Ensiferum "Unsung Heroes (Finland, Spinefarm Records, SPINE70646/23706462)"

Unsung Heroes is the fifth studio album by Finnish folk metal band Ensiferum. It was released on 27 August 2012 through Spinefarm Records.

In February 2012, the band entered the studio and started recordings for the then untitled album. The band also announced on their Facebook page they would keep their fans up to date on their Mobile Twilight Tavern and with a weekly studio diary on Spinefarm's YouTube channel. The album would also include guest appearances by members of Die Apokalyptischen Reiter and the Finnish singer and actor Vesa-Matti Loiri. In late March, the band was in the final stages of the recordings for the album and completed recordings in early April.

In May, the band revealed the title for the album, Unsung Heroes and announced its release date, 27 August 2012. The album would also be released through Spinefarm Records. Then in late June the band unveiled the album cover artwork, again designed by Kristian Wahlin. On 9 July they posted on their Facebook page a YouTube video with Burning Leaves, one of their new songs on the album.

On 17 July the band posted a link with the making of their new video clip for In My Sword I Trust, also a new song to be featured on the album. The video was shot in Wrocław, Poland by Grupa 13 who were also recruited for the recent video clips of other notable bands like Amon Amarth and Behemoth. The actual video was uploaded on 8 August on Spinefarm's YouTube channel, which reached over a hundred thousand views within the first week.

Tracklist:

1. Symbols 01:51   
2. In My Sword I Trust 05:20   
3. Unsung Heroes 05:55   
4. Burning Leaves 06:03
5. Celestial Bond 04:15  
6. Retribution Shall Be Mine 04:27  
7. Star Queen (Celestial Bond Part II) 05:55   
8. Pohjola 06:05  
9. Last Breath 04:29
10. Passion, Proof, Power 17:00

Time:  01:01:20  

Official Music Video:

- In My Sword I Trust

Release dates:

24th August: Germany & Finland.

27th August: UK.

Video for "In My Sword I Trust" was made.

Recording information:

Recorded at Petrax, Sound Supreme, Hämeenlinna, Finland and Yellow House studios February-April 2012.

Mixed at Yellow House studios from April-May 2012.

Kristian Wåhlin - album artwork

Hiili Hiilesmaa - production, engineering and mixing

Majestic Choir:

Tuomas Nieminen, Petteri Lehikoinen, Tapio Kuosma, Mikko P. Mustonen, Tanja Varha, Bianca Hösli, Heidi Parviainen.

Infernal March Battalion:

Miska Engström, Hiili Hiilesmaa, Markus Toivonen, Janne Parviainen.

Ensiferum "From Afar (Russia, Fono Ltd., FO791CD)"

Ensiferum (Latin: ensiferum, n adj., meaning "sword bearing") is a Finnish folk metal band from Helsinki. The members of the band label themselves as "melodic folk metal". The group has released nine studio albums.

From Afar is the fourth studio album by Finnish folk metal band Ensiferum, released on 9 September 2009 on Spinefarm Records. It is the band's first album to feature keyboardist Emmi Silvennoinen. The album was produced by Nightwish producer Tero Kinnunen and Victory Songs producer Janne Joutsenniemi. It was mixed by HIM producer Hiili Hiilesmaa. The limited edition of the album includes a cover of Swedish folk rock group Nordman.

Tracklist:

1. By the Dividing Stream 03:50
2. From Afar 04:51
3. Twilight Tavern 05:38
4. Heathen Throne 11:09  
5. Elusive Reaches 03:26   
6. Stone Cold Metal 07:25
7. Smoking Ruins 06:40  
8. Tumman virran taa 00:52
9. The Longest Journey (Heathen Throne Part II) 12:49   

Time:  56:40  

Licensed from Spinefarm Records.

In English, "Tumman Virran Taa" means "Behind the Dark Stream".

A music video was made for "From Afar".

Recording information:

Recorded at Petrax and E-Major Studios in April-May 2009.

Mixed at Coalhole Studio in June 2009.

Mastered at Chartmakers in June 2009.

Tero Kinnunen – production

Janne Joutsenniemi – production

Hiili Hiilesmaa – mixing

Kai Hahto – drum tech

Elvenking "The Winter Wake (Enhanced CD, USA, Candlelight Records USA, CDL0299CD)"

Winter Wake es el tercer album de la banda italiana de Folk/Power Metal Elvenking, publicado el 17 de enero de 2006.

Extendiendo el contrato con la discográfica AFM Records, a lo largo del 2005 la banda trabaja en el nuevo álbum. El tercer álbum fue grabado en Italia y mezclado en Finlandia con Nino Laurenne guitarrista de Thunderstone, quien colaboró en la realización de la próximo entrega de la banda. Lanzado en enero de 2006, presentando algunos de los grandes éxitos del grupo, incluyendo Trows Kind, Swallowtail, The Wanderer, Rats Are Following, Neverending Nights y la canción que da título al álbum The Winter Wake, que cuenta con la colaboración de Schmier, líder y bajista de Destruction.

El tour telonero de Winter Wake marcó un crecimiento significativo en el éxito de la banda en Europa, con festivales como Scaligero, Tradate Iron Fest, Dong Open Air (con Finntroll y Skyclad), Rock Hard Festival y participación en Pestpop Festival con Saxon y Epica. La banda también es contratada como acto de apertura para las giras europeas de Jon Oliva's Pain, Doro y Sonata Arctica.

Tracklist:

1. Trows Kind 05:57  
2. Swallowtail 04:26  
3. The Winter Wake 04:19   
4. The Wanderer 04:54  
5. March of Fools 05:46
6. On the Morning Dew 03:30
7. Devil's Carriage 04:04   
8. Rats Are Following 04:37   
9. Rouse Your Dream 04:48
10. Neverending Nights 07:01
11. Disillusion's Reel 02:19  
12. Penny Dreadful (Skyclad cover) 03:15   

Time:  54:56

Manufactured in USA under license from AFM Records.

Multimedia bonus: "studio making of" video documentary.

Recording information:

Recorded and engineered at Sherpa studios, Italy.

Mixed at Sonic Pump Studios, Helsinki, Finland.

Mastered at Finnvox, Helsinki, Finland.

Elvenking "Heathenreel (Germany, AFM Records, Germany, AFM CD 047-2)"

Elvenking es una banda italiana de Folk/Power Metal, fundada en 1997 en Sacile, Friuli-Venecia Julia.

La banda fue formada en 1997 por los guitarristas Aydan y Jarpen. En 1998, el cantante Damnagoras y el baterista Zender se unieron a la banda. A comienzos la banda tocaba una combinación de heavy metal y folk metal, acompañados con sonidos extremos. En 2000, la banda publicó su primer trabajo, el demo To Oak Woods Bestowed, grabado en New Sin Studios de Loria. El demo es un éxito y la banda firmó un contrato con la discográfica alemán AFM Records. En 2000, el bajista Gorlan se une a la banda.

Su primer álbum, Heathenreel fue grabado en los estudios New Sin Audio Design por Luigi Stefanini y mezclado en los Estudios Fredman por Fredrik Nordstrom. Travis Smith se encargó de la portada, y el logo del grupo corrió a cargo de J.P. Fournier, conocido por sus trabajos para Avantasia e Immortal. El disco salió el 23 de julio de 2001, y fue halagado por la crítica de todo el mundo. Elvenking empezó a tocar en festivales con grupos como Blind Guardian, Gamma Ray, Edguy o Virgin Steele.

Tracklist:

1. To Oak Woods Bestowed 00:46
2. Pagan Purity 04:35  
3. The Dweller of Rhymes 04:48   
4. The Regality Dance 05:46  
5. White Willow 05:59  
6. Skywards 05:32  
7. Oakenshield 06:37
8. Hobs an' Feathers 02:27   
9. Conjuring of the 14th 06:37
10. A Dreadful Strain 04:14
11. Seasonspeech 07:39

Time:  55:00  

The Japanese version bonus track "Penny Dreadful" (Skyclad cover) (03:13).

Tracks 1, 5 and 7 are re-recordings of songs from the band's "To Oak Woods Bestowed" demo.

Recording information:

Recorded and engineered at New Sin Audio Design, Loria (Italy) during the cold month of February 2001.

Mixed at Studio Fredman, Gothenburg (Sweden), March 2001.

Mastered at the Mastering Room, Gothenburg (Sweden), March 2001.