Review: Ensiferum - Winter Storm
It's been four years since folk metal icons Ensiferum released an album, 2020's Thalassic. This is not an intolerable amount of time to wait for new music but it is the longest of Ensiferum's career. Fortunately, the wait was worth it, as the band is releasing its new opus, Winter Storm, on Oct. 18.
The nautical-themed, and at times pirate metal, stylings of Thalassic brought some changes to the band's lineup and sound, with the addition of keyboardist and clean vocalist Pekka Montin giving the band a one-two vocal punch. If you enjoyed the changes, then Winter Storm will be an album for you as Montin's participation in the band has only increased and his epic screams have only gotten louder.
This time out, Ensiferum has ditched the open waters as an album theme and has instead turned to the realm of fantasy. All but one song was written by founding guitarist Markus Toivonen from a fantasy novel concept written by bassist Sami Hinkka (who wrote the album's one other song, “Fatherland”). This gives the album the feel of a rock opera, weaving a coherent narrative about two warring factions of Northern armies and the relationship between a nomadic shaman and a mysterious widow. In true rock opera form, everything is bigger on Winter Storm. The choruses swell, the harsh vocals belt out with an increased ferocity, and Montin at times channels Manowar's Eric Adams with his soaring vocals.
One of the album's anthemic highlights is “Winter Vigilantes.” Introducing the audience to one of the two warring factions that make up the story, “Winter Vigilantes” begins with harsh vocalist Petri Lindroos doing his best throat-ripping scream before belting the opening verse. Then Montin comes in with that epic scream and it just cements the viciousness of both the track and the tribe it portrays.
“Fatherland” is notable for being the album's most anthemic song. With an almost Steve Harris-esque bass gallop from Hinkka to anchor, “Fatherland” best features the big choruses where the entire band harmonizes and sounds like a Viking chorus singing an ode to Odin.
Another highlight track doesn't feature Montin or Lindroos on vocals, but Madeleine Liljestam from Eleine, who plays the part of The Widow and takes vocal leads on the entire song. Liljestam has always sung like an angel and her voice here anchors what is as close to a ballad as you get on Winter Storm.
If you enjoyed the addition of clean vocals and the move toward more of a power metal sound than their traditional folk metal, then Winter Storm is an album you're going to love. It takes everything that the band added on Thalassic and cranks it up to 11, leading to a