Genre(s):
Viking/Folk Metal
Lyrical Theme(s):
Legends, Various Medieval Themes, Heathen
Origin:
Finland (Helsinki)
Formed In:
1995
Status:
Active
Current line-up:
Petri Lindroos - Harsh Vocals & Guitar (Norther)
Markus Toivonen - Guitar, Clean & Backing Vocals (Soulstream, Speden Timantit)
Meiju Enho - Keyboard
Sami Hinkka - Bass, Clean & Backing Vocals (Rapture (Fin))
Janne Parviainen - Drums (Barathrum, Sinergy, ex-Waltari, ex-Zwanziger, Valvet)
Former/Past Member(s):
Jari Mäenpää - Vocals & Guitar (Arthemesia, Wintersun)
Jukka-Pekka Miettinen - Bass (Arthemesia, ex-Cadacross)
Sauli Savolainen - Bass
Oliver Fokin - Drums & Percussion (ex-Arthemesia, ex-Wintersun)
Kimmo Miettinen - Drums (ex-Arthemesia, Cadacross, Empyrean Bane)
Trollhorn - Session Keyboard (ex-Ahti, ex-Barathrum, ex-Crypt (Fin), Finntroll, Glittertind, Lakupaavi, LarharyhmД, Luokkasota, Moonsorrow, Terrorthrone, The Wicked, Thunderdogs, Woods of Belial)
Additional Notes
Ensiferum means "Sword Bearer". 'Ensis' is a third declension noun meaning Sword, and 'Ferum' is from an irregular verb meaning "to carry" (like "ferry"). Markus Toivonen found the word in a Latin dictionary when the band were starting out and decided it was an ideal name.
Ensiferum were founded as a three-piece by Markus Toivonen, Sauli Savolainen and Kimmo Miettinen. They began mostly as a cover band before persuading Jari Mäenpää to join as vocalist and second guitarist a year later.
Frontman Jari Mäenpää quit in 2004 after creating his own project, Wintersun. Studio time for Wintersun recordings clashed with an Ensiferum tour, so Mäenpää quit Ensiferum. Petri Lindroos of Norther was brought in, inititally to cover for live dates, and eventually agreed to join permanently. At this point the band's vocal duties were split as Lindroos performed only the harsh singing while Markus Toivonen and Sami Hinkka took over the clean vocals. Toivonen is now the only founding member left in the band.
Markus Toivonen never played in Scent of Flesh - there are two different persons with the same name.
Petri Lindroos was forced to miss a few tour dates in November 2008 due to illness. Former bassist Jukka-Pekka Miettinen filled in as guitarist while Sami Hinkka took up harsh vocal duties.
Ensiferum were founded as a three-piece by Markus Toivonen, Sauli Savolainen and Kimmo Miettinen. They began mostly as a cover band before persuading Jari Mäenpää to join as vocalist and second guitarist a year later.
Frontman Jari Mäenpää quit in 2004 after creating his own project, Wintersun. Studio time for Wintersun recordings clashed with an Ensiferum tour, so Mäenpää quit Ensiferum. Petri Lindroos of Norther was brought in, inititally to cover for live dates, and eventually agreed to join permanently. At this point the band's vocal duties were split as Lindroos performed only the harsh singing while Markus Toivonen and Sami Hinkka took over the clean vocals. Toivonen is now the only founding member left in the band.
Markus Toivonen never played in Scent of Flesh - there are two different persons with the same name.
Petri Lindroos was forced to miss a few tour dates in November 2008 due to illness. Former bassist Jukka-Pekka Miettinen filled in as guitarist while Sami Hinkka took up harsh vocal duties.
Discography:
Ensiferum - Demo I [demo] - 1997
Ensiferum - Demo II [demo] - 1999
Ensiferum - Hero In A Dream [demo] - 1999
Ensiferum - Ensiferum [full-length] - 2001
Ensiferum - Tale Of Revenge [single] - 2004
Ensiferum - Iron [full-length] - 2004
Ensiferum - 1997-1999 [compilation] - 2005
Ensiferum - Dragonheads [ep] - 2006
Ensiferum - One More Magic Potion [single] - 2007
Ensiferum - Victory Songs [full-length] - 2007
Ensiferum - From Afar [single] - 2009
Ensiferum - From Afar [full-length] - 2009
Ensiferum - Stone Cold Metal [single] - 2010
Ensiferum - Burning Leaves [single] - 2012
Ensiferum - Unsung Heroes [full-length] - 2012
Ensiferum - One Man Army [full-length] - 2015
Ensiferum - Two Decades Of Greatest Sword Hits [best of/compilation] - 2016
Ensiferum - The Live Path [ep] - 2017
Ensiferum - Two Paths [full-length] - 2017
*****
Official Site:
Ensiferum @ Homepage
Ensiferum @ youtube.com
Ensiferum @ Twitter
