On September 15th, ENSIFERUM will release their seventh full-length, ‘Two Paths‘, worldwide via Metal Blade Records. Produced by Anssi Kippo, the master was recorded on tape, for a true analog experience.
For a preview of the album, the band has now launched a live acoustic version of ‘Two of Spades’ (from their previous album, ‘One Man Army‘), which can be seen below.
‘Two of Spades’ live at “On the Rocks” in Helsinki, Finland on October 28, 2016. Watch the entire live show on the DVD that comes with the CD version of ‘Two Paths‘. Directed by Toni Salminen and edited by Vince Edwards. Camera operators: Toni Salminen and Timo Honkanen. Audio recording engineer: Aku Silennoinen. Audio mixed & mastered by A. Kippe at Astia-studio A Lappeenranta, Finland.
You can’t talk about the true greats of folk-inspired melodic death metal without reverent mention of ENSIFERUM, and with ‘Two Paths‘ they once more affirm their place in the pantheons of the genre. Further building upon the thrilling metallic hybrid honed across six full-lengths, ‘Two Paths‘ is simultaneously the Finnish quintet’s most epic and far-reaching collection and their most organic, which definitely sets it apart from the pack. Additionally, the album literally takes the concept of ‘Two Paths‘ to heart, with two different versions of standout tracks ‘Don’t You Say’ and ‘God Is Dead’. “Even though Ensiferum has always had clean vocals and choirs, harsh vocals have been the main style, and those songs worked so well with both styles that we decided to include both versions,” explains bassist/vocalist Sami Hinkka. With Mikko P. Mustonen again handling orchestral arrangements and Lassi Logren returning to play nyckelharpa and violin on a few songs, Hinkka is also more than happy that they brought “more bombastic orchestral and down to earth folk aspects” to the record, further fleshing out their vision. This also applies to the contribution of Gyula Havancsak, who provided the artwork for both ‘Two Paths‘ and its predecessor, ‘One Man Army‘. “It was really nice to work with him again because he always wants to hear our ideas and then he adds his own magic and improvements to them, and the result is always astonishing.”
‘Two Paths‘ track-listing
1. Ajattomasta Unesta
2. For Those About to Fight for Metal
3. Way of the Warrior
4. Two Paths
5. King of Storms
6. Feast with Valkyries
7. Don’t You Say
8. I Will Never Kneel
9. God Is Dead
10. Hail to the Victor
11. Unettomaan Aikaan
12. God Is Dead (Alternative Version)
13. Don’t You Say (Alternative Version)
From September 27th, 2017 onward, ENSIFERUM will present ‘Two Paths‘ live on stage, splitting their European tour into two parts. The first part will be in September with six dates in three countries, and then in April 2018 there will be an extended tour through many more European countries. In between that time, ENSIFERUM will visit all other continents. See below for all confirmed shows, with more to be announced soon!
ENSIFERUM tour dates:
Sept. 26 – Bochum, Germany – Zeche
Sept. 27 – Langen, Germany – Stadthalle
Sept. 28 – Arnhem, Netherlands – Luxor Live
Sept. 29 – Berlin, Germany – SO36
Sept. 30 – Osnabruck, Germany – Hyde Park
Oct. 1 – Paris, France – La Machine
