Search - Ensiferum :: Iron

The best of Ensiferum yet.

MarquisdeSade | Atlanta, GA | 05/15/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Many people say Ensiferum has not sounded just the same since Jari Maenpaa left (to form another equally awesome band, Wintersun). I agree, and although the latest album, _Victory Songs_, is good, _Iron_ is, in my opinion, Ensiferum at their peak... Jari's legacy, if you will.



I'm surprised this album has so few reviews in comparison to their epynomous debut album. _Ensiferum_, while excellent, has a bunch of songs without the blazing fast gallop drumming and wicked shredding on almost all songs on _Iron_, not to mention catchy riffs, choruses, and bridges.



The album starts off with Ferrum Aeternum, an acoustic (+ synths) piece which might as well have come straight off of Ennio Morricone's repertoire. The intro sets the stage for the title track, _Iron_. Right from the start, you know Ensiferum means business. Jari's vocals sound forceful but never unnecessarily harsh. The foot-tapping madness ends only for a while at the beginning of the next track, _Sword Chant_. Here, we see the full range of Jari's voice, with him trying a falsetto interspersed with gruff whispers. The acoustic interlude has a sort of chant (which is explored further in LAI LAI HEI).



The next track is a short acoustic interlude which is just long enough that you let down your guard before _Tale of Revenge_, arguably the best track Ensiferum has produced, hits you full on. The melody at the beginning alone is worth purchasing this album for, but the rest of the track is full of incredible guitar and synth melodies. We also see top-class singing from Jari, using both clean and gruff vocals.



Next up is the slow-ish ballad _Lost In Despair_ (with some excellent clean and tenor-ish vocals from Jari), and you just know something blazing fast is in store for you next. True enough, _Slayer of Light_ is as good as you expected. The next track, _Into Battle_, is second only to _Tale of Revenge_ in its awesomeness. The shredding is incredible, and when Jari sings 'Into battle we ride ... We'll fight till the end and send our enemies straight to hell...', you can't help but sing along.



Next is LAI LAI HEI, an epic which cannot be ranked among the other songs on the album. Mostly in Finnish and some in English, the 7+ minute LAI LAI HEI, like all epic songs, has acoustic sections, gruff vocals, clean vocals, and a totally awesome chorus. I have trouble keeping still (or quiet) when I hear this one while at work.



_Tears_ is the final song on the CD which is a soft tune that features female vocals. This comes as a welcome break to sit back and catch your breath after the 40 minute assault you've just been through.



So, if my review wasn't clear enough or you want a one-sentence summary: this is the BOMB! Get it if you like Wintersun, Amon Amarth, Viking/Folk metal or just about any kind of melodic death metal. _Iron_ would also be the best intro to Ensiferum if you've not heard their stuff before.



PS: You can check out most of the full tracks on last.fm."

Reissue of "Iron" with extra track "Battery"

A Kat Person | Bay Area | 05/15/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is simply a quick review for those who already have the "regular" version of Iron that has been out for some time: this re-issue contains a cover of Metallica's "Battery" that is just PHENOMENAL... if you don't own this album yet, then GET THIS VERSION, if you do, then go look for this cover, it is just awesome!

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Fantastic

P.J. of Azrafel | Nevada | 01/02/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a phenomenal album, absolutely essential to anybody just getting into folk/viking metal. I got this album is the midst of a series of similar purchases, and it quickly rose to the top of the pile. If you're the type who likes to download a sample song before buying, I'd recommend as stand out tracks Sword Chant and Lost in Despair.



For those of you who already have the original release, the Battery cover is cool but may or may not be worth a new purchase. I mean, it is just one song after all.



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