Thalassic is the eighth studio album by Finnish folk metal band Ensiferum. It was released on 10 July 2020 through Metal Blade Records.[11] It is the first Ensiferum album to feature new keyboardist and clean vocalist Pekka Montin, who joined the band in February 2020.[12]

Thalassic
Studio album by
Released10 July 2020
RecordedJanuary – February 2020
Studio
GenreFolk metal, melodic death metal, viking metal, power metal
Length43:46
LabelMetal Blade
ProducerJanne Joutsenniemi
Ensiferum chronology
Two Paths
(2017)
Thalassic
(2020)
Winter Storm
(2024)
Singles from Thalassic
  1. "Rum, Women, Victory"
    Released: 7 May 2020[1]
  2. "Andromeda"
    Released: 17 June 2020[2]
  3. "For Sirens"
    Released: 15 July 2020[3]
  4. "Run from the Crushing Tide"
    Released: 8 September 2020[4]
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
BangerTV[5]
Blabbermouth.net8.5/10[6]
Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles8/10[7]
Exclaim!8/10[8]
KNAC4/5[9]
Metal Hammer[10]

The album's title "thalassic" (which is derived from both French and Ancient Greek) means "of or relating to seas", which pertains to the theme of the album's lyrics.[13]

Track listing

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All lyrics are written by Sami Hinkka, except where noted

No.TitleMusicLength
1."Seafarer's Dream" (instrumental)
  • Hinkka
  • Mikko P. Mustonen
3:01
2."Rum, Women, Victory"4:16
3."Andromeda"
  • Hinkka
  • Toivonen
  • Ensiferum
4:04
4."The Defence of the Sampo"
  • Toivonen
  • Ensiferum
4:50
5."Run from the Crushing Tide"
  • Toivonen
  • Ensiferum
4:22
6."For Sirens"
  • Hinkka
  • Toivonen
  • Ensiferum
4:40
7."One with the Sea"
  • Toivonen
  • Ensiferum
6:10
8."Midsummer Magic"
  • Hinkka
  • Ensiferum
3:42
9."Cold Northland (Väinämöinen Part III)"
  • Toivonen
  • Ensiferum
8:41
Total length:43:46
Digipak bonus tracks
No.TitleLyricsMusicLength
10."Merille lähtevä"trad.
  • Hinkka
  • Toivonen
  • Ensiferum
3:47
11."I'll Stay by Your Side" (The Lollipops cover)
  • Lundgreen Torben
  • Lundgreen Jørgen
  • Torben
  • Jørgen
2:49
Total length:50:22
Japanese bonus track[14]
No.TitleMusicLength
12."Rum, Women, Victory" (demo)
  • Toivonen
  • Ensiferum
4:13
Total length:54:35
Box set bonus CD
No.TitleLyricsMusicOriginal albumLength
1."Rum, Women, Victory" (demo) 
  • Toivonen
  • Ensiferum
Thalassic4:13
2."Andromeda" (demo) 
  • Hinkka
  • Toivonen
  • Ensiferum
Thalassic3:59
3."The Defence of the Sampo" (demo) 
  • Toivonen
  • Ensiferum
Thalassic3:53
4."Axe of Judgement" (demo) 
  • Toivonen
  • Ensiferum
One Man Army4:40
5."Heathen Horde" (demo)
  • Hinkka
  • trad.
  • Toivonen
  • Ensiferum
One Man Army4:14
6."One Man Army" (demo) 
  • Toivonen
  • Ensiferum
One Man Army4:28
7."Warrior Without a War" (demo) 
  • Toivonen
  • Ensiferum
One Man Army4:53
8."Cry for the Earth Bounds" (demo) 
  • Hinkka
  • Ensiferum
One Man Army7:08
9."Two of Spades" (demo) 
  • Toivonen
  • Ensiferum
One Man Army3:33
10."My Ancestors' Blood" (demo)
  • Hinkka
  • trad.
  • Toivonen
  • Ensiferum
One Man Army4:24
11."Descendants, Defiance, Domination" (demo) 
  • Toivonen
  • Ensiferum
One Man Army11:01
12."Candour and Lies" (demo) 
  • Toivonen
  • Ensiferum
One Man Army4:12
Total length:60:38

Personnel

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Band members

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Guest members

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  • Mikko P. Mustonen – orchestrations, whistles, guitars (additional acoustic), vocals (additional), programming
  • Lassi Logrén – nyckelharpa, violin
  • Janne Joutsenniemi – guitars (additional), vocals (backing)
  • Emmi Silvennoinen – keyboards, hammond organ, grand piano, clean vocals (only tracks 4–12 on bonus CD)

Production

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  • Janne Joutsenniemi – producer
  • Jens Bogren – mixing, mastering
  • Tero Kinnunen – additional recording
  • Gyula Havancsák – artwork
  • Vesa Ranta – photography

Charts

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Chart (2020) Peak
position
Hungarian Albums (MAHASZ)[15] 28

References

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  1. ^ Joe DiVita (May 7, 2020). "Ensiferum Debut Scorching New Song 'Rum, Women Victory' + Announce New Album". Loudwire. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
  2. ^ "Ensiferum's "Andromeda" Doesn't Strain to Slap". MetalSucks. June 17, 2020. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
  3. ^ "ENSIFERUM Debut "For Sirens" Lyric Video". Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles. July 15, 2020. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
  4. ^ "ENSIFERUM Premier Lyric Video for "Run From The Crushing Tide"; Thalassic Album Lands On Charts Worldwide". Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles. September 8, 2020. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  5. ^ Gowan, Dylan (July 10, 2020). "ENSIFERUM Thalassic Album Review". BangerTV. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
  6. ^ Lawson, Dom. "Ensiferum - "Thalassic"". Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved August 12, 2020.
  7. ^ Catino, Rich (July 13, 2020). "ENSIFERUM - Thalassic". Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles. Retrieved August 12, 2020.
  8. ^ Hopkins, Manus (July 9, 2020). "Ensiferum Bring Extra Vigour to Their Finnish Folk Metal on 'Thalassic'". Exclaim!. Retrieved August 12, 2020.
  9. ^ Zamudio, Francisco (August 9, 2020). "ENSIFERUM Thalassic". KNAC. Retrieved August 12, 2020.
  10. ^ Wright, Holly (July 9, 2020). "Ensiferum's Thalassic is the sound of a band still gallantly riding on the wings of folk metal". Metal Hammer. Retrieved August 12, 2020.
  11. ^ "ENSIFERUM To Release Thalassic Album In July; "Rum, Women, Victory" Lyric Video Posted". Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles. May 6, 2020. Retrieved May 6, 2020.
  12. ^ "Ensiferum - Pekka Montin Joins The Band On Keyboards And Clean Vocals". Metal Storm. February 29, 2020. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
  13. ^ "ENSIFERUM To Release 'Thalassic' Album In July". Blabbermouth.net. May 6, 2020. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
  14. ^ "「Thalassic / タラシック」 | Ward Records". ワードレコーズ | Ward Records (in Japanese). Retrieved 7 September 2020.
  15. ^ "Album Top 40 slágerlista – 2020. 29. hét" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. Retrieved 30 November 2021.