1997–1999

Occupation

Song 1-3:

• Vocals, guitar Jari Mäenpää
• Guitar, vocals: Markus Toivonen
• Bass: Sauli Savolainen
• Drums: Kimmo Miettinen

Song 4-12:

• Vocals, guitar Jari Mäenpää
• Guitar, vocals: Markus Toivonen
• Bass: Jukka -Pekka Miettinen
• Drums: Oliver Fokin

1997-1999 is a compilation album by the Finnish Folk-/Viking-Metal-Band Ensiferum. It was published on 9 February 2005 and contains songs of the first three demos of the band, Demo I, Demo II and Hero in a Dream.

The songs were not re-recorded for the album, and also not re-mastered. Was pressed a limited edition of 500 copies that was sold exclusively through the website of Ensiferum and at concerts. After almost two months, on 4 April 2005, the band announced that all copies have been sold, and the album first hand is no longer erwerblich.

Genesis

Demo I

The songs on the first demo were written in the period from 1995 to 1996. Recorded and produced the songs were on 1 and 2 November 1997, Kivi studio. The mastering took a certain Tummpu. The former logo and artwork designed by Tuomas " tuoppi " Tahvanainen, who also created the current logo two years later. The demo appeared as a cassette with a circulation of about 300 copies, was self-funded and was sold without a label on their own.

Demo II

Shortly before the recording of the demo II Kimmo Miettinen got out with Ensiferum, and was the drummer in the black metal band Arthemisa. The bassist Sauli Savolainen got out at the same time in order to focus more on school and work can. As the successor rose Miettinens little brother, Jukka -Pekka ( bass), and drummer Oliver Fokin previous Arthemisa in the band. The recordings for Demo II found in January 1999 in the MD studio in the Finnish capital Helsinki. Distributors, it was also their own.

Hero in a Dream

The recordings and the mixing of the first four songs from the demo Hero in a Dream found in only 16 hours in total on 15 and 16 November 1999 and also held in the MD studio. The fifth song, Guardians of Fate, was recorded at the home studio of Jari Mäenpää. The drum track is from a drum machine. Hero was produced in a Dream by Janne Joutsenniemi. As a guest singer at Eternal Wait acts Johanna Vakkuri, a friend of the band, with.

Title list

All songs were composed by Markus Toivonen alone, except Hero in a Dream and Guardians of Fate, which originated in cooperation with Jari Mäenpää. The lyrics were by Jari Mäenpää summarizes all written alone. The only exceptions are the Frost, which was produced together with Sauli Savolainen and of Knighthood, which was co-written by Markus Toivonen.

Criticism

For 1997-1999 itself hardly reviews were written, which is mainly due to the limited supply of CD. Many of the songs, however, were re-recorded for the first two studio albums, Ensiferum Ensiferum and Iron, and make up a significant part of these albums out.

One of the few reviews came from Alexander Melzer from metal webzine - observer.com. He forgave for the album nine out of ten possible points, and writes:

" Variety and good melodies [ ... ] -. Viking Metal at its best, with some Power Metal influences [ and ] very variable vocals [ ... ] I can only advise all Ensiferum fans out for " keeping 1997-1999 ", because even in their early years this band has already put the bulk of the cost colleagues in the bag! "