Photo by: Svetlana Goncharova

Official press release:

Ensiferum will release their long-awaited new studio album, Winter Storm, on October 18th through Metal Blade Records.

The Finnish folk-metal melodeath sensation has maintained a prolific release schedule since their first demo in 1997, gradually increasing in stature until eighth album Thalassic crowned their ascent in 2020. The nautical opus went on to top Finland’s album chart, reaching #3 in Germany, and top ten in Switzerland, Canada, and the United States. Eventually, Ensiferum would take Thalassic on two massive world tours and to festivals like Wacken, Hellfest, Summer Breeze, and Ragnarök, but the global Covid pandemic ensured that the four-year wait for Winter Storm would be the longest in the band’s near-thirty-year history.

Much of the new material emerged in the lockdown era, when Ensiferum’s founding guitarist Markus Toivonen set himself the challenge of finding new ways to make music — eventually composing every song except the rousing, anthemic “Fatherland,” written by bassist Sami Hinkka. The addition of singer/organist Pekka Montin’s crystal-clear melodic high notes provided a tremendous boost on Thalassic. But on Winter Storm — a fantasy concept narrative penned by Hinkka — Montin’s super-strong voice finds its optimal place in Ensiferum’s sound. Bringing to life such grandiose, heroic material, the singer emerges as one of the greatest vocal discoveries of the decade. Hinkka says:

Adds Hinkka of Ensiferum’s first single from the offering, “Winter Storm Vigilantes”,

Ensiferum’s Winter Storm was produced by Janne Joutsenniemi, mixed and mastered by Jens Bogren, and includes guest appearances by Lassi Logrén on Nyckelharpa and violin and Mikko Mustonen on orchestration as well as Eleine’s Madeleine Liljestam who provides all vocals on “Scars In My Heart”.

Winter Storm will be available on jewel case CD, special edition CD featuring two additional bonus tracks, and digitally as well as vinyl in the following color variants:

  • Frost (US)
  • 180g Black (EU) 
  • Light Blue Ice Marbled (EU)
  • Light Blue Ice Marbled w/ Signed Cover (EU – Ltd. 100 – Amazon EU excl.)
  • Blood Red Marbled (EU – Ltd. 500)
  • Pic-LP (EU – Ltd. 500)
  • Red Opaque Blackdust (EU – Ltd. 200 – Band Shop excl.)
  • Blood On Ice Splatter (EU – Ltd. 300 – EMP excl.)
  • Frosty Blue Splatter (EU – Ltd. 200 – Levykauppa excl.)

Find pre-orders at MetalBlade.com/Ensiferum.

Winter Storm track listing:

  1. “Aurora”
  2. “Winter Storm Vigilantes”
  3. “Long Cold Winter of Sorrow and Strife”
  4. “Fatherland”
  5. “Scars in My Heart” feat. Madeleine Liljestam (Eleine)
  6. “Resistentia”
  7. “The Howl”
  8. “From Order to Chaos”
  9. “Leniret Coram Tempestate”
  10. “Victorious”
  11. “Six Ribbons” (Jon English cover) [special edition bonus track]
  12. “Lambada” (Kaoma cover) [special edition bonus track]