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Spinefarm expand street team plus free goodies

Posted in News with tags Alice Cooper, Ensiferum, Finland, From Afar, Hiili Hiilesmaa, Spinefarm, Spinefarm Records on 19th October 2012 by Nico Solheim-Davidson, the North Sea Poet

Our good friends over at Spinefarm Records (Home to bands such as Ensiferum, Jettblack and many more) are expanding their street team. Amongst receiving stuff like free tickets to Spinefarm gigs, meet and greet opportunities, etc aren’t enough to make you wanna join the Spinefarm street team, we’ve got some good news for you: Spinefarm will randomly select ten new sign-ups to receive the following:

Redlight King – Something For The Pain (Album)

Tarja – What Lies Beneath (Album)

Five Finger Death Punch – American Capitalist (Album)

Jettblack – Raining Rock (Album)

Ensiferum – Unsung heroes (Album)

A Spinefarm poster

Alice Cooper face paint

Of course, even if you don’t win the stuff above, when you sign up to the Spinefarm street team, you’ll still be in for a chance at free tickets to Spinefarm gigs, meet and greet sessions with your favourite Spinefarm bands and a lot more. So, to sign up, just click here. Or here. Or here.

Shining – Redefining Darkness (valkyrianmusic.com)
Shining launches new video for Tillsammans Är Vi Allt (valkyrianmusic.com)
Redlight King launch video for Bullet in My Hand (valkyrianmusic.com)
Reckless Love confirm guests for London residency shows (valkyrianmusic.com)

Ensiferum reveal album art for Unsung Heroes

Posted in News with tags Ensiferum, From Afar, Spinefarm Records on 27th June 2012 by Nico Solheim-Davidson, the North Sea Poet

Ensiferum, the highly visual troupe who’ve long been a market leader when it comes to stirring, armour-plated anthems, will have their fifth studio album released through the Spinefarm label on August 27th 2012.

Titled ‘Unsung Heroes’ and produced by Hiili Hiilesmaa (HIM, Sentenced, Apocalyptica, etc.), will be the hour-plus follow-up to 2009’s ‘From Afar’, and sees the Finnish five-piece – founded in 1995 – pushing their signature sound to bold new heights of drama and excess.

A cinematic experience from first note to last , ‘Unsung Heroes’ takes the listener on a journey of genuine light & shade, with the 16 minute-plus ‘Passion Proof Power’ showing that when it comes to the epic statement, Ensiferum are very much in the front-line, swords at the ready.

“We’ve tried to push the different aspects of what we do as far as we can,” reflects the band, “the sonic scope is wider than ever. The folk elements go further down that path and the metallic parts will absolutely rip your face off!”

Once again, album art has been supplied by Kristian Wahlin, with featured special guests including members of Apokalyptischen Reiter plus legendary Finnish singer & actor, Vesa-Matti Loiri.

A video is also currently being planned for lead track, ‘In My Sword I Trust’.

SEPTEMBER: UK / Irish dates (part of the extensive European ‘Bearers Of The Sword’ tour):-

^{18 O2 Academy, Islington, London

19 Moho, Manchester

20 Button Factory, Dublin, Ireland

21 Rescue Rooms, Nottingham}

Special guests on the tour are fellow Finns and fellow Spinefarm artists, Profane Omen.

Ensiferum set to release new album + UK Tour Dates (valkyrianmusic.com)

Ensiferum set to release new album + UK Tour Dates

Posted in News with tags Ensiferum, From Afar, Spinefarm Records on 23rd May 2012 by Nico Solheim-Davidson, the North Sea Poet

Ensierum, the highly visual troupe who’ve long been a market leader when it comes to stirring, armour-plated anthems, will have their fifth studio album released through the Spinefarm label on August 27th 2012.

Titled Unsung Heroes and produced by Hiili Hiilesmaa (HIM, Sentenced, Apocalyptica, etc.), this is the hour-plus follow-up to 2009’s ‘From Afar’, and sees the Finnish five-piece – founded in 1995 – pushing their signature sound to bold new heights of drama and excess.

Once again, album art has been supplied by Kristian Wahlin, with featured special guests including members of Apokalyptischen Reiter plus legendary Finnish singer & actor, Vesa-Matti Loiri.
Album Tracklisting:

^{01. Symbols

02. In My Sword I Trust

03. Unsung Heroes

04. Burning Leaves

05. Celestial Bond

06. Retribution Shall Be Mine

07. Star Queen (Celestial Bond part II)

08. Pohjola

09. Last Breath

10. Passion Proof Power}

A video is currently being planned for lead track, ‘In My Sword I Trust’.

SEPTEMBER: UK / Irish dates (part of the extensive European ‘Bearers Of The Sword’ tour):-

^{18 O2 Academy, Islington, London

19 Moho, Manchester

20 Button Factory, Dublin, Ireland

21 Rescue Rooms, Nottingham}

Special guests on the tour are fellow Finns and fellow Spinefarm artists, Profane Omen.

Children Of Bodom w/Special Guests @ Manchester Academy [Live Review]

Posted in Live with tags Alexi Laiho, Amon Amarth, Blooddrunk, Children of Bodom, England, Ensiferum, Follow The Reaper, From Afar, Machinae Supremacy, Manchester, Spinefarm Records, Twilight Of The Thunder God, War of the Gods on 3rd April 2011 by Nico Solheim-Davidson, the North Sea Poet

Bands: Children Of Bodom, Amon Amarth, Ensiferum, Machinae Supremacy
Location: Manchester Academy, Manchester
Date: 2nd April 2011

The atmosphere in Manchester Academy was buzzing with excitement. As far as the eye could see there were plastic horned helmets, Mjollnir pendents and band t-shirts with the occasional topless bloke. The first to band to take the stage was alternative metal quintet Machinae Supremacy. They worked their way through a five minute set which consisted of “Truth of Tomorrow”, “Force Feedback” and “Through The Looking Glass”. Despite it being such a short set, the crowd were appreciative enough. The second band to enter the four way metal foray were Finnish folk metalheads “Ensiferum”. They provided a very energetic performance beginning with “From Afar”. The crowd went wild when they began to play “Into Battle”. Ensiferum finished off their set with “Iron” and even had the crowd singing the chorus with them.

The third band to play were the main support act Amon Amarth. As they made their way on stage, the crowd went ballistic. Amon Amarth began their set with “War of the Gods” and moved onto “Runes To My Memory”. They also played “The Beast Am I”, “The Destroyer of the Universe” and “Twilight Of The Thunder God” much to the pleasure of their fans. After Amon Amarth left the stage, the crowd began chanting “Bodom, Bodom, Bodom” throughout the interval. When Bodom finally came on stage, cheers echoed throughout the Academy. They began with “Not My Funeral” followed by “Bodom Beach Terror”. Towards the end of their set they performed “Blooddrunk” and “Follow the Reaper”, those these weren’t enough to satisfy the fans who demanded an encore. Bodom happily obliged by performing “Was It Worth It?” and “Hate Crew Deathroll” as the encore.

All four bands put on brilliant performances, though the highlights of the night had to have been the charismatic and energetic performances by Amon Amarth and Children of Bodom. It was also a disappointment that Machinae Supremacy had so little time to perform. Either way, it was a brilliant night for Bodom, Amarth, MS and Ensiferum fans alike.

Nico Davidson