Band Origin: Finland
Genre: Epic Folk Metal
Release Date: 2017
Album downloads only available to members
Album Info / Review
By the time Two Paths arrived in 2017, Ensiferum had reached an interesting crossroads. Folk metal’s massive mid-2000s boom had receded, leaving behind a scene that either had to double down on hyper-polished symphonics or return to a rawer, analog foundation.
Ensiferum chose a mix of both, but with a twist: they recorded the entire album directly to analog tape rather than using digital Pro Tools manipulation. Visually wrapped in a striking green cover featuring a massive stone deity under the northern lights, the album reflects its title structurally, even offering alternative versions of key songs depending on which vocal style you prefer.
The Album: A Tale of Two Styles
The analog recording technique gives Two Paths an earthy, dynamic warmth that had been missing from the genre for years. It isn’t perfectly quantized or over-edited; it sounds like five people playing together in a room.
The biggest lineup shift here was the prominent introduction of Netta Skog, whose digital accordion took center stage, replacing the symphonic keyboard backing tracks with a bouncy, energetic folk drive that polarized parts of the fanbase.
The Sonic Trails
The Analog Warmth: Because it was recorded to tape, the drums have a natural boom, and the bass sits thick in the mix. The guitars have a rounder, softer edge that feels reminiscent of 90s heavy metal rather than modern, clinical death metal.
The Vocal Experimentation: The band embraced a heavy “democracy” in the vocal department. Petri Lindroos’ harsh growls share equal billing with Markus Toivonen’s clean power-metal belts and Sami Hinkka’s punkish shouts.
The Humppa Hedonism: Skog’s accordion work pushes several tracks directly into the realm of traditional Finnish party music—fast, rhythmic, and unashamedly upbeat.
The Key Tracks
“For Those About to Fight for Metal”: An absolute monster of an opener. Ignoring the slightly cheesy title, it’s a brilliant, driving power-metal anthem that builds from a majestic twin-guitar melody into a frantic gallop. The mid-song classical breakdown is classic Ensiferum.
“Way of the Warrior”: A short, sharp, radio-ready folk metal track. It moves at hyper-speed, driven by a bouncing rhythm and an incredibly catchy chant-along chorus that seems tailor-made for live festivals.
“Two Paths”: The title track serves as the conceptual anchor. It balances an aggressive black-metal-infused verse with a soaring, heroic clean chorus. The band actually included two versions of this track on the album—one featuring Petri’s harsh vocals on the verses, and another highlighting Markus’ cleans.
“King of Storms”: A furious callback to their early days. This is the fastest song on the record, leaning heavily on melodic black metal blast beats and blistering guitar leads that cut through the analog warmth like a lightning bolt.
“Feast with Valkyries”: A total departure, featuring Netta Skog taking lead vocal duties. It feels like an ancient folk ballad mutated into a mid-tempo metal march, leaning heavily on its melodic dance hooks.
The Review: A Flawed But Earnest Expedition
Two Paths is an incredibly fascinating entry in the Ensiferum catalog. It lacks the cohesive, monolithic perfection of From Afar, but it makes up for it with a raw, loose energy that feels completely refreshing.
The Production:
The choice to record to tape was a massive gamble by producer Anssi Kippo. For the most part, it pays off. The rhythm section sounds immense, and the organic vibe gives the folk instruments room to breathe. However, listeners accustomed to the hyper-compressed, punchy wall-of-sound of modern metal might find the mix a bit quiet or lacking a certain modern “bite” on the guitar tracks.
The Verdict:
Is it perfect? No. The album suffers from a slight identity crisis—it jumps from grim, icy black metal to jaunty, accordion-led folk-pop so quickly it can give you whiplash. Tracks like “God Is Dead” lean a bit too far into campy punk-rock territory, which dampens the epic atmosphere the band usually commands.
Yet, Two Paths succeeds because it feels human. It is the sound of a veteran band stepping out of the digital comfort zone, turning off the computers, and just letting their instruments roar. It’s an honest, highly entertaining record that shows a band willing to stumble in pursuit of a more authentic sound.
Final Thought: It isn’t their grandest epic, but it might be their most honest. It’s a record meant to be experienced like an old-school vinyl—flaws, warmth, and all.
