Ensiferum unfold my mind!

Okay, so let's do one more Folk metal band. Guys, there is something about melodic folk metal bands that really draw me to them. Maybe it is them crafting their songs from folklore or the brilliant blend of folk and metal music. Or perhaps it's both. Anyway, today's band is Ensiferum, a Finnish melodic folk metal band from Helsinki. With beautifully crafted ballads from medieval lores, incorporating their traditional and folk instrumentation and combining aggressive heavy metal and melodic elements and a zestful mix of vocals, Ensiferum (much like Demonic Resurrection of the Indian folk metal scene) defines the genre of folk metal.

Indeed, they've skillfully pulled off two antagonistic genres (atleast it sounds antagonistic in my mind) of metal and folk and combined them to create music so exquisite and magnificent.

Okay, now onto the album. This one's called Iron, their second album released in May 2004. This album is literally folk metal at its most glorious peak.

Sonically glorious. Stylistically marvellous. Lyrically, energetic and ripe.

Okay, short storytime. The songs on this album were the first Ensiferum songs I listened to, and, no exaggeration, these guys' music conquered and won my heart, and it's been with them ever since. My little sweet, delicate heart. Ensiferum, you better take care of it.

There's so much enthusiasm and energy that radiates through this album, one that is suffocatingly easy to succumb to and frustratingly hard to shake off. It's unique and raw and has that fresh spark because the songs are so diverse.

So the opening instrumental, "Ferrum Aeternum", is a captivating track that sets the tone for the grandeur that is to come. Also, this one just screams LOTR. Maybe that's why I loved reading LOTR while blasting Ensiferum (specifically this track) to an ungodly decibel. It is so rich and upbeat.

The next one is my personal favourite track- "Lost In Despair". I think really have a thing for melancholic tunes. So this one is a sombre ballad with mostly clean vocals. But really, the overwhelming desolation is almost tear-jerking, and it can be deeply felt, like a stinging wound in the heart. It's a song about loneliness and suffering that doesn't leave a bitter taste in your mouth. It leaves you craving for more of it because Ensiferum's songs kick you all the right places. There is a lot of anger, agony and delusion in the lyrics. This song's sheer amount of angst and utter chaos hurts so good.

The next one is "Slayer of Light", which is raw, trashy, viciously fast, full of non-stop roaring guitars with bombastic choirs and is a classic headbanger. And it is so ostentatious, in a good way. This track just swept me away, and by the time I could catch my breath, it was already over. It's hard-hitting, high-powered, and basks in zeal. A complete contrary to "Lost In Despair", "Slayer of Light" is just as good as "Lost in Despair". It's actually difficult to choose the best between these two.

"Into the Battle" just gets me all pumped with energy. It is fast and tight. The vocals alternate between harsh and clean passages and furiously fast drumming, and the guitar solo is lovely. "Tale of Revenge" is another brilliant melodic track with a captivating opening. It has a ridiculously catchy tune, like "Into the Battle". "Lai Lai Hei" is probably the longest track on the album. It's speedy with a few operatic vocals and has some melodic verses in Finnish that just adds to the intrigue of the track. Creativity at its pinnacle.

I think the only track that I didn't like much was "Tears". It wasn't disappointing or unbearable or anything, but I didn't like it much. The whole album was a musical experience, it was special, but this one track seemed so...not like them? It was like listening to a Disney song in the middle of a roaring metal album.

Iron is a brilliant album packed with fierce and sentimental ballads that I love love LOVE to listen to on repeat. You can both headbang to the tracks of this album or enjoy a damn good fantasy read. I can never get enough of this album, and I don't want to!