Almost three years after their previous release “Two Paths”, Ensiferum have hit the target with the addition of the new member Pekka Montin (synth, clean vocals) and a music return to “their roots”, but in a more melodic way. In the case of the new member Pekka they have totally hit the jackpot, as Pekka’s voice is amazing and fits the band perfectly… he seems to have been with the band forever and his performances are simply stunning. Just listen to the astounding “One with the Sea” and you will get my point right away.
Certainly the folk elements are there and are blending nicely with the metal ones… even with the heavy – extreme ones, as they always have. But this time, the melodic parts are more grandiose than before, and totally captivating in every aspect. Apart from the folk metal tracks, which offer a funny/cheerful characteristic to the album, along come songs like the heavy folksy “Andromeda”, the metallic “The Defence of the Sampo”, the extreme power metal “Run from the Crushing Tide”, the grandiose “For Sirens”, the melodious “One With the Sea” and the epic “Cold Northland (Väinämöinen, Pt. 3)” that take the whole album music to a higher level. The band worked once again with producer Janne Joutsenniemi (Entwine, Stam1na, Tracedawn, etc.), while the mixing & mastering was done by the well-known Jens Bogren (Amorphis, Amon Amarth, Dimmu Borgir, etc.). Needless to say, the album’s production is superb on the whole.
Ensiferum have hit new highs with “Thalassic”! This album is not only one of the best albums of 2020, but it should be regarded as one of the band’s top releases so far. Wanna know why? Just give it a listen and you will see… so simple. If you’re an Ensiferum fan you will fancy this album to the fullest… if you’re not, do give it a go and it’s quite possible to become one, after a couple of spins…
