Interview
Ensiferum
BY Keith Carman April 23, 2008 16:04
WHO ARE THEY?
Europe is generally credited with fostering progressive heavy metal, spawning death, grindcore and countless other extreme subgenres. However, Finland in particular is quickly establishing itself as a hotbed of activity for a new breed of cross-pollination.
Formed by guitarist/vocalist Markus Toivonen in 1995, Helsinki quartet Ensiferum (whose name is Latin for “the sword-bearer”) are revered as one of the first bands to successfully amalgamate folk influences into their thunderous metal dirges. As their third full-length Victory Songs (Spinefarm) continues to amass a cult following, Toivonen, guitarist/vocalist Petri Lindroos, bassist Sami Hinkka, drummer Janne Parviainen and keyboardist Emmi Silvennoinen could surpass neighbourhood chums Korpiklaani, Amorphis, Finntroll and Turisas as the gods of the Viking and/or heroic-folk-metal world.
SO WHAT EXACTLY IS THIS FOLK-METAL BUSINESS?
“The main reason Ensiferum formed was because Markus had vision for a band totally full of melodies and good vibes all along,” notes Lindroos. “At that point, death-metal bands had no melodies. It was all non-stop noise and he wanted to create something different. It worked, ’cause here we are.”
Ensiferum’s music features expedient rhythms that create a foundation for Toivonen and Lindroos’ metallic guitars to intertwine with traditional folk instruments, including the Finnish kantele, bagpipes and bodhráns. It’s anthemic, almost operatic heavy metal with ancient undertones. Lyrically, they prefer to regale listeners with Finnish folklore, tales of battles and an almost Tolkien-like mysticism. Lindroos explains that the music is more folk than metal, although a detuned, chugging riff certainly gives songs such as “Blood Is the Price of Glory” and “Deathbringer From the Sky” a real set of brass ones.
“Our music is mostly folk. It has nothing to do with metal. It’s like a really heavy folk music. Markus alone has 200 CDs of world music from central Europe, Ireland... everywhere. We are all metal fans obviously but we find folk more engaging and complex. It takes a bit more effort to infuse that into metal, which is our [chosen] type of music to play. It’s interesting to unite different approaches to music and see what comes out.”
IS IMITATION THE SINCEREST FORM OF FLATTERY, OR EVEN MORE SINCERE THAN THAT?
Speaking of the band’s aforementioned brass balls, Lindroos points out that, like black metal with its corpse-paint-swathed zealots, Ensiferum devotees have been known to don the armour, chainmail and furs that typify both Viking mythology and your average Ensiferum photo shoot.
“Viking metal fans dress up [the way] the band look onstage or in their promo photos. They carry rubber swords, shields and axes, have their faces painted, they wear furs like the old Celts. It’s funny actually,” he laughs.
“They’re pretty committed. I haven’t seen any of them re-enact swordfights or anything yet but it’s not an impossible idea. If I was in their shoes, I don’t know if I’d be wearing fur on my hips, have my face painted with black and red stripes and a rubber sword on me while I’m stepping off the train to see the show. It’s not so easy to walk around a modern city while dressed as an ancient Viking. We just do it onstage so far. I think our fans have bigger balls than we do.”
625 Church St, 6th Floor, Toronto M4Y 2G1
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