Description

Double album on split coloured vinyls with gatefold cover. “From Afar” is pressed on White-Pale Blue vinyl and “Victory Songs” is pressed on Yellow-Orange vinyl. Limited to 500 copies

Victory Songs
“Iron” was a great success and grew the band’s popularity to whole new heights. The album also got the band some extensive touring abroad, but these metallic recordings and gigs finally took such a toll on the band that the year 2004 saw three band members depart: drummer Oliver Fokin, bassist Jukka-Pekka Miettinen and vocalist Jari Mäenpää (later known for his work on Wintersun). This was not the end of the world for the kind of warriors that Ensiferum and its mastermind Markus are, they just took along new, excellent members to replace these sudden gaps in their lineup. Aboard stepped bassist / vocalist Sami Hinkka, drummer Janne Parviainen (also known for his work on Waltari and Barathrum), and vocalist / guitarist Petri Lindroos. In 2006 Ensiferum took their gear to Helsinki’s Sonic Pump Studios to record their third full-length album with producer Nino Laurenne (Thunderstone, Finntroll). And what an album they made! With metallic guitars combined to the traditional sounds of such instruments as the Finnish kantele, a bagpipe, nyckelharpa and bodhrans, the sound of “Victory songs” is a full, balanced mixture of folk, heavy and battle anthem-like power, complete with the gentle balance between Petri’s growling vocals and Markus’s and Sami’s harmonised choruses.

From Afar
Whilst it is debatable that Ensiferum can or ever will top the self-titled debut and even 2004’s Iron from Maenpaas era in the band, Markus Toivonen has approached the task in the best way possible this time, concentrating on developing their musical technology, upgrading their weaponry and creating an untouchable battle-shield around them as they remain stationed in the core of their beloved sound, where things can only go from strength to strength.

Track list:
1. Ad Victoriam-from Victory Songs 2007
2. Blood Is The Price Of Glory-from Victory Songs 2007
3. Deathbringer From The Sky-from Victory Songs 2007
4. Ahti-from Victory Songs 2007
5. One More Magic Potion-from Victory Songs 2007
6. Wanderer-from Victory Songs 2007
7. Raised By The Sword-from Victory Songs 2007
8. The New Dawn-from Victory Songs 2007
9. Victory Song-from Victory Songs 2007
10. By The Dividing Stream-from From Afar 2010
11. From Afar-from From Afar 2010
12. Twilight Tavern-from From Afar 2010
13. Heathen Throne-from From Afar 2010
14. Elusive Reaches-from From Afar 2010
15. Stone Cold Metal-from From Afar 2010
16. Smoking Ruins-from From Afar 2010
17. Tumman Virran Taa-from From Afar 2010
18. The Longest Journey (Heathen Throne Pt. II)-from From Afar 2010