From Afar (album)

From Afar
Studio album by Ensiferum
Released	9 September 2009
Recorded	April – May 2009 at Petrax and E-Major studios
Genre	Folk metal, melodic death metal, power metal
Length	56:43
Label	Spinefarm
Producer	Tero Kinnunen Janne Joutsenniemi Hiili Hiilesmaa
Ensiferum chronology
Victory Songs (2007) From Afar (2009) Unsung Heroes (2012)
Singles from From Afar
"From Afar" Released: 6 August 2009 "Stone Cold Metal" Released: 8 September 2010

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.[1][2]

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
About.com	[3]
Metal Review	9.2/10[4]
Sputnikmusic	[5]

Track listing

No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Length
1.	"By the Dividing Stream"		Markus Toivonen	3:50
2.	"From Afar"	Sami Hinkka	Markus Toivonen, Sami Hinkka	4:51
3.	"Twilight Tavern"	Sami Hinkka	Markus Toivonen, Sami Hinkka	5:38
4.	"Heathen Throne"	Sami Hinkka	Markus Toivonen	11:09
5.	"Elusive Reaches"	Sami Hinkka, Petri Lindroos	Petri Lindroos, Markus Toivonen	3:26
6.	"Stone Cold Metal"	Sami Hinkka	Markus Toivonen, Sami Hinkka	7:25
7.	"Smoking Ruins"	Sami Hinkka	Markus Toivonen	6:40
8.	"Tumman virran taa"	Sami Hinkka	Sami Hinkka	0:52
9.	"The Longest Journey (Heathen Throne Part II)"	Sami Hinkka	Markus Toivonen, Sami Hinkka	12:52
Total length:				56:43

Limited Edition bonus track

No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Length
10.	"Vandraren" (Nordman cover, feat. Heri Joensen)	Py Bäckman, H. Bäckman	Mats Wester	3:41
Total length:				60:24

Charts

Chart (2009)	Peak position
Finnish Albums Chart	9[6]

Personnel

Band members

• Petri Lindroos – harsh vocals, guitars
• Markus Toivonen – guitars, acoustic guitar, clean and backing vocals, banjo
• Sami Hinkka – bass, clean and backing vocals
• Janne Parviainen – drums
• Emmi Silvennoinen – keyboards, hammond, backing vocals

Guest members

• Heri Joensen (Týr) - lead vocals (on "Vandraren")
• Kaisa Saari - female vocals (on "Twilight Tavern")
• Timo Väänänen - kantele
• Tobias Tåg - flute, tin whistles, recorder
• Olli Varis - mandolin, mandola
• Jenni Turku - recorder
• Olli Ahvenlahti - piano
• Lassi Logren - nyckelharpa
• Mikko P. Mustonen - orchestration, whistle
• Jukka-Pekka Miettinen - backing vocals

Production

• Tero Kinnunen – production
• Janne Joutsenniemi – production
• Hiili Hiilesmaa – mixing
• Kai Hahto – drum tech

References

1. "Ensiferum: new album title, track listing revealed". Blabbermouth.net. July 2, 2009. Archived from the original on July 3, 2009. Retrieved July 2, 2009.
2. "Ensiferum news". Ensiferum.com. April 22, 2009. Archived from the original on April 18, 2009. Retrieved July 2, 2009.
3. Marsicano, Dan. "From Afar review". About.com. Archived from the original on 24 March 2012. Retrieved 16 May 2010.
4. Main, Ross. "Review of Ensiferum - From Afar". Metal Review. Archived from the original on 10 September 2012. Retrieved 23 April 2012.
5. Altkula, Magnus. "Ensiferum - From Afar (album review)". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved 8 September 2009.
6. Suomen virallinen lista^[permanent dead link‍]