Ensiferum – Metal Express Radio

FINNISH METAL EXPO 2006

February 19, 2006 Metal-Katie

Last year fans experienced the first ever Finnish Metal Expo, a gathering of all sorts of Metal music folks and a showcase of talents from both old and new Finnish Metal bands, with a few international acts thrown in for good measure. Now a year later, the second even bigger Finnish Metal Expo was held at Kaapeli in freezing cold Helsinki. This year, following the success of last year, the event had grown in size and the set-up was a bit different. The actual Expo part was separated from the concert area so that if you so desired, you could buy just the cheaper ticket to the Expo, which would have given you access to the display area and music clinics, but not to the actual concerts that were held alongside the Expo. If you got the concert tickets, you got access to both the shows and the Expo. The purpose of the event, just like last year, was to make Finnish Metal more known and to give Metalheadz a chance to mingle and mix with the industry side of Metal music, and to bring them all closer together… or like one of the organizers said, “To just have a party, the Metal kind.” Whatever the reason that got you through the door, one thing was for sure: there was so much to see that there was no way you could see and experience it all in just two days. The Expo part once again had all kinds of display booths, from record companies to Metal magazines, Metal-related clothing, instruments, festivals, and CD stores. At almost every stall, you could take part in competitions, and if not win, then at least you could help yourself to the free samples, which came in the form of candy to coffee to promo …READ MORE

ENSIFERUM – Dragonheads

February 15, 2006 Torgeir P. Krokfjord

This Finnish lot has gotten quite some publicity lately with their quite accessible mix of Mithotyn, Finntroll, and Thyrfing, as well as the traditional Finnish style of Children of Bodom, Throne of Chaos, and front man Petri Lindroos’ main band Norther (he joined Ensiferum prior to this release). Judging by this release, it is hard, if possible at all, to understand why, as they are nowhere by a mile near the level of any of the aforementioned bands. This is bubble gum/comic book “Metal” of the worst kind -– Nintendo Gameboy melodies, pre-teen chanting vocals, sadly unoriginal attempts at riffing, and last but not least, a Finnish folksong medley just to show they can keep it “true.” There are a few – as in very few – signs of hope here, though. The title track has an okay chorus, and some of the speedier parts of “Warrior’s Quest” are listenable, but that’s about it. The idea could work, the packaging is nice, and there’s probably (or more likely, hopefully) some talent in there too – as skinny as these young Finns are, it shouldn’t be possible to hide it this well, though – because this doesn’t work at all. Now go buy all releases by Mithotyn, Bathory, Lumsk, Einherjer, and Windir. Then listen to those while intensely practicing your respective instruments for a year, take another year to compose new material, record it and release it. That should make for a much needed three-year break for everyone. This EP is junk.

TUSKA OPEN AIR METAL FESTIVAL 2004

July 19, 2004 Metal-Katie

Friday, July 16, 2004 The completely sold out festival started on Friday afternoon (the 16th) at 15:00:00. I got there in time to witness Sonata Arctica’s set. They were the second act on the main stage and played a bit lame. They hurried their set and suffered from sound problems that took them half way through the set to sort out. Gone were singer Kakko’s custom “mostly-amusing-if-not-a-bit-juvenile” stage antics. Instead, we got a really professional looking performance. The schedule was set up so that after each main stage act there was a break during which the 2 side stages had bands playing at the same time. So next up on the side stages were Impaled Nazarene, who as usual played their fast and furious Metal with a whole lot of attitude, and Ensiferum, whose set I missed due to the fact that there was no room to get into the tent they were playing. Kotiteollisuus on the main stage officially played the loudest set of the whole festival. You could feel the vibration even at the back of the field. The site was set up at the park in the heart of Helsinki on a sandy soccer field. You can still cough up and sneeze the sand and dust days after the festival, but that’s part of individual charm of this festival. Friday’s most “happening set” honor goes to the Finnish Thrash-band Mokoma who played a really tight set consisting of songs mostly off their last 2 CDs. These guys really look and sound like they are having fun while playing, and with songs as excellent as “Takatalvi,” it is certainly understandable. This was the first time I saw ladies moshing and doing really serious headbanging. It must be said that this band cannot be upstaged in the headbanging department …READ MORE