Week 52 (FINAL): Ensiferum - The Longest Journey (Heathen Throne Part II)

Here we are, the very last post for Monday Metal Treasures. I've taken a lot of time to write up everything for all 52 weeks of the year. This may have not brought tons of traffic to me but I've sure as hell been happy with expressing my thoughts on the 52 different artists that were featured here. Most of them may have been key metal artists but I threw in some surprises and even if you've heard a lot from heavy metal, hopefully you found at least something here. Since Monday Metal Treasures wasn't a huge success and I found my newer gaming rants to be commented on more, I feel it's not really worth the effort to do a second round and be happy enough with what I've done throughout 2011. Expect more full-length reviews whether they be metal classics, new releases or finding something obscure and give that some light whether it be good or bad.

The artist: Finishing off the grand finale month as well as the whole of Monday Metal Treasures, we have the folk metal band Ensiferum from Finland. With a few albums alone, Ensiferum have put themselves at the top of the game for folk metal. Their style of music is typically mixed with melodic death metal and coming from someone who's not all that fussed about that particular subgenre, these guys (and girls) are a prime quality metal band. Whether they had the Wintersun mastermind Jari Mäenpää for the first two releases or ex-Norther guitarist/vocalist Petri Lindroos taking over Jari, Ensiferum's music has been nothing short of great. Once all the legendary metal acts from the 70s/80s have left us, this is one band that undoubtedly deserves to fill up those huge venues all around the world.

The album: From Afar is Ensiferum's most recent album that makes the ultimate step to put all doubts anyone had after Jari left at rest. While Victory Songs was another great album from Ensiferum, From Afar surpasses everything they did and even goes on par with Wintersun's debut album. Ensiferum take a further step by incorporating symphonic metal elements to their music and the orchestral characteristics justify the term epic for this record. Not only that, this band makes the most adventurous journey with two 10+ minute tracks both relating to each other. As a little bonus, Stone Cold Metal goes out of its way to take a Western route that manages to include a banjo solo. This is no joke, there is banjo in our heavy metal here. Still not convinced From Afar is one album to pick? Let's see if the featured song can convince you.

The song: The Longest Journey (Heathen Throne Part II) is the final track to end off From Afar. Ensiferum step up their game here with the slow-ish introduction which allows them to intensify the song halfway through to catch even more attention. Whilst building the way up there, the song takes an outstanding break with the marching drums and flutes/recorders. Turning back to the metal force, the clean vocals from Markus Toivonen and Sami Hinkka and with only one verse of that, the quest only becomes immense from the third verse and this is where the heroic feel comes in and appropriately so. This is the quest where only the strongest and bravest succeed and this song follows the true hero.

After the final verse of the song, the band relaxes and makes way for the orchestra/guitar co-operation for the 4 minute finale. While it could have been a minute shorter, it's hard to deny the great atmosphere this part provides. This feels like the hero's return to his homeland after his toughest quest yet and for these reasons, this is no doubt one of the greatest heavy metal songs that exceed 10 minutes joining the same leagues as Iron Maiden's The Rime of the Ancient Mariner and Helloween's Halloween and Keeper of the Seven Keys. This song must be considered a classic amongst many metal fans within ten years time.

Week 49: Sonata Arctica - The Power of One

The artist: For the last month of 2011, we'll be covering the grand finales of metal albums that exceed the 10 minute mark and there is no better way to conclude Monday Metal Treasures than to cover the magnificent album closers. Starting off, we have Sonata Arctica. These guys are one of the most notable power metal bands out there who started in 1996. They quickly rose into popularity amongst the power metal world and the lead singer Tony Kakko has found himself appearing in various other bands including Van Canto, Epica and even Stratovarius! Sonata Arctica have offered several great albums. Even the weakest efforts that are Unia and The Days of Grays still have their moments. However, if they want to climb up the ladder even further, they will need to offer something that's a huge step up from the said albums.

The album: Silence is Sonata Arctica's second album that offers many tracks. There's a total of 15 unique songs including the bonus track. Silence comes with many great songs from them such as Weballergy and The End of This Chapter. San Sebastian (Revisited) and Wolf & Raven are what should be considered essentials from them, despite them not even playing any songs from this album at the show in Manchester back in March. The record isn't perfect, though since there could have been a track or two cut off to give the album an even better flow. There is one too many ballads here but if you can get over that, you've got yourself a great power metal album.

The song: The Power of One starts off with sounds of rain and then the keyboards adding a little extra to the moody weather. Jani Liimatainen plays an acoustic guitar that stands out well but it's not long until the lyrics begin and Tony Kakko makes his introduction. The song goes through a few changes throughout the time. Also from Jani comes some impressive riffs and leads that are heard within only three minutes in. Halfway through is where the song settles down and shows some emotional voices from Tony with some unsettling keyboards. The band picks off again showing some keyboard solos and then even more powerful singing skills from Tony. If you have any doubts about this man, let them rest right here as he puts the verses up a few notches. Even the rest of the band have to keep up with him and they only rest once the song makes the grand finale.

Tony makes one more impressive show with his multilayer of vocals and show what he can do with his one voice. The song's lyrics are about Adam and Eve's songs Cain and Abel and while it's based on a religious story, what was taken from the bible can turn into a mighty story from a mere song. Overall, The Power of One stands as one of the finest Sonata Arctica songs ever made. With many changes throughout 10 minutes of this song and showing some great vocal capabilities of Tony Kakko, this song should be essential for their live shows.

Week 12: Stratovarius - Twilight Symphony

The artist: Stratovarius are another key European power metal band. Their style of music has been templated with many power metal bands in the world, even though not too many of them stick out that well. The band's musical characteristics weren't fully established until Fourth Dimension when Timo Kotipelto joined the band after Timo Tolkki stepped down from singing for the band. With Koltipelto on vocals and Tolkki focusing 100% on guitar, the band seemed unstoppable with releases such as Episode, Visions and Destiny.

However, things didn't go well for the band in the 00s when Tolkki had a mental breakdown and almost causing an end to a band. His recovery only resulted in the awful self-titled album and then left a few years later to focus on his then-new band Revolution Renaissance which splitted up two years later for being a commercial failure. When Tolkki was done with Stratovarius, the rest of the band members insisting on continuing even without Tolkki and found Matias Kupiainen to become Stratovarius' new guitarist. He's proven to be a worthy addition to the band as well as a needed replacement for Tolkki. Stratovarius as whole have gotten back on track with their music after the departure of Timo Tolkki.

The album: As stated already Fourth Dimension is the first Stratovarius album with Timo Koltipelto on vocals released in 1995. This album takes a lighter approach after the very dark atmosphere of Dreamspace. Fourth Dimension contains some of Stratovarius' popular live set tracks (i.e. Against the Wind and Distant Skies) but the rest of the album is easily overlooked, even the neoclassical instrumental named, well, Stratovarius. Other great tracks in the album include the epic We Hold the Key and Twilight Symphony and the speed metal number Lord of the Wasteland. The only song that sticks out like a sore thumb is 030366 which is about computers and viruses. It's out of place both lyrically and musically but the rest of the album is still worth checking out.

The song: Twilight Symphony is the last song in Fourth Dimension besides the instrumental closure. This song is introduced with a symphonic metal intro and then kicks in with Koltipelto on vocals. This 7 minute long masterpiece actually has a few different sections and only repeats the chorus just once. The second half suddenly starts with a kickass violin solo that isn't expected during the first listening but shortly makes its way for some solomania and this right here shows Tolkki at his finest with his guitar solos which will make anyone depressed at how someone who could perform amazing solos on his guitar turning into a lunatic almost a decade later.

The song's lyrics are what should be defined as a twilight setting and the last verse gives it a very depressing feeling. It's not on the depression level as Dreamspace but the sadness is easily justified with the beautiful outro provided with a flute and a slow guitar solo. Orchestral elements weren't typical for Stratovarius then but the direction they took with this song was well worth it. Overall, Twilight Symphony is an epic phenomenon that shouldn't be underestimated for its unique structure for Stratovarius.