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]]
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