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Bearers Of The Sword Tour 2012:

The post Amoral and Profane Omen to support Ensiferum on European Tour! appeared first on Der Metal Krieger.

As you all may know, I am a huge Amoral fan, as they are my favorite band. I am very much into death metal, but I feel the path Amoral is taking is the best path. They still play death metal songs on their newer album (Won’t Go Home from Beneath), yet have more progressive songs, such as the track Beneath. In one of my interviews with Ben, he asked me what I thought of the change. I told him ” I am a huge death metal fan and first heard of Amoral during the Reptile Ride period. But what I love more is a band who can switch from extreme metal to more melodic metal and still perfect it.” Amoral is that band who can quickly switch styles, and still sound unique.

Change is not always a bad thing. For these guys, the change is the best thing for them, as they develop their own sound, and set a new standard for melodic metal. All of their works are great, but Beneath is their best thus far. Having a mix of progressive, heavy songs, to nods to their death metal roots, to their high-octane vocals and melodic instruments, this album has it all. It gives you a crash course of Amoral’s history and what they have in mind for the future.

I know some of you may be asking “What’s next? Will their be another death metal album, or will they continue their melodic style?” As I talked to Ben, he says there will be no full on death metal album, but they will maybe write death metal songs (Won’t Go Home, and Staying Human). He said he noticed that the fans loved the more heavy and progressive tracks, like Beneath, and that the band also enjoys playing those songs. The next Amoral album may be more similar to that, but nothing is for certain, as Ben stated, giving a little insight in what’s next.

I hope this intrigues you, and for those who have not listened to the newer material, give it a chance. You may like what you hear, as I did. Pick up a copy of the highly acclaimed album Beneath, and continue to support melodic metal. Be sure to catch these guys on tour with Ensiferum and Profane Omen this fall over in Europe!

Bearers Of The Sword Tour 2012:

The post Amoral: Why the change? – On Tour with Ensiferum and New album Info appeared first on Der Metal Krieger.

Band: Ensiferum
Album: Unsung Heroes
Genre: Pagan/Folk Metal
Label: Spinefarm
Release Date: August 27, 2012

I like to break down albums song-by-song, but if you want to spare yourself from a plethora of reading, I’ll give a quick synopsis of the album for you.  It’s a great leap forward for Ensiferum.  Not only does it show the range of the band’s musical attributions, it shows that they can make more than just catchy battle songs.  Petri’s vocals really flow well with the enhanced atmosphere of the album and it shows.  They’ve also added new dynamics to their overall sound, and even though the drum work seemed to lack a strong presence on the album, everything feels like one cohesive work of art.  Now on to the track-by-track review.

The album starts off with an instrumental introduction, “Symbols“, which seems to be a trending style in creating a more dramatic effect.  This track in particular does succeed in delivering an awe-inspiring orchestration that brings you to a far off, ancient land filled with mysticism and unexpected splendor.  The sounds are almost ethereal and quite reminiscent of composition you might find on the most recent Nightwish release.  The song gently ends and the first track featuring the band starts up.

I found that the opening riff for “In My Sword I Trust” had a nice heavy metal groove to it, then the staple Ensiferum folk riffs came in to remind you that these Finns keep it real.  I personally have found Petri’s vocals unsuitable for certain Ensiferum songs–go ahead and grab your torches and pitchforks.  However, his voice fits this song perfectly, matching the tone and melody fantastically.  Maybe it’s that new belly of his–I think I’ll congratulate it personally.  The song also features an awesome chorus line that no folk metal album can go without, so raise your drinking horns and party like a viking.

The title track “Unsung Heroes” is a bit more mellow but it has that signature Ensiferum style, that no band has been able to successfully replicate. Overall it’s not what it could be as it seems to be lacking instrumental charm.  The choir and female vocals, however, are divine and really add a new layer of melody.

“Burning Leaves” leaked online a few weeks ago so those of you who have been following the band should know how this song turned out: EPIC.  While it lacks a big atmosphere, the soft vocals, chants in Finnish, and beautiful guitar mastery, drive this song as one of the best tracks that the band has ever produced.

But, soft! what voice through yonder Ensiferum song breaks? I’d like to assume that’s the band’s young keyboardist Emmi Silvennoinen.  This track,”Celestial Bond“, caught me by surprise…in a good way! Her voice is subtle, but passionate, and while it is a forgettable voice, this song is in no way forgettable.

Did her voice serenade you to sleep? How are you going to listen to the rest of the album then? Oh nevermind, let the band take care of that.  ”Retribution Shall Be Mine” starts to blast right after Emmi’s soft voice fades away.  The song has the heroic mantra, as expected, but it was completely toned down, which I’d have to say was a good idea.  Repetition can kill any masterpiece, so this interesting mix of speed riffs, epic shreds, gnarly keyboarding, and Petri’s raspy scream pulls off a fun transitional tune.

“Star Queen (Celestial Bond Part II)” continues where Emmi left off in the first part of this compilation.  Finnish lore and masterful instrumentation combined with creatively fun vocal lines complements the entire flow of the album

The next song is another track deeply rooted in Finnish mythology.  ”Pohjola” is basically a condensed epic with shrieking choirs, an illuminating narrative and a triumphant melody.  If the word Pohjola looks familiar, it is a major location found in the great lore of Finland.  Other bands like Amorphis have incorporated Pohjola in their songs.

Okay almost there, take your “Last Breath“.  See what I did there? I don’t.  Anyways, this song sounds like a mellow farewell that includes some well placed atmospheric sounds.  As an acoustic song, it’s a bit lackluster, but the lyrics hold a deep meaning which most people can appreciate.

To finish this story of unsung heroes, Ensiferum thought it would be interesting to add a 17 minute epic at the end of the album.  It’s like the 17 extra pounds Petri added to his abdominal region…only joking.  It’s what you’d expect if Ensiferum sat down and made a 17 minute song. 17 minutes of glory, epicness, and “Passion Proof Power“.  The song shifts from an acoustic folk session, to a lighter sounding Ensiferum track, to a heavy melodic death smash to the face.  The band used more synthetic keyboard melodies much like those of Sabaton, which I personally think adds a little fun to the song.  But it’s broken up in a few places which seem to unevenly break into the next part of the song.  There is even a sampling of what seems like German men talking about Ensiferum in an older village setting.

So this little band from Finland might actually have a chance at making big…ahem, I’ll stop with the pointless sarcasm now.  Ensiferum ends up feeling like that band you grew up with, the one that helped shaped your musical taste, even if you just started listening to them yesterday.  There’s something about the music, the passion, that makes you want to just live in a time where glory could be earned on the battlefield.  Markus Toivonen and Sami Hinkka never disappoint when providing engaging lyrics, though at times cliche, never seem to get old.  Petri  has found his vocal mark and Emmi has left a greater impression.  My major gripe is with the lack-luster drum work provided by Janne Parvainen.  He is no way a casual drummer as he has shown in previous albums, like Victory Songs, that he can deliver battle-ready war beats.  Do I think you should pre-order/buy this album? Do you like having good things? Do you wish you could be more awesome? Did you realize that these are rhetorical questions? YES PRE-ORDER THE ALBUM. You won’t be disappointed…unless you have really stupid expectations that don’t exist in this mortal realm.  Naturally you should expect to see Ensiferum on a worldwide tour soon so stay tuned!

Rating:

Track Listing:

1. Symbols
2. In My Sword I Trust
3. Unsung Heroes
4. Burning Leaves
5. Celestial Bond
6. Retribution Shall Be Mine
7. Star Queen (Celestial Bond II)
8. Pohjola
9. Last Breath
10. Passion Proof Power

Personnel:

Petri Lindroos – lead vocals & guitar
Markus Toivonen – guitar & backing vocals
Sami Hinkka – bass & clean vocals
Emmi Silvennoinen – keyboards & backing vocals
Janne Parvainen – drums

PRE-ORDER

T-Shirt + Deluxe Edition (CD/DVD)

Girlie T + Deluxe Edition (CD/DVD)

Deluxe Edition (CD/DVD)

Standard Edition (CD)

The post It Takes True Heroes to write Unsung Heroes – A Review of Ensiferum’s New Album appeared first on Der Metal Krieger.

Melkor: Hello, This is Melkor Hammerheart Mortis, vocalist and guitarist and thank you for having us!

Talvi: It is a great pleasure to be able to interview an American band, with a strong passion for folk metal.   So tell me, how did this all start?

Melkor: The band was formed in mid-2008 and made a different approach and impact within the metal scene. With a strong passion and love for folklore, mythology, paganism and fantasy, this was the perfect opportunity to make an impact and bring a new element and environment. Mordor is not a band that plays music just for the sake of playing music. Our lyrical content is just as important as the music we write.

Talvi: I see that your name, Mordor, is straight from The Lord of the Rings series.  Does LOTR play a huge       role in the band’s music?

Melkor: The band is inspired by The Lord of the Rings, and the visual and vibe that the name Mordor portrays I feel can best describe our sound but it is not a huge factor within the band’s music writing. It does however, for me personally.

Talvi: In terms of music, is it one person’s job to write the lyrics and music, or does everyone contribute to everything?

Melkor: The creativity flows within us all. There are no assigned jobs in Mordor, everyone incorporates their own touch. Be it a full song, riffs, lyrics, or even a lyrical line. I do however write the majority of the lyrics.

Talvi: After spending time practicing your songs, and looking to play in shows, were you nervous for your first show? If so, how nervous were you?

Melkor: We played our first show on June 11, 2011. Three years after the bands formation so of course I was nervous, we all were but we were ready nonetheless, anxious and eager to finally storm the stage and let our war cries be heard!

Talvi: Of course myself being a Mordor fan, how has the audience reacted to your music? Ever have any interesting fan experiences?

Melkor: Thank you! The response we receive is incredible! We have a very energetic and loyal crowd that supports what we do and what we stand for. I know that is what every musician and band hopes for and we are very fortunate to have that. There is no better feeling than seeing and hearing the crowd cheering your name, chanting, giving you everything they have and appreciating and enjoying music that is written from the heart. The best experience regarding fans that I have had is seeing them dress up and wear the war paint, which is something we use onstage. When seeing that it enhances our performance, it makes it much more enjoyable. Seeing someone come to your show in attire and paint you realize that you are not just a band they listen to, but rather a band that means something to them and that feeling is more satisfying than seeing a crowd of people wearing a shirt with your bands’ logo on it.

Talvi: Now I know you have recorded music for a demo. How was the recording process?

Melkor: Yes, we have one demo as of now and the recording process was fun! We all were extremely excited to finally be able to listen to our creation on audio than just us playing in our rehearsal room. There were no difficulties in producing the demo. We rehearsed each song immensely and were confident in all the hard work that was put into recording and we are very proud of the outcome and positive feedback it has received.

Talvi: Is there an album in the works for the near future, or any merch to be added onto the site?

Melkor: We will be entering the studio this year to record our first official release. There are a few ideas for merchandise and some are in the works. I will post all details regarding the release and merch on the bands website so be on the lookout!

Talvi: Now this question is out of straight curiosity: If you could open for any band, who would it be and why?

Melkor: Ensiferum, Amon Amarth and Turisas are my choices. It would be an honor to perform with them because they have been my biggest influences with both music and lyric. I can see, hear and feel the passion and thrive they have in each song and it is something I find to be very influential and beautiful because I too share that same passion and feel it deeply within my heart and soul.

Talvi: On a different note, what does Mordor like to do in their free time?

Melkor: We are four simple guys who enjoy the little things in life and we take advantage of opportunities but never take them for granted.

Talvi: Any interesting/ funny stories that has happened to you or the band?

Melkor: There has not been any that I can recall.

Talvi: Do you have any last words to say to your fans?

Melkor: Thank you for taking the time to read this! Your support is greatly appreciated by us all! Keep supporting Nordic metal! See you at the gigs! Last but not least….FEED THE HORDE! THE INVASION HAS BEGUN!

Footage from their first performance:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9Yl1hMh1LI]

Here’s their Official Facebook Page and website.

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