Ensiferum

A melodic power/loss of life/folk steel music group delving in Viking legends for lyrical motivation, Helsinki, Finland’s Ensiferum (Latin for “sword bearer”) needed to continually coexist with various simultaneous steel tasks undertaken by its people. Founded in 1995 by guitarist Markus Toivonen, Ensiferum upset several demonstration tapes before finally appealing to the eye of Finland’s powerhouse steel label, Spinefarm, which released their eponymous debut in 2001. The sophomore Iron implemented in 2004, and both albums highlighted vocalist Jari Mäenpää, bassist Jukka-Pekka Miettinen, keyboardist Meiju Enho, drummer Oliver Fokin, and undoubtedly Toivonen. Several were energetic in dark/dark steel act Arthemesia at exactly the same time, and Mäenpää eventually announced his departure to start out a new music group called Wintersun. Even more lineup changes happened before the discharge from the band’s third LP, Victory Songs, in 2007. The next year noticed Ensiferum headlining the Paganfest tour in European countries and THE UNITED STATES, and in ’09 2009 they released a fresh record, From Afar. 2012 noticed the release from the group’s fifth studio room long participant, Unsung Heroes, and in 2015 the music group issued their Steel Cutter debut, One Guy Army.