Ensiferum – From Afar 4/5

01. By the Dividing Stream 03:50 02. From Afar 04:51 03. Twilight Tavern 05:38 04. Heathen Throne 11:09 05. Elusive Reaches 03:26 06. Stone Cold Metal 07:25 07. Smoking Ruins 06:40 08. Tumman Virran Taa 00:52 09. The Longest Journey (Heathen Throne Part II) 12:49

When Ensiferum were voted band of the year in the 2008 Terrorizer Readers’ Poll, many – this writer included – were shocked to say the least. For a group with no new releases and less then a handful of UK shows to their name that year, this was a tremendous achievement and a sign that the Finnish sword-bearers clearly were not just a much loved band but one on the cusp of greater success. Naturally, nothing less than a great new album will do if the Finns are to capitalise on the not-inconsiderable buzz now surrounding them.

For better or worse, many artists mark such milestones with some change of musical direction, a more streamlined sound or simply buckling to commercial pressure – not Ensiferum though. Any long time fans will know exactly what they’re getting here: tales of heroism, fantasy and war marked by rousing guitar harmonies, high-speed riffage and catchy- as-hell folk passages that only the most hard-hearted of metalheads will resist making a fool of oneself to on rock club dancefloors (assuming there’s any UK rock club DJs wise enough to play them yet – just sayin’).

While there are no drastic departures from the Ensiferum formula, don’t go thinking that they’re low on ideas or repeating themselves. They’ve simply thrown their best elements together in a big bubbling cauldron and forged an album that condenses everything that made its three predecessors such glorious slices of metallic escapism. While reassuringly familiar-sounding, ‘From Afar’ features some surprises: the multi-faceted epic ‘Heathen Throne’ reveals fresh ground while thrilling stand-out track ‘Stone Cold Metal’ returns to the seemingly incongruous subject of the Wild West, boasting an inspired cinematic-sounding instrumental section plus the best banjo solo outside of ‘Deliverance’. Is it cheesy? Oh hell yes, but it’s fucking great nonetheless. Other standouts ‘Twilight Tavern’ and ‘Smoking Ruins’ encapsulate the Finns’ combined abilities for thrilling metal and awesome storytelling to first-rate effect.

The sound of a great band on a cool creative high, ‘From Afar’ is an album that, like a firmly planted banner, should solidify Ensiferum’s deserved position in the premier leagues of “battle metal” (assuming you take that particular tag seriously) alongside fellow Finn warriors Turisas. Let battle commence!

From Afar is available to buy or download at play.com

Genre : Battle Metal

Article by Gordy Jeans