In this exclusive interview, Sami Hinkka of the legendary folk metal pioneers Ensiferum opens up about their captivating new album Winter Storm, its fantasy-driven concept, epic music videos, and powerful collaborations. Discover the creative journey behind one of metal’s most influential bands and their unyielding evolution in the genre.
1. Your
new album Winter Storm has a strong fantasy concept written by
Sami Hinkka. Can you tell us more about the inspiration behind the story and
how it evolved into a full album?
Actually we
had a lot of music ready while I was still going through different ideas but
none of them felt ”right” or ”good enough”. We reached the point where we
needed the lyrics and ideas for vocal arrangements before we could continue
working with the arrangements of the actual songs and the album as a whole. I
started to think that maybe I’ll reread some favourite book of mine and make a
theme album about it but then it hit me that maybe I could use a small part of
my unpublished fantasy book as the lyrical theme. I told others about
this idea and they liked it. After that it was quite easy to write the lyrics
and come up with arrangements for the lyircs and songs.
2. The
latest video for Victorious is an epic continuation of the
story from The Howl. How did you approach bringing this part of the
story to life visually?
Actually
all four videos are linked to each other. I’m very happy that Metal Blade
agreed to do so many videos because now one can watch them in a row like a
short movie and get quite good idea of the fraction of the bigger story of the
book.
3. This
album features guest appearances from musicians like Lassi Logrén and Mikko
Mustonen, as well as Eleine’s Madeleine Liljestam. How did these collaborations
come about, and what did they bring to the sound of Winter Storm?
We have
worked with Mikko and Lassi for years and they have been adding their magic on
many Ensiferum album.
We met
Madeleine on a tour back in 2023 at the point when we were sure that we need
female vocals for ”Scars In My Hearts” but we hadn’t found the perfect singer.
And then we heard her sing and everyone in the band was like ”That’s the voice
we need for the aong!”. Lucky us, she liked the demo we played to her and she
absolutely nailed the song in the studio. I hope one day we can play the song
live with her.
4. Your
music blends folk elements with aggressive metal riffing. How has your approach
to this fusion evolved over the years, and did you try anything new on Winter
Storm?
I think
those are the corner stones of Ensiferum’s music, folk and metal. This
kind of music resonates in our souls so it kinda comes out naturally. Of course
on every album a band feels like they are taking new bold steps to new
direction but for a casual listener, it propably sounds all the same. Hah!
5. The Folkfest
Of The North tour with Korpiklaani, Trollfest, and Nini is kicking off
soon. What can fans expect from these shows, and how do you feel about sharing
the stage with these bands?
Sorry for
the late reply! Yes, we’ve been on the tour now for a week and it’s going super
well! Sold out shows, amazing crowds and we’ve known all bands for years so
it’s like a holiday with friends.
6. Ensiferum has
been a dominant force in folk metal for decades. Looking back on your journey,
what do you think has been the key to your longevity and continued evolution?
Keeping
true to composing music that, first of all, we love to do. Of course it’s
obvious that we’ll never play stadiums but at least we ”did it our way”.
7. The
album was produced by Janne Joutsenniemi and mixed/mastered by Jens Bogren—both
known for their high-quality work. What was it like working with them, and how
did they influence the final sound of Winter Storm?
We worked
with Janne Joutseniemi for the first time on ”Victory Songs” album and he
recorded and Jens Bogren mixed also our previous album ”Thalassic” so it was
easy to continue with these guys.
8. Your
music often tells stories of battles, mythology, and perseverance. Do you see
these themes as purely fantasy, or do they also reflect personal or real-world
struggles?
I can get
inspiration from real life, movies, books… But Ensiferum has always
been more like this heroic fantasy based band and I really the challenge to
transform my original ideas in this Ensiferum -universe.
9. You
have a loyal global fanbase. How does fan feedback influence your songwriting
or live performances, and are there any particular fan interactions that have
stuck with you?
Nothing
outside the band interferes the songwriting. That’s sacred. We have the
craziest and simple the best fans. They give us so much energy on shows and
it’s always fun to talk with people around the world.
10. With Winter
Storm out and Folkfest Of The North about to begin,
what’s next for Ensiferum? Are there any other plans in the works for
2025?
2025 and
2026 are quite fully booked so the future looks bright. After the North America
tour we’ll start to work with the album number ten. No rest for the
wicked!
Ensiferum (@ensiferummetal) • Instagram photos and videos
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