Ensiferum - The Howl (Official Video)

Buy here: www.metalblade.com/ensiferum
"Winter Storm" available now.

The Finnish folk-metal melodeath sensation has maintained a prolific release schedule since their first demo in 1997, gradually increasing in stature until eighth album Thalassic crowned their ascent in 2020. The nautical opus went on to top Finland's album chart, reaching #3 in Germany, and top ten in Switzerland, Canada, and the United States. Eventually, ENSIFERUM would take Thalassic on two massive world tours and to festivals like Wacken, Hellfest, Summer Breeze, and Ragnarök, but the global Covid pandemic ensured that the four-year wait for Winter Storm would be the longest in the band's near-thirty-year history.

Much of the new material emerged in the lockdown era, when ENSIFERUM's founding guitarist Markus Toivonen set himself the challenge of finding new ways to make music -- eventually composing every song except the rousing, anthemic “Fatherland,” written by bassist Sami Hinkka. The addition of singer/organist Pekka Montin's crystal-clear melodic high notes provided a tremendous boost on Thalassic. But on Winter Storm -- a fantasy concept narrative penned by Hinkka -- Montin's super-strong voice finds its optimal place in ENSIFERUM's sound. Bringing to life such grandiose, heroic material, the singer emerges as one of the greatest vocal discoveries of the decade.

"The way I see it, this album is more like a 'musical' than a traditional album," says Hinkka. "The lyrics of Winter Storm are based on part of my unpublished fantasy book. One day it will be out… I don’t want to reveal the plot or details too much but ‘Winter Storm Vigilantes’ and ‘Fatherland’ tell of two factions in this long tale. The Vigilantes have gained knowledge to utilize certain rare elements, and even though there was already magic in this world, with this new epiphany they have reached a completely new level. This element seems to interact with living things in a way that even the wisest men don’t completely understand. And through generations of trial and error, they have refined a skill to expose their horses to the element and managed to break the law of gravity, making their steeds fly. But they became ruthless and greedy on their quest to gain more of this element. A small tribe in the north keep on fighting for their land, which the Vigilantes plan to take over. These North Folks will literally fight until the last man…

“Other characters include a Vigilante castaway, the last shaman of the North Folk, and a mysterious widow. The album ends with a great battle against the Vigilantes and the unholy alliance of the castaway and the North Folk shaman, who has transcended into a spirit wolf. Who will prevail? Will this be the final battle of the book? Time will tell… I understand that all this sounds very far out -- well, it is a fantasy book -- but believe me, it will be truly an epic story!"

Lyrics:
In the land of brave warriors, our proud clan always stood tall,
We heed the ancient call, for years we fought but the evil grew
Nature cries for the wisdom of old, now forgotten, forever lost

Oh, world, hear my howl, see my light in the sky
I shall find the one, who will set your world on fire
Oh, run, all the lost ones, your rule ends today
For the rightful vengeance, the old world shall rise again!

Through the whispers of time, I saw the decay,
The spirits wept, their voices dismayed
With one final deed, I'll break free of my chains,
Transcend to a spirit wolf, unbound by the pain

Oh, world, hear my howl, see my light in the sky
I shall find the one, who will set your world on fire
Oh, run, all the lost ones, your rule ends today
For the rightful vengeance, the old world shall rise again!

The spirits guide me, their presence, a light
To seek a soul worthy, to join the fight

In twilight's embrace, I begin my final quest
Through valleys and mountains,
I roam from East to West
I will not rest
Until I find him

Under the gaze of the moon,
He’ll find the chosen one,
With a heart of valour,
Beneath the winter sun,
With spirits, his witness, he’ll invoke the sacred rite,
The magic of the old and a warrior’s might

Together we march, through battles we wade,
As spirit and mortal, our strengths now allied,
The oppressors shall falter, their reign to an end,
For the old world's wisdom, we shall defend

Oh, world, hear my howl, see my light in the sky
I shall find the one, who will set your world on fire
Oh, run, all the lost ones, your rule ends today
For the rightful vengeance, the old world shall rise again!

The old world shall rise again!

ENSIFERUM:
Petri Lindroos - vocals, guitars
Markus Toivonen - guitars, vocals
Sami Hinkka - bass, vocals
Janne Parviainen - drums
Pekka Montin - keyboards, vocals

#ensiferum #winterstorm #folkmetal