Ensiferum

Ensiferum is a Finnish folk metal band from Helsinki. Its name is Latin, meaning “sword bearing”. The group describes its music as melodic folk metal, and it is also associated with folk metal, viking metal and melodic death metal.

History

Ensiferum forms in 1995, founded by guitarist Markus Toivonen, bassist Sauli Savolainen and drummer Kimmo Miettinen. Jari Mäenpää joins in 1996 as vocalist and second guitarist. The band releases its first demo in 1997, with three songs. In 1998, Savolainen and Miettinen leave and are replaced by Jukka-Pekka Miettinen and Oliver Fokin.

A second demo follows in 1999, and the third demo, Hero in a Dream, leads to a record deal with Spinefarm Records. The band’s logo, which appears on later releases, is designed during this period. Work on the debut album begins in 2000, and Ensiferum is released in 2001. Keyboardist Meiju Enho joins that same year.

After the second album, Iron, Jari Mäenpää leaves in 2004 because of scheduling conflicts with his project Wintersun. Petri Lindroos of Norther replaces him on guitar and vocals and later becomes a permanent member. Later in 2004, Jukka-Pekka Miettinen leaves and Sami Hinkka takes his place. Drummer Oliver Fokin leaves in 2005 and is replaced by Janne Parviainen.

The EP Dragonheads comes out in 2006 and includes the title track, reworked demo material, a cover of an Amorphis song and traditional Finnish pieces. A live DVD, 10th Anniversary Live, also appears in 2006. The third studio album, Victory Songs, is released in 2007, preceded by the single “One More Magic Potion”; a video is later made for “Ahti”.

Meiju Enho leaves in 2007 and is temporarily replaced by Emmi Silvennoinen, who later becomes a full member during work on the next album. During this period, the band tours widely, including the Paganfest tour in Europe and North America, and supports acts such as Megadeth and Amon Amarth on selected dates. During a 2008 Russian tour, Lindroos misses the dates because of illness, and former member Jukka-Pekka Miettinen fills in on guitar while Sami Hinkka handles vocals.

In 2009, Ensiferum performs at several festivals and tours North America on the Summer Slaughter Tour. The fourth studio album, From Afar, is released in 2009. It is produced by Tero Kinnunen and Janne Joutsenniemi and mixed by Hiili Hiilesmaa. A limited edition includes a cover song with guest vocals from Heri Joensen of Týr. The band tours internationally after the release.

The fifth studio album, Unsung Heroes, is released in 2012. After this, the band ends its contract with Spinefarm Records and later signs with Metal Blade Records in 2013. The sixth studio album, One Man Army, is released in 2015. During touring, Emmi Silvennoinen is temporarily unavailable and is replaced by Netta Skog, who later becomes a full member. Heri Joensen also contributes guest vocals to “Heathen Horde”.

The seventh studio album, Two Paths, is released in 2017 and is recorded with a more organic production approach. Netta Skog leaves in late 2017. Recording for the next album begins in 2020, and Pekka Montin joins as keyboardist and clean vocalist. The singles “Rum, Women, Victory” and “Andromeda” follow, and the eighth studio album, Thalassic, is released in 2020. The ninth studio album, Winter Storm, is released in 2024.

Line-up and releases

Across its career, Ensiferum includes founding members Markus Toivonen, Sauli Savolainen and Kimmo Miettinen; later members and contributors include Jari Mäenpää, Jukka-Pekka Miettinen, Oliver Fokin, Meiju Enho, Petri Lindroos, Sami Hinkka, Janne Parviainen, Emmi Silvennoinen, Netta Skog and Pekka Montin. The band has released nine studio albums: Ensiferum, Iron, Victory Songs, From Afar, Unsung Heroes, One Man Army, Two Paths, Thalassic and Winter Storm.