Melamory: What is the band doing now?

Markus: At the moment we are doing many gigs and at the side – if there's time – I am trying to write some new material.

M: Ensiferum looks like a very conceptual band. Tell us more about it, please?

Markus: Well, yes, to the extent of that it is Heroic Fantasy Folk Metal. That is all what I can say

M: How would you describe Ensiferum last album Iron to the people who never heard it?

Markus: Iron is melodic metal album that is heavily influenced by folk music. Other influences can be heard in the album too, like Morricone, like Western styles. The tracks on the album are not as easily approachable than the songs in the earlier ”Ensiferum” album, but if you listen the album few times more it helps to appreciate the album more. There is a more distinct separation between the ”Fast n' heavy stuff” and the ”beautiful and sombre” ones.

M: Why you recorded Iron in Denmark, not in Finland?

Markus: Our record label offered us the chance to try making an album with the former Metallica producer Flemming Rasmussen in his studio, so who'd turn down an offer like that?

M: What song Lai Lai Hei is about? :)

Markus: It's pretty much a ”Finland” / folk oriented song, but I don't want to reveal it's deeper meaning. Anyone can try to understand the song by themselves.:-)

M: Don't you feel strange that you recorded Iron with Jari and right after recording you had to look for a new singer?

Markus: Of course it was, but Jari just didn't have the time for Ensiferum and we still had to move on. Even if it meant without him.

M: Why Jari left the band? Why did he record his songs in Wintersun, not with Ensiferum?

Markus: He got a record deal with Nuclear Blast for his solo material and he told us that his solo career was more important than Ensiferum to him. That's why we had to let him go.

M: How happened Petri from Norther came to Ensiferum? Did you invite him, or was it his idea? How do you feel to play with him now?

Markus: We had our first significant European tour coming up (to the spring of 2004) and when Jari wasn't available to us anymore, we asked Petri to come and join our tour. Less than six months later, when he was still helping us on our gigs, we asked him, if he's wanted to continue as a steady member in our band and he said yes. He's a very nice guy and it's easy to get along with him both musically and on a personal level.

M: What are you waiting from Russian gigs?

Markus: Good and enthusiastic crowd.

M: Have you ever spoken about playing in Russia with any other Finnish bands who played here before? What did you know from them?

Markus: I've heard both good and bad from other bands. Everyone has said that the fans are really great in Russia , but other problems might had come up. Like for instance, they've been attacked or their money and instruments have been stolen, or some other misfortunate events might have occurred.

M: Ensiferum just played at Xmas Festiva ls. How was it?

Markus: The gigs in Netherlands and Belgium was fantastic. We got huge crowds and we gained some new fans. Playing was nice, as always.

M: What will Ensiferum do in the nearest future?

Markus: Lot of gigs and also slow development of some new songs, when there's time.

M: Will Petri bring to Russia his beautiful cow hat? :)

Markus: Probably not:)