Artist: ENSIFERUM
Album: THALASSIC RED/ BLACK VINYL (LP)

Release date: 10.07.2020
EAN/UPS: 039841571677
Media type: LP

Ensiferum are a true powerhouse when it comes to folk-inspired melodic death metal, something they hammer home more resolutely than ever with eighth full-length Thalassic. The title translating from ancient Greek as "of or relating to seas", it's a suitably huge and wide-ranging collection that incorporates orchestrations and traditional folk instrumentation alongside the roaring guitars, bass, and drums. "I think we managed to take another step ahead musically and we also utilized the best parts of our old sound," states bassist/vocalist Sami Hinkka. "There are lots of Ensiferum's trademarks: beautiful folkish melodies, ass-kicking riffs, a nice mix of different vocals and great singalong choruses." The addition of new keyboard player/lead clean vocalist Pekka Montin also "really raised the new songs to another level", while Mikko P. Mustonen once again presided over the orchestrations, and violin virtuoso Lassi Logren recorded folk instruments on a few tracks.

Side A:

01 Seafarer's Dream
02 Rum, Women, Victory
03 Andromeda
04 The Defence of the Sampo
05 Run From The Crushing Tide

Side B:

06 For Sirens
07 One With The Sea
08 Midsummer Magic
09 Cold Northland Vainamoinen Part III)