Iron (Ensiferum album)
Occupation
- Vocals, guitar Jari Mäenpää
- Guitar, vocals: Markus Toivonen
- Bass: Jukka -Pekka Miettinen
- Keyboard: Meiju Enho
- Drums: Oliver Fokin
- Bouzouki, mandolin and dulcimer: Vesa Vigman
- Kantele: Eveliina Kontio
- Female voices in Ferrum Aeternum and Tears, tenor and soprano as well as recorders and tin whistles: Kaisa Saari
Iron (English, iron ') is the second album of Finnish viking metal band Ensiferum. The album was released on 18 October 2004 by the record label Spinefarm Records. After the appearance of this album Jari Mäenpää Ensiferum left to pursue his own band Wintersun.
Production
The album was recorded in Sweet Silence Studios in Copenhagen. It was produced and mixed by Flemming Rasmussen.
Style
Texts
Music
Most commonly occur guttural and hymn-like vocals. Also, there are choirs, flutes, a woman's voice as well as significant humppaeske folk influences in the songs. Thus, the album can be difficult to categorize, since it also includes the Power Metal reminiscent songs like Sword Chant and the acoustic ballad Tears put forward.
Cover
The cover art by Kristian Wåhlin shows, as well as on the debut album Ensiferum, the Warrior Mascot Ensiferums. In the Iron Warriors stands next to his Schildbehangenem horse on a rocky spur and overlooks a brightly lit battlefield under him. In the band logo of Ensiferum is seen. Unlike Ensiferum here radiates the front and middle ground in warmer colors, while the background is dominated by mountains, decorated in blue tones.
Title list
Review
Robert Mueller of the German Metal Hammer rated the album 4 out of 7 points and wrote in his review:
" [ ... ] It is possible Ensiferum, to weave a dense atmosphere, not only casual nod towards the traditional metal stalwarts like Manowar or Blind Guardian and pay homage to the modern Finnish Death Metal school honor in the core. That's enough for four points, even if the stereotypes are sometimes applied but somewhat thick. "