From Afar is Ensiferum's fourth release, and it's been two years since Victory Songs.
1.by the dividing stream- standard ensi intro, much like 'ferrum aeternum'. all folk. just waiting for the metal.
2.from afar- the melody of 'by the dividing stream' doesn't carry through as was done on 'iron'. instead bombastic synths open the album. this is far more symphonic than usual ensiferum, something you'll notice throughout 'from afar'.
3.twilight tavern- a decent opening riff and chorus makes for a good old ensiferum song. it's style is reminiscent of their debut album with jari. but what really surprised me were the female vocals found halfway in the song. is that emmi, their new keyboardist, singing? i didn't find any credits to guest musicians, and emmi is listed as doing background vocals which leads me to believe that was emmi singing. pretty cool, it adds an extra dynamic i wasn't expecting.
4.heathen throne- leads in with a heavy, driving riff, just think amon amarth. it appears that ensiferum is making a slight foray into melodic death metal. combined with acoustic breaks, what comes to mind is a mixture of old ensiferum, moonsorrow, and amon amarth, in that order. actually, scratch that. this is ensiferum. they've matured. heathen throne is an epic, though not as good as their previous one, 'victory song'.
5.elusive reaches- a three minute condensation of most things ensiferum.
6.stone cold metal- has a more noticeable power metal slant to it, from the name (and so, lyrics) to the backing trumpets. as if trumpets weren't awesome enough, in comes a lone cowboy whistle and acoustic guitar twang. next up is a honky-tonk piano and snare drum rolls. oh yeah, and after that...banjo solo. yes, ensiferum went there. this song is fun and enjoyable, and i'm glad they don't take themselves too seriously while still not being a total sham like some bands (korplikaani).
7.smoking ruins- a slower tempo song. i don't know, there's not much to say. from what i can hear i like the lyrics and its story. it doesn't push any boundaries though.
8.tumman virran taa- a finnish vocal chant. that's all.
9.the longest journey- a sluggish lead in the intro gives way to a sypmhonic interlude and is later accompanied by the rest of the band. the last four minutes is a slow moving lead, eventually fading to silence. more epic than 'heathen throne', this song demands your attention and patience in order to fully enjoy.
'From Afar' is less folksy and more symhphonic than their previous releases. it is also less accessible. there are fewer catchy riffs, and instead most are slow and drawling. fans of ensiferum will take comfort in the familiarity of the sound while still being able to recognizes signs of growth in the songwriting. for newcomers, i wouldn't recommend this album. 'From Afar' isn't ensiferum's best, but if the best is yet to come, this is a necessary stepping stone.
*trivial note: kai hahto was the drum tech for the recording process
