Ensiferum
Metaldays - 2018
Text: Tobias Nilsson Photo: Lunah Lauridsen
The day had been alright so far, but we needed something extra to really get it going, and maybe Finland was just the nation to provide the extra spark?
As Ensiferum took the stage, we were about to find out…
“Metaldays, are you ready to party and rock?!”
- Petri Lindroos (vocals/guitar)
It wasn’t all that long since our last encounter with the swordbearers, and even though we still missed the presence of Netta Skog, it didn’t come as a surprise to us. Neither was it surprising that Ensiferum for the time being was performing as a four piece, leaving the keyboard sections to be played as playback.
The remaining four still knew how to put on a show though, and while the stage was filling with smoke and Ajattomasta Unesta was playing over the PA, we could see a backlit band standing in spear formation on the drum podium - Markus Toivonen in front, with Sami Hinkka and Petri Lindroos on either side, and Janne Parviainen standing behind his drums. After a short while, the band joined in with playing live alongside the intro, before going straight into For Those About To Fight For Metal. Which in this setting, was the band, I suppose.
Well, the band was about to fight for metal, in the best way they knew - with a slew of catchy songs, and an ungodly amount of energy!
Already from the opening, we could tell this was about to be good, and as soon as the band was unleashed, they proved just how good they can be. While Paviainen was dominating the sonical presentation at first, it was the three in front that dominated the performance. Lindroos was naturally tied to the mic much of the time, but was always ready to take a step back for some headbanging when the time allowed it, and Toivonen and Hinkka flew across the stage, alternatively rocking out by themselves or together, or simply egging the crowd on to participate in the fun and games. During Way Of The Warrior Toivonen and Hinkka did an improvised dance, and in Token Of Time, Hinkka was down in the security pit while playing and saluting the frontline fans.
Ensiferum certainly had quite a few fans here as well, and not just in the frontline. This was, in fact, the largest audience we’d seen all day. The largest, and the wildest. The band had barely begun to play, before the middle of the ground was dominated by a large moshpit, and crowdsurfers soon came rolling by in thick waves. I saw both viking shields and unicorns drift by, clearly showing that the fans had a sense of humour, as well as taking the music seriously.
The Metaldays crowd was also serious in lending vocal support for the band - not that it was needed in the strictest sense, but it’s a popular interaction nonetheless. So, with raised arms, the crowd sang along to live favourites like Twilight Tavern and LAI LAI HEI, while Heathen Horde was supported by a loud “Hey” chanting.
The ever popular Iron ended the evening, and to squeeze the last out of the party, the band prolonged the song with a bit of jamming, and of course the popular “da dadada DA DADADA!” sing along, all while seeing the crowdsurfing take unprecedented numbers of participation.
We weren’t quite finished with the day, but Ensiferum had definitely been the band to truly open the party, and in my opinion, none of those coming after could top this performance either.
In the past, I’ve seen Ensiferum going both ways when it comes to live sometimes good and sometimes not so, but this was certainly one of the good days, and we were thoroughly entertained from start to fin(n)ish.
Setlist:
Ajattomasta Unesta
For Those About To Fight For Metal
Two Paths
Heathen Horde
Twilight Tavern
Token Of Time
From Afar
Way Of The Warrior
Two Of Spades
LAI LAI HEI
Iron
As Ensiferum took the stage, we were about to find out…
“Metaldays, are you ready to party and rock?!”
- Petri Lindroos (vocals/guitar)
It wasn’t all that long since our last encounter with the swordbearers, and even though we still missed the presence of Netta Skog, it didn’t come as a surprise to us. Neither was it surprising that Ensiferum for the time being was performing as a four piece, leaving the keyboard sections to be played as playback.
The remaining four still knew how to put on a show though, and while the stage was filling with smoke and Ajattomasta Unesta was playing over the PA, we could see a backlit band standing in spear formation on the drum podium - Markus Toivonen in front, with Sami Hinkka and Petri Lindroos on either side, and Janne Parviainen standing behind his drums. After a short while, the band joined in with playing live alongside the intro, before going straight into For Those About To Fight For Metal. Which in this setting, was the band, I suppose.
Well, the band was about to fight for metal, in the best way they knew - with a slew of catchy songs, and an ungodly amount of energy!
Already from the opening, we could tell this was about to be good, and as soon as the band was unleashed, they proved just how good they can be. While Paviainen was dominating the sonical presentation at first, it was the three in front that dominated the performance. Lindroos was naturally tied to the mic much of the time, but was always ready to take a step back for some headbanging when the time allowed it, and Toivonen and Hinkka flew across the stage, alternatively rocking out by themselves or together, or simply egging the crowd on to participate in the fun and games. During Way Of The Warrior Toivonen and Hinkka did an improvised dance, and in Token Of Time, Hinkka was down in the security pit while playing and saluting the frontline fans.
Ensiferum certainly had quite a few fans here as well, and not just in the frontline. This was, in fact, the largest audience we’d seen all day. The largest, and the wildest. The band had barely begun to play, before the middle of the ground was dominated by a large moshpit, and crowdsurfers soon came rolling by in thick waves. I saw both viking shields and unicorns drift by, clearly showing that the fans had a sense of humour, as well as taking the music seriously.
The Metaldays crowd was also serious in lending vocal support for the band - not that it was needed in the strictest sense, but it’s a popular interaction nonetheless. So, with raised arms, the crowd sang along to live favourites like Twilight Tavern and LAI LAI HEI, while Heathen Horde was supported by a loud “Hey” chanting.
The ever popular Iron ended the evening, and to squeeze the last out of the party, the band prolonged the song with a bit of jamming, and of course the popular “da dadada DA DADADA!” sing along, all while seeing the crowdsurfing take unprecedented numbers of participation.
We weren’t quite finished with the day, but Ensiferum had definitely been the band to truly open the party, and in my opinion, none of those coming after could top this performance either.
In the past, I’ve seen Ensiferum going both ways when it comes to live sometimes good and sometimes not so, but this was certainly one of the good days, and we were thoroughly entertained from start to fin(n)ish.
Setlist:
Ajattomasta Unesta
For Those About To Fight For Metal
Two Paths
Heathen Horde
Twilight Tavern
Token Of Time
From Afar
Way Of The Warrior
Two Of Spades
LAI LAI HEI
Iron
Ensiferum
