Ensiferum Album: “Iron [Bonus Tracks]”

It took me a long, long time to really like this album. Why? Because the debut album was such a masterpiece, and this album was such a departure from that. I don't mean in the style of the music, I mean in the composition of the tracks. On the first album, there was some sort of epic singing in almost every track, and it was those moments that really let you know you were dealing with a band that meant business. This album, however, really tones down the singing in favor of more epic instruments. Iron, the track, is one powerful piece of music, because the keyboards are so prominent and the guitars are so furious, and that combination makes this a force to be reckoned with. Sword Chant is another track that is pounding and furious. Then we get to the two best songs of the album, the stellar Tale of Revenge and Lost in Despair. Both of these songs have great guitar riffs (especially the opening of Tale of Revenge), and feature beautiful clean vocal parts by one of the best clean vocalists ever, Jari Maaenpaa. The rest of the tracks are great, but the one that really stands out to me, in the latter half of the album, is Tears, a beautiful, moving ballad sung by a female who has a voice that truly moves you. Sure, some of the guitar riffs may sound like they were taken from a Metallica album (not because of the riffs themselves, but the tone of the guitars), but that just makes it fun. I'm not a Metallica fan, but I have always liked their tone, and I love it even more here because it's faster than anything Metallica ever put out. Plus, it's nice to see a band not toning down to the lowest they can go because they have to be 'brootal'. I love how Ensiferum do what they do, and don't care who does or doesn't like it. Buy this album. Buy Ensiferum. Buy Dragonheads. Buy Victory Songs. Even buy Jari's band, Wintersun. Buy everything there is to buy labelled Ensiferum or involving Jari Maaenpaa, because, like Tony Kakko from Sonata Arctica, he will never let you down.

Although Ensiferum is a great band and their album Iron is great, I really like Eluveitie much better. I feel that Ensiferum takes too much away with the metal from the folk area of songs. However, they have such a medieval feel that I think of them as a much different sector of Folk Metal Than Eluveitie. Both bands are great, I highly recommend this album.

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!

This album It's amazing. I hope every lover of epic battles, viking and nordic matters, buy this album. It has very good lyrics soported of a xcelent melodic, black structured music... BUY IT!!!!!

This album is seriously an alluring beautiful work, so much so that I was tempted in acquiring the only two copies my local music store had. As weird as this act might seem, I felt as though I had hit the proverbial jackpot with a little blind stab in the dark with this one. Heck how many times do you come across great things by pure coincidence? Not a lot! but I can personally say I've been blessed with a few (Venom's 3CD Box Set - only 1000 were made! - and Agathodaimon`s early works) But with that aside, this album is a memorable piece of work that will never cease to satisfy me. It's cleverly balanced in tempo and atmosphere to the point of making one lust for more.

Upon picking up in rhythm it also delivers a robust punch in both, harmonics and vocals. The icing on the cake however is the last track (in my case and being a digipack) is a Metallica cover of Battery. Very impressive!

Try checking out their official site, for further info on the band and whatnot.