Customer Reviews

Iron

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Shortly after the release of Ensiferum's Iron in 2004, Vocalist and Guitarist Jari Mäenpää announced that he planned to leave the band to pursue his own side project, Wintersun. Personally, I was very sad to hear this news, as Jari's vocals are supreme for this genre and his songwriting skills have greatly led this Viking/Folk Metal band among the elite of the Finnish metal bands represented by Spinefarm Records. Jari does leave fans with a remarkable performance and the band introduces the lovely Meiju Enho on keyboards.

The album opens with a emotional acoustic instrumental piece titled Ferrum Aeternum. This transitions right into the electric title track, Iron. The song, Into Battle is by far one of the most epic tracks ever recorded in the `Heroic Folk Metal' genre. The solos by Jari and Markus Toivonin are intense. Lai Lai Lai is a very fun folk song that is in Finnish and English. The album closes with a soft ballad called Tears, courtesy of Kaisa Saari's vocals.

Even though Jari decided to leave the band, Ensiferum is still in very good hands. Their abilities are not in doubt, especially after viewing Ensiferum's live DVD `10th Anniversary Live' with Petri Lindoos on vocals. Jari's amazing growls, supported by Toivonin and Miettinen's clean vocals make for a very pleasurable balance by the band. Meiju's keyboard's add a very epic flare to the music and she is a great addition to this wonderful band. Ensiferum are worthy of much praise for their accomplishments in the genre and Iron was a worthy `Metal Album of the Year' contender for 2004.

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.

One of the best Viking Death Metal albums was Ensiferum's debut. With more than outstanding sound, composure, and musicianship on this release, there is no doubt to claim "Iron" as an even greater art.

"Ferrum Aeternum" is an opening instrumental that sounds somewhat Medieval with keyboards, flutes, and everything...good start. The title track, though, really shows how Ensiferum sounds. Keyboards reign with mostly rough vocals by the Demi-God Jari, but also some clean ones and some choirs; very melodic and with refreshingly powerful energy.
After the short instrumental "Mourning Heart-Interlude", we get some sort of half ballad with "Tale Of Revenge". Very moody and melodic, but also with some harsh vocals that go hand in hand with Jari's excellent clean voice. "Lai Lai Hei", which starts out acoustically, continues the slow melody with some electric guitars. The vocals come in Finnish and English, and then they shift up a powerful gear, still with clean vocals and also the choir (energetic, dynamic, epic, distinct chorus), which probably makes this the best track on Iron.

Another stellar release by the Finnish five piece (with the addition of the keyboardist). The freshness and sheer power has been reduced a bit, but the Folk elements stay intact, maybe for an almost logical consequence. Ensiferum still retain their sound without ditching their heritage, which is good news. Considering this was Jari's last album with Ensiferum, we should realize the heart he put into this before leaving. His battles with Ensiferum will never be forgotten.

This is a phenomenal album, absolutely essential to anybody just getting into folk/viking metal. I got this album is the midst of a series of similar purchases, and it quickly rose to the top of the pile. If you're the type who likes to download a sample song before buying, I'd recommend as stand out tracks Sword Chant and Lost in Despair.

For those of you who already have the original release, the Battery cover is cool but may or may not be worth a new purchase. I mean, it is just one song after all.

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!

Many people say Ensiferum has not sounded just the same since Jari Maenpaa left (to form another equally awesome band, Wintersun). I agree, and although the latest album, _Victory Songs_, is good, _Iron_ is, in my opinion, Ensiferum at their peak... Jari's legacy, if you will.

I'm surprised this album has so few reviews in comparison to their epynomous debut album. _Ensiferum_, while excellent, has a bunch of songs without the blazing fast gallop drumming and wicked shredding on almost all songs on _Iron_, not to mention catchy riffs, choruses, and bridges.

The album starts off with Ferrum Aeternum, an acoustic (+ synths) piece which might as well have come straight off of Ennio Morricone's repertoire. The intro sets the stage for the title track, _Iron_. Right from the start, you know Ensiferum means business. Jari's vocals sound forceful but never unnecessarily harsh. The foot-tapping madness ends only for a while at the beginning of the next track, _Sword Chant_. Here, we see the full range of Jari's voice, with him trying a falsetto interspersed with gruff whispers. The acoustic interlude has a sort of chant (which is explored further in LAI LAI HEI).

The next track is a short acoustic interlude which is just long enough that you let down your guard before _Tale of Revenge_, arguably the best track Ensiferum has produced, hits you full on. The melody at the beginning alone is worth purchasing this album for, but the rest of the track is full of incredible guitar and synth melodies. We also see top-class singing from Jari, using both clean and gruff vocals.

Next up is the slow-ish ballad _Lost In Despair_ (with some excellent clean and tenor-ish vocals from Jari), and you just know something blazing fast is in store for you next. True enough, _Slayer of Light_ is as good as you expected. The next track, _Into Battle_, is second only to _Tale of Revenge_ in its awesomeness. The shredding is incredible, and when Jari sings 'Into battle we ride ... We'll fight till the end and send our enemies straight to hell...', you can't help but sing along.

Next is LAI LAI HEI, an epic which cannot be ranked among the other songs on the album. Mostly in Finnish and some in English, the 7+ minute LAI LAI HEI, like all epic songs, has acoustic sections, gruff vocals, clean vocals, and a totally awesome chorus. I have trouble keeping still (or quiet) when I hear this one while at work.

_Tears_ is the final song on the CD which is a soft tune that features female vocals. This comes as a welcome break to sit back and catch your breath after the 40 minute assault you've just been through.

So, if my review wasn't clear enough or you want a one-sentence summary: this is the BOMB! Get it if you like Wintersun, Amon Amarth, Viking/Folk metal or just about any kind of melodic death metal. _Iron_ would also be the best intro to Ensiferum if you've not heard their stuff before.

PS: You can check out most of the full tracks on last.fm.

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 is some very high grade metal...viking/folk tinged songs with great melodies and fantastic riffage. Harsh vocals that don't sound cheesy or over-the-top at all...fit the music perfectly...along with some very nice clean vocals. The musicianship is top-notch...hopefully these guys get more exposure because they definitely deserve 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.

I had the chance to see Ensiferum live...AWESOME. They played a couple tracks off this album perfectly. The only thing better than this CD is seeing them live!