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]

From Afar
Studio album by
Released9 September 2009
RecordedApril – May 2009 at Petrax and E-Major studios
GenreFolk metal, melodic death metal, power metal
Length56:43
LabelSpinefarm
ProducerTero Kinnunen
Janne Joutsenniemi
Hiili Hiilesmaa
Ensiferum chronology
Victory Songs
(2007)
From Afar
(2009)
Unsung Heroes
(2012)
Singles from From Afar
  1. "From Afar"
    Released: 6 August 2009
  2. "Stone Cold Metal"
    Released: 8 September 2010
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
About.com[3]
Metal Review9.2/10[4]
Sputnikmusic[5]

Track listing

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No.TitleLyricsMusicLength
1."By the Dividing Stream" Markus Toivonen3:50
2."From Afar"Sami HinkkaMarkus Toivonen, Sami Hinkka4:51
3."Twilight Tavern"Sami HinkkaMarkus Toivonen, Sami Hinkka5:38
4."Heathen Throne"Sami HinkkaMarkus Toivonen11:09
5."Elusive Reaches"Sami Hinkka, Petri LindroosPetri Lindroos, Markus Toivonen3:26
6."Stone Cold Metal"Sami HinkkaMarkus Toivonen, Sami Hinkka7:25
7."Smoking Ruins"Sami HinkkaMarkus Toivonen6:40
8."Tumman virran taa"Sami HinkkaSami Hinkka0:52
9."The Longest Journey (Heathen Throne Part II)"Sami HinkkaMarkus Toivonen, Sami Hinkka12:52
Total length:56:43
Limited Edition bonus track
No.TitleLyricsMusicLength
10."Vandraren" (Nordman cover, feat. Heri Joensen)Py Bäckman, H. BäckmanMats Wester3:41
Total length:60:24

Charts

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

Personnel

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Band members

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Guest members

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  • 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

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References

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  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]