Ensiferum is one of Finland’s most internationally renowned metal bands. The group’s latest and ninth studio album, Winter Storm, was released in October 2024 via Metal Blade Records. On the album, Ensiferum continues its journey through melodic death metal and folk metal influences while incorporating more symphonic and epic elements than ever before.
The songs on the album were composed by guitarist Markus Toivonen, while the lyrics are based on an unpublished fantasy book written by bassist Sami Hinkka. The album was produced by Janne Joutsenniemi, with mixing and mastering handled by Jens Bogren, known for his work with Arch Enemy, Amorphis, and Opeth, among others. Winter Storm has received acclaim from both critics and fans alike, and its success has propelled Ensiferum onto an extensive world tour.
Over the years, Ensiferum has firmly established its position on the international metal scene. The band’s 2020 album Thalassic reached number one on the Official Finnish Albums Chart and climbed all the way to number three on the Official German Albums Chart — an achievement reached by only a handful of Finnish bands.
- Petri Lindroos – vocals, guitar
- Markus Toivonen – guitar, vocals
- Sami Hinkka – bass, vocals
- Janne Parviainen – drums
- Pekka Montin – keyboards, vocals
