Finnish folk metal merchants ENSIFERUM will return to North America as headliners of the fourth edition of Paganfest! The ceremonies will commence tomorrow in Denver and plunder through 21 cities with an included evening of pillaging at this the fifteenth addition of the New England Metal & Hardcore Fest in Worcester, Massachusetts. Among the strongest Paganfest lineups assembled thus far, support will be provided by Týr, Heidevolk, Trollfest and Helsott.
Comments the band: “Only one day to go before the most anticipated tour of the year begins! Needless to say, we are really pumped for this one because it's been way too long since we raised pints with our North American brothers and sisters. With such a great lineup, Paganfest will take no prisoners and leave no heroes unsung. So, fellow sword bearers, are you with us?! See you all on the road!”
ENSIFERUM: Paganfest America IV
w/ Týr, Heidevolk, Trollfest, Helsott
w/ Týr, Heidevolk, Trollfest, Helsott
3/30/2013 The Summit – Denver, CO
4/01/2013 901 Live – Tempe, AZ
4/02/2013 House Of Blues – West Hollywood, CA
4/03/2013 DNA Lounge – San Francisco, CA
4/04/2013 The Alley – Reno, NV
4/05/2013 Hawthorne – Portland, OR
4/06/2013 Studio Seven – Seattle, WA
4/07/2013 Rickshaw Theatre – Vancouver, BC
4/09/2013 Starlite Room – Edmonton, AB
4/10/2013 The Exchange – Regina, SK
4/11/2013 Zoo Cabaret – Winnipeg, MB
4/12/2013 Station 4 – Saint Paul, MN
4/13/2013 Reggie’s – Chicago, IL
4/14/2013 Al Rosa Villa – Columbus, OH
4/15/2013 Soundstage – Baltimore, MD
4/16/2013 The Note – Philadelphia, PA
4/17/2013 Opera House – Toronto, ON
4/18/2013 Metropolis – Montreal, QC
4/19/2013 The Chance – Poughkeepsie, NY
4/20/2013 The Palladium – Worcester, MA (New England Metal & Hardcore Fest)
4/21/2013 Gramercy Theatre – New York, NY
ENSIFERUM will be touring in support of their mammoth Unsung Heroes full-length released in North America last Fall via Spinefarm Records U.S. Produced by Hiili Hiilesmaa (HIM, Sentenced, Apocalyptica), with special guest appearances by members of Die Apokalyptischen Reiter and legendary Finnish singer/actor Vesa-Matti Loiri, Unsung Heroes continues to earn praise from critics and fans domestically and abroad. “…Mount the longboats, light the torches, and prepare for battle,” warns Metal Injection, while Outburn gushes, “Unsung Heroes is a totally solid entry into the hallowed halls of Valhalla made by a band that knows what it’s doing,” commending its “epic scope and reliance on catchy melodies.” Stereokiller boasts, “This is nothing short of amazing, beautiful in every way possible.” Elaborates Blistering in an 8/10 rating: “ENSIFERUM weren’t necessarily the first band out of the epic/folk gate, but they’re probably the best… One jaunt through 2009’s thoroughly captivating From Afar supports that notion, as the Finns were able to brandish a mighty sonic sword that kept the speed on 10, the jovial acoustics ‘a hustling, and above all else, managed to bring a sort of mild sophistication to a style that is usually anything but. Essentially, ENSIFERUM doesn’t play the stupid, folk metal game, and on Unsung Heroes, they manage to stay the course with sterling results.”
View the band’s video for “In My Sword I Trust” below. The epic clip was shot late last year in Wrocklaw, Poland and directed by Rafal Szermanowicz of Grupa#13.
Noted ENSIFERUM bassist Sami Hinka: “The ‘In My Sword I Trust’ shoot took place in really nice medieval castle and it went really well even though it rained pretty much the whole time. It was great to work with such a professional team and we were lucky to get such great actors to help us out. The video tells about how ordinary town people rise up to rebel against a greedy and cruel king and the upper class. There are swords, corpses and drinking; pretty much all you need for a great video! Folk on!”
