Ensiferum

Ensiferum is a group of Viking Metal Finnish always in activity today. This group is appreciated for its rates/rhythms epic, its choruses alternating grognée voice/clear voice.

History

Here the history of Ensiferum starts. In 1995, the group makes its appearance. At the base Markus Toivonen was Guitariste in a group of friends named Dark Reflections. Dark Reflections was a group of recoveries, playing of the pieces of groups like Megadeth, Pantera and well of others still. But little by little, Markus found that this group did not satisfy it. Markus was very influenced by the Musique folk and at the same time fascinated by Death Mélodique, with groups like Dark Tranquility, Amorphis.

Then one day, Markus required of its beater, Kimmo Miettinen, if to play of the heroic folk death metal at its sides interested it. Kimmo accepted. Then Markus and Kimmo contacted their friend bass player, Sauli Savolainen, which united with the two men. It any more but did not remain to find a name this group. One day that Markus passed to Sauli, it seizes a Latin dictionary and opened it randomly and fell on the word Ensiferum. This word fascinated it from the start and the significance (literally " the carrier of épée") did nothing but confirm this first impression.

In 1996, Ensiferum started to repeat in Pasila Youthcenter of Helsinki (it is at this same place that already the repetitions of Dark Reflections took place). Markus had already started to compose a few pieces and finished this task towards the end of 1996. The songs were” Knighthood”,” Old Man (Väinämöinen)” and” Frost”. Then Jari Mäenpää reinforced the rows of the group with its talents of singer and guitarist. The experiment of Jari made it possible to enrich the artistic luggage by Ensiferum of new ideas. Jari was given the responsability to write certain words like those of” Old Man”. The two other compositions did not need the feather of Jari, since Markus had been responsible for the words with” Knighthood” and Sauli that of” Frost”. The first concert of Ensiferum take place in Pasila Youthcenter in December 1996 but they played only one piece, namely “Old Man” which was then the only one with being ready to face the public.

In 1997, Jari made its military service, therefore the group had to make a halt. The other musicians benefitted from this idle period to improve their play. Ensiferum had two nonofficial concerts with Pasila, with a strange line-up. When Jari was of return, at the end of 1997, the group repeated intensively for their first demonstration which was recorded during November to the Kivi-Studios. The demonstration contained their three songs: ” Frost”,” Old Man” and Knighthood”. This one was drawn with 300 specimens the following year.

In 1998, two other concert with Pasila are profiled at the horizon. New pieces are already ready: among them” Little Dreamer (Väinämöinen II)”. But Ensiferum must make a small pause. The things are not simple, Kimmo Miettinen will play with ArthemesiA and Sauli Savolainen concentrates on its work and the school.

This year, Oliver Fokin share of ArthemesiA and carries out some tests with Markus in an old shelter anti-bombs with Munkkiniemi, Helsinki. Oliver agreed to play in the group. One could say that the two groups exchanged their beaters. At the same time, Sauli is replaced by the little brother of Kimmo Jukka-Pekka Miettinen. To its arrives, Jukka-Pekka is only fourteen years old. New a line up was formed ready to raise the challenge of a new demonstration. And they naturally went to repeat in the shelter of Munkkiniemi.

The second demonstration was recorded in January 1999 with the Mandelevium-Studios. Four songs are reproduced on this demonstration: ” The Dreamer' S Is a prelude to”,” Little Dreamer (Väinämöinen II)”,” Warrior' S Quest” and” White Storm”. This second demonstration was more technical. It enabled them to gain in popularity and experiment. Their third and last demonstration are recorded in November 1999 once more with the Mandelevium-Studios with the assistance of Janne Joutsenniemi (a member of Stone and Sub-Urban Tribe) which recorded and mixed the demonstration rather quickly. The demonstration 4+1 songs: ” Intro”,” Hero In has Dream”,” Eternal Wait”,” Battle Song” and in no-claims bonus” Guardians Of Fate”, which was recorded at Jari with a Boite at rate/rhythm. With in guest the singer Johanna Vakkuri on” Eternal Wait”, which is a friend of the group. On the demonstration a new logo conceived by Tuomas Tahvanainen is reproduced, which had been already responsible for the precedents.

L” year 2000 is profiled well. The demonstration collects good chronicles and figure in the signal of the demonstrations of the month in several magazines. This one also attracts the covetousness of various labels, of which Spinefarm Records, that Ensiferum recontacts at once in order to negotiate a contract. Ensiferum also takes part in a local contest where the group will appear among the finalists. The contract with Spinefarm decides finally and the group returns in studio in November 2000, more precisely in Sundi-Coop Studios with Savonlinna with Tuomo Valtonen (engineer studio). One finds there guest like Trollhorn (with the keyboards), Johanna Vakkuri (song) and Marita Toivonen (kantele).

In spring 2001, the new album is mixed by Tuomo Valtonen in its studio. Ensiferum accommodates in its center a novel member the keyboard Meiju Enho. The album named Ensiferum leaves in July 2001 and the returns are incredible. The group then plays a little more than one score of dates of which Tuska Open Air 2002. Then the group turns to their second album, Iron.

To record Iron, Ensiferum goes to the Copenhagen Sweet Silence studios during the summer 2003. Why this studio? Because the owner is not other than Flemming Rasmussen, which already recorded and produced albums such as " Master off Puppets " and " Wrinkle the Lightning ". " Iron" thus is recorded and produced by Mr Rasmussen.

After the recording Ensiferum announces the sad departure of their guitarist and singer Jari Mäenpää, which decided not to continue the adventure in order to devote itself fully to Wintersun, its solo project. The replacement starts without delaying because of programming of the round of the group. It is thus the singer of Norther, $petri Lindroos which comes to discharge EC heavy task.

In spring 2004, the group traverses Europe in company of Finntroll and The Wake. Nearly about thirty dates for 2004 with a passage in Germany, Holland, England, Belgium, Austria, Hungary, Switzerland, Slovenia. These many regions testify to the success of Ensiferum, which becomes little by little a group essential to very good festival which is respected. At the same time Jukka-Pekka leaves and leaves its place to Sami Hinkka.

The year 2005 is also very charged. To go, some shows in Finland of course but also, in Spain, in Russia, then also with Graveworm and Communic through Europe and they will allow even a small passage the country of the rising sun. One also announces a change of beater with the arrival of Janne Parvianen. This man has already work in Barathum, Sinergy and Valvet.

Composition

Current members

Former members

Discography

Albums/EP

  • 2001 : Ensiferum
  • 2004 : Iron
  • 2005 : ” 1997-1999” - réengistrées Demonstrations
  • 2006: Dragonheads - EP
  • 2007: Victory Songs

Individual demonstrations/

  • 1997 : Demonstration 97
  • 1999: Demonstration II
  • 1999: Hero in has Dream
  • 2004: Bruises off Revenge
  • 2007: One more magic potion

DVD

  • 2006 : 10th Anniversary Live

External bonds

  • Official site
  • German Site of fans

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