Ensiferum
One Man Army

"Into battle we ride with god by our side, we are strong and not afraid to die...", this is how the Finnish folk/viking metal quintet sang in the album that introduced them to me: the unforgettable "Iron". Since then, things haven't changed much, and the refrain of "Into battle" remains a simple and concise way to describe Ensiferum's music even today. If you don't know "Iron" (too bad for you), the first twenty seconds of "Axe of Judgement" are enough to convey a very simple concept: we are Vikings, we are angry, and although we occasionally like to relax (see the previous and somewhat lackluster "Unsung Heroes"), our enemies are your eardrums. Double pedal like Usain Bolt, a dominant yet never intrusive keyboard, and the classic unmistakable voice of the thin-looking Petri Lindroos, an exceptional screamer, aggressive and rude, capable of pumping you up for battle like few others can/could do. The album proceeds at medium-high levels throughout its duration, without miracles but also without letdowns. The title track is good (directly on point), but a particular mention deserves "Two of Spades": a simply ingenious track, where the classic outbursts these fierce Vikings have accustomed us to are alternated with moments of pure experimental delirium, with a riff that strikingly resembles (hold tight) Jamiroquai. An album that sets things right for those who were disappointed with the previous one, for others, a confirmation of how much these guys have sown. Keep it up. STEAMROLLER.