Ensiferum's second album "Iron" is in stores now. However, there is no album releasing in some countries so if you cannot find the album, ask it from the distributor or your local record dealer.

Ensiferum hasn't yet found a new singer-guitarist, but Petri Lindroos (Norther) has been negotiating with the band if he'd stay as a regular member in the band. It is certain though that Petri is doing the Ensiferum concerts this year.

Source:	ensiferum.com
Band profile:	Ensiferum

Finnish folk-influenced melodic death metal band ENSIFERUM have uploaded several audio samples from their upcoming album, "Iron", due on April 19 through Spinefarm Records. Preview the tracks "Iron", "Tale of Revenge" and "LAI LAI HEI" at this location: http://www.ensiferum.com/e_html/e_downloads.htm

The follow-up to 2001's "Ensiferum", "Iron" was recorded last summer at Sweet Silence studios in Copenhagen, Denmark with producer Flemming Rasmussen (METALLICA, ARTILLERY).

ENSIFERUM will be embarking on a European tour with FINNTROLL beginning on April 14 in London, England.

Band profile:

Ensiferum

Finnish folk-influenced melodic death metal band ENSIFERUM have posted the cover artwork for their new single, "Tale of Revenge", at this location: http://www.ensiferum.com/Ensiferum_kuvat/disco_taleofrevenge.jpg

"Tale of Revenge" comes off the group's forthcoming album, "Iron", due on April 19 through Spinefarm Records. In addition to the title cut, the "Tale of Revenge" single features ENSIFERUM's cover version of METALLICA's "Battery".

The follow-up to 2001's "Ensiferum", "Ion" was recorded last summer at Sweet Silence studios in Copenhagen, Denmark with producer Flemming Rasmussen (METALLICA, ARTILLERY).

ENSIFERUM will be embarking on a European tour with FINNTROLL beginning on April 14 in London, England.

Band profile:

Ensiferum

ENSIFERUM hasn't yet found a replacement member/members for Jari. However a stand in has been found for the European tour. Vocals and guitars are played by NORTHER's Petri Lindroos. The release of the album "Iron" is sadly been postponed to a later date. Now the album will be released 19.4.2004. The reason for this is that the album hasn't been mastered yet! Deviating from earlier information the album is going to be mastered at Finnvox studios in Finland. On the compilation album "Spinetingler III" there's a new ENSIFERUM song "Tale of Revenge" which was completed before the other songs. Ther'll also be a single of the song "Tale of Revenge". The release date of the single is announced to be 22.3.2004.

Band profile:

Ensiferum

Finnish folk-influenced melodic death metal band ENSIFERUM have parted ways with singer/guitarist Jari Mäenpää. According to a posting on the band's official web site, "the reason why this happened is that Jari's solo project (WINTERSUN) is a priority in Jari's musical interests. If Jari had stayed in the band, ENSIFERUM had to cancel their most important (European) tour with FINNTROLL which starts in April, soon after the release of the second album. Also the other touring would have been decreased to minimal which would lead to the boredom and eventual break-up in the band."

Jari's official statement on the matter is as follows:

"I'm out of ENSIFERUM. The thing is that my and ENSIFERUM's schedules got fucked up and I couldn't be in two places at the same time.

"Here's my side of the story: I have made my own music aside of ENSIFERUM and even before I joined the band in '96. And it has always been more important thing for me. Since I am not the main songwriter in ENSIFERUM and ENSIFERUM has this one 'style' of music, I couldn't satisfy my musical needs and dreams. I'm very creative person and it was just matter of time, before I had to get my own material out inside of me.

"Last year I signed a deal with Nuclear Blast. I booked the studios last summer for March-April 2004 to record my album. I told the guys and our record company Spinefarm that I needed a break from ENSIFERUM to do my thing. (I would have probably needed a break anyway, 'cause I was very sick for months and stressed out in the ENSIFERUM's 'Iron' recordings.) Then Spinefarm booked a tour in April on top of my studio time and told me that I would have to move or cancel my studios. That wasn't possible and I wouldn't have done it anyway, if it would have been possible. Because I felt in my heart that I couldn't do anything, before I would have recorded my album, it had been boiling under for too long.

"So the rest of the guys and me had to make some difficult choices. The guys thought they wouldn't wait for me and they had to go on this tour, even without me. So they decided to try to find a replacement and kick me out of the band. I can understand their decision and I hold no grudge. I'm just sad that things had to go this way. I would have chosen both ENSIFERUM and my music, but since that wasn't possible, my choice was clear.

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Band profile:

Ensiferum

ENSIFERUM's new Album, "Iron", has been delayed until April 5th, 2004. The album is in it's mastering stage now, while the band is not pleased with the postponing of the album.

In related news, FINNTROLL site admin/keyboardist TrollhorN has commented on the upcoming European tour dates with ENSIFERUM and THE WAKE:

"These are NOT CONFIRMED IN ANY WAY. I have no idea why the Hell Metalyse have announced half-official information on their website, but from Spinefarm´s side we´ve been asked to keep our mouths shut about these gigs yet. Propably within three months one quarter has been cancelled and there are more places announced, so NOTHING IS SURE YET. This is ONLY a hint what is supposed to be coming.

And about ENSIFERUM, nothing is certain yet. I know that they have held a band- meeting about the matter yesterday, so keep on following www.ensiferum.com (The official site) to get your updates.

Although I can tell you a couple of things, which will upset some and make some people cheer: I don´t think there will be a gig in Sweden within that tour (because it´s so hard to travel there by bus) , but at least we (the Finntrolls) have been trying to get a gig into Switzerland, because we had such a great audience there. But we´ll see. It´s only December, and the tour starts in April. ANYTHING can happen, boys and girls. Anything."

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Ensiferum

ENSIFERUM, DISILLUSION, HONIGDIEB, SLEEPINGODSLIE and BUSTA HOOSTA are the latest confirmations for the Summer Breeze Festival which takes place August 19-21st in Abstgmund, Germany. Other bands confirmed for the fest are:

SIX FEET UNDER, THE DUSKFALL, VOMITORY, SODOM, TANKARD, MNEMIC, LAKE OF TEARS, GOREROTTED, FLESHCRAWL, PRIMORDIAL, U.D.O., HATESPHERE, CRIMINAL, BRAINSTORM, PARAGON, SCHANDMAUL, PSYCHOPUNCH, GODDESS OF DESIRE, MENHIR, XANDRIA, DEAD SOUL TRIBE, SALTATIO MORTIS, FRAGMENTS OF UNBECOMING, DIE HAPPY

Band profile:

Ensiferum