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6.5
- Bands:
ENSIFERUM - Duration: 00:43:08
- Available from: 10/18/2024
- Label:
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Metal Blade Records
Streaming not yet available
On the occasion of the new release by Ensiferum, we once again came across the video of the first single which, in July 2020, had inaugurated the previous “Thalassic”: recorded within the walls of the house, gathering flashes of euphoria/madness from the scattered fans around the world, “Rum, Women, Victory” suddenly reminded us of the dark moment that had hit the entire planet; everyone at home, locked down, with the specter of Covid reigning supreme.
Four years have passed since that sad period but, despite this, a link exists between “Thalassic” and the present “Winter Storm”: as declared, in fact, by the band leader Markus Toivonen during the presentation of the album, much of the new material emerged during the lockdown (unfortunately) taking advantage of the forced 'prisonry'.
We should therefore not be surprised if what we are going to listen to in “Winter Storm” appears like a sequel to “Thalassic” – a sort of second part, not so much from the point of view of the themes addressed, but in terms of the compositional approach. In detail, what was developed musically in the album dedicated to the theme of water has now been taken up and settled – in an all too obvious way, it must be said – in this ninth effort signed by the Scandinavian group. Not only that, that power-symphonic tone that had marked more than one song on the previous album now acquires further depth, almost definitively abandoning the folk-death metal glimpses covered in epic, the Finnish band's trademark. A flaw (first-time fans get ready), or the keystone for those who appreciated this greater airiness, which, for a strange play on words, sees keyboard player Pekka Montin as the main protagonist: his clean, sharp timbre and melodious, which entered the scene powerfully in “Thalassic”, creating an interesting combination with the scratchy uvula of Petri Lindroos, in “Winter Storm” he suddenly becomes the main voice, effectively displacing that of his fellow guitarist from the top step of the podium.
Some epic and combative rants are still present, “Winter Storm Vigilantes” and the celebratory “Fatherland” make a good impression in this sense, but the air you breathe is that of yet another step towards softer and more sinuous shores, like well highlighted by the ballad “Scars In My Heart”, sung for the occasion by Madeleine Liljestam, frontwoman of the Swedish Eleine.
Seven pieces (the remaining three are actually instrumental interludes) define a more varied and spirited first part, in spite of a less inspired and uninvolving second half, almost as if they had run out of cartridges to put into play.
Anyone expecting a return to the origins, or even just a global tightening of the sounds, will probably be disappointed by this new peaceful turn by Ensiferum; on the other hand, lovers of a certain type of power metal will be able to get closer and follow the events of the Helsinki quintet up close.
Daniel D`Amico for SANREMO.FM