru:Ensiferum]] [[sco:Ensiferum]] [[sk:Ensiferum]] [[sl:Ensiferum]] [[fi:Ensiferum]] [[sv:Ensiferum]] [[tr:Ensiferum]]