Q: Where is Ensiferum from?
A: Markus: We are from Helsinki, Finland

Q: How long has Ensiferum been together?
A: Markus: 10 years.

Q: How many members are in Ensiferum? Names? Instruments?
A: Markus: There are five members:

• Petri Lindroos: guitar, vocals.
• Markus Toivonen: guitar, vocals.
• Sami Hinkka: bass, vocals.
• Meiju Enho: keyboards.
• Janne Parviainen: drums.

Q: What is the age range of the band members?
A: Markus: It’s from 24 years to 32 years.

Q: What (if any) is the message behind Ensiferum’s lyrics?
A: Markus: Those are just normal fantasy stuff and some “stories”? from our former singer Jari’s life. And new lyrics will be mostly written by our bass-player Sami I guess. Let’s see what is coming out.

Q: Who are your biggest influences?
A: Markus: Amorphis and Dark Tranquillity were the biggest when I founded Ensiferum, but Iron Maiden has been my all time favourite band! I have listen also lot’s of Scandinavic and European trad. folk music.

Q: What are some of your favorite art, books (please include authors), & movies, if any?
A: Markus: I’m not specially into art (paintings and stuff like that) or books, but I like Akseli Gallen-Kallela’s paintings especially “Aino”? painting is my favourite. I haven’t read many books. Only some finnish stuff etc.. Braveheart is my favourite movie!

Q: When will Ensiferum be touring?
A: Markus: Next European tour will start on April 2006 and it’s duration is two-three weeks. Also some festival shows are confirmed for the Summer.

Q: In general, what has Ensiferum been up to lately?
A: Markus: We recorded a mini-cd “Dragonheads”? last November and we also recorded a DVD at New Years Eve / Ensiferum’s 10th anniversary concert and we have done some shows occasionally.

Q: How do you categorize Ensiferum’s sound when people say “What kind of music is it” Death, Black, Metal, What?
A: Markus: It’s really hard to explain using only one or two words so I use to call it Heroic-folk-fantasy-metal. I think it’s not death or black. There are only some small elements from those category.

Q: Any Ensiferum members from other bands, or currently working on other projects?
A: Markus: Our drummer Janne is playing also drums in Barathrum and Sinergy and some others. Our singer, guitarist Petri is a member of Norther.

Q: Any plans for the next CD yet, or are you still working on supporting the current release?
A: Markus: We have new riffs, melodies, lyrics and some almost done songs already, but we have a lot to do before entering the studio.

Q: Besides Ensiferum, what are the various band members into when not, touring, rehearsing, recording music?
A: Markus: Meiju And Sami are studying and I’m working at Spinefarm Records.

Q: What is your opinion on the current state of the world?
(terror, the war in Iraq, and so on…)
A: Markus: Current state is shitty, but it has been shitty for a long time. That’s all about politics

Q: Anything I left out that you want to say?
A: Markus: Stay Folk – Metal! J

Be sure to visit Ensiferum’s official website