Folk Metal Galore:  Ensiferum, Kalmah, Abigail Williams, and Aenimus Dazzle and Conquer The Echoplex

   As many subgenres of Metal there are, some of them invoke a special emotion, one of a joyful, intimate kind.  Folk Metal, as you can already guess, different subgenres of Folk Metal do exist, but they share a common trait:  Togetherness.  Folk Metal can be aggressive depending on the band and all, but still resonate in this eager and resonating way.  Folk Metal comes in all sorts of ways, with Ensiferum and Kalmah being prime examples.  While Ensiferum is Epic Folk Metal, Kalmah would be considered Melodic Folk Death Metal. Both share uniqueness separately from the other, but the same core Folk Metal can be heard on full display.  Both bands touring together would be something special to look forward to, as their touring scheduling in North America was extremely rare, especially with Kalmah, being their 2nd tour here ever, this was an event most certainly not to miss.

I haven’t been to the Echoplex in quite some time, since Deafheaven a few years ago.  I consider this venue to be one of the best Metal venues to attend, especially with the sadness of the Complex closing two years ago.  Quality sound onstage, great beer selection, plenty of room to venture and explore, pizza available, even a couch area in the back of the venue, to rest and regain your bearings as well.  There haven’t been a lot of Metal shows there in more recent time, but I’m hoping the Echoplex will be more of a spot for 2020 and beyond.

With the Echoplex slowing filling up, Aenimus would open on this rainy Friday event.  Labeled as Progressive Extreme Metal, Aenimus's musical talent and ability was on full display, a sheer wave of Jazz timings and counterpoints, gorgeous guitar tone that accented every glistening note.  Guitarist Jordan Rush put on a eclectic clinic for this sardine-like crowded room.  Unfortunately, and no fault of the band, their Metal style was far too different than the rest of the lineup.  Despite their impressive musicianship, often the music was arranged in a Metalcore like sound, just with the breakdowns and the placement of the songs somewhat less dynamic, and clean vocals done by bassist Seth Stone that were far too high in tenor, in which I knew this crowd wasn't going to go for.  The fans headbanged in parts, watched Aenimus for their 30-minute set, but you can see that most of the audience more so "waited" for them to finish playing.  Vocalist Alex Green did his best to get the crowd going, and despite the attempts to muster only a little life in the pit, he exclaimed how thrilled and happy he and the band, were on this tour.  Green's low gutturals were fantastic, and quite energetic on the stage.  Next month, Between the Buried and Me are playing in Anaheim, CA, and I know for sure that crowd would have loved Aenimus's set far more than the fans tonight.  I hope this tour gives them more fanfare along the way, and they can be on a more suitable touring lineup.  

By this point of the show, The Echoplex was jammed packed, considering this is also the same night, and literally 13 miles away at The Forum in which Slayer was performing their very last show.  If you're still into Slayer, it's great you were able to attend their swansong event, but I'm also truly full of joy that underground Metal can still be engaged with open arms.  It's thoughtful to have that reminder remain powerful within your core and heart.

Now for the only Black Metal performance tonight, Abigail Williams performing off their newest record, Walk Beyond the Dark.  As you've had may have read previously, it's tricky and sometimes risky when bands want to play their entire set, headlining or whatnot, from their newest record only.  Revocation's The Outer Ones is a monstrously great record, it works.  And the material I heard tonight from Walk Beyond the Dark, I can say it was well worth it.  Abigail Williams changed their sound drastically for the better years ago, particularly with Becoming, going from a Symphonic Black Metal/Metalcore sound, to a much better Atmospheric Black Metal assault, that completely does justice to the songwriting and musicianship this band have always had.  Mastermind, founder, guitarist and vocalist Ken Sorceron’s Black Metal vision is great to witness.  I personally don’t find old school Black Metal to be all that quality, far in few between, at least for my opinion. It just really works with this epic style of Black Metal, atmospheric, technical and with greater transitions and paths of movement within the riffs and melodies, are personally more for me, and the difference in quality is beautiful to appreciate.  One also underrated aspect of the band now, their cello player.  I couldn’t find out who he was, but it added to the element of the band.  Although it was harder to hear while the band played at the same time, you can hear the guitar tones change slightly here and greatly in other parts of the song.  But when it was the cello alone playing, the audience cheered wonderfully and was able to completely appreciate it.   You can hear much of that on the newest record of Abigail Williams, it was pleasant to behold.  Although the crowd you can still tell overall was there anticipating Kalmah and Ensiferium, their reaction to Abigail Williams was more well received, and a little more to their liking.  I’m honestly glad Abigail Williams evolved their sound to what it is today and hoping their touring frequency is often and hopefully with longer set times. 

       Abigail Williams setlist

1. I Will Depart

2. Sun and Moon

3. Ever So Bold

4. Black Waves

To say that the crowd at this point was ready and geared up for the last two bands would be quite the understatement.  The ones in the front of the stage stayed where they are, the back of the venue moved up closer to the center, and chants of “Kalmah!” reigned in the halls of the Echoplex.  This was my first time finally seeing Kalmah after 15 years of first hearing them, and the energy of the venue was surreal, as I talked to many at the show who didn’t get to see them in April, it was just pure anticipation.  Kalmah finally arrived at the stage, with mosh pits already starting before any music was played.  The energy was vibrant and unbelievably captivating, cultivating nostalgia with me and the rest of the crowd as “Swamphell” brought us back to their 2003 They Will Return, personally for me their best work, and just a angelic reminder of how much Metal has grown and evolved especially back then, when I felt Metal music became more complex, deep, abstract and further evidence of how much the 2000’s was the most underrated point and time with Metal music.  Guitarist/vocalist Pekka Kokko exclaimed after the song, in pure joy of this essentially sold-out show, “I’m shaking!” showing his hands shaking on stage, smiling heavily throughout the night.  His brother, Antti, the lead guitarist of Kalmah, was an interesting contrast in their styles of personality and guitar playing.  While Antti played the role of lead guitar incredibly well, a more silent but confident player, Pekka’s fun and maybe considered goofy persona to the unforeseen eye, the musicianship and attention to detail was ever so consistent and remarkable.  Every note played was ridiculously tight and in great synchronization, and through seeing them play live, I figured out what sets them apart from many Melodic Death Metal bands.  Throughout their songs, Kalmah uses a lot of fuller chords, allowing the music to be layered deeper than what you feel you hear on album.  The volume in key, grit found within their deeper notes and heavy sections, it’s something you just cannot appreciate until you witness it live.  “Seventh Swamphony” had the crowd go absolute bonkers in the pit and throughout the venue, and what I felt was a sort of return to some of their earlier work, in terms of more of the faster side of their Melodic Death Metal style. 

Not to be outdone, keyboardist Veil-Matti Kananen’s supersonic and masterful workings was on full display, performing a solo-off with Antti, and the best part was:  The notes from the keyboard sounded just like a guitar.  Record it, play it to someone without watching the video, just letting them hear it, and see if someone can tell if it’s a guitar or a keyboard.  Kalmah’s 50-minute set went by super quick, and you can tell the band was incredibly blissful witnessing this epic Metal evening.  Hearing Kalmah back in 2004, and after all these years, getting to finally see them live, it was a magical experience, and this Los Angeles crowd felt the same way.  This was the most magnificent performance of the evening, and beyond remarkable to have waited this long to finally see Kalmah perform.

  Kalmah setlist

1. Swamphell

2.  The Evil Kin

3.  The Third, The Magical

4.  Evil in You

5.  Seventh Swamphony

6.  Moon of My Nights

7.  The Black Waltz

8.  Heroes to Us

9.  Hades

To be honest, with all this intensity, I wasn’t quite sure how the reactions and passion for Ensiferum would go, after Kalmah’s profound set.  But truly, Ensiferum put on one hell of a show.  It’s been quite a long time since I’ve seen them live, and I forgot how vicious their energy was onstage.  Slightly more bare bones in terms of production live, Ensiferum sport a four man attack, as frontman Markus Tolvonen commanded the Echoplex, “One More Magical Potion” certainly getting the crowd going, as at this point it was difficult to stand in one spot without being moved against your will.  The fierceness yet subtle Folk Metal within Ensiferum, brings a comfortable rage yet tranquil joy simultaneously.  “Token of Time”, from their self-titled debut all the way back from 2001, is a prime example of their Folk acoustic intros and abilities that shape their songs, into the atmosphere you feel and sing along to.  This entire venue went insane hearing the verse riff, with clapping to the beat, moshing blissfully, and chanting every lyric. 

With Jari Maenpaa leaving the band to form Wintersun, many fans for a while weren’t quite sure if the quality of Ensiferum would dip, and those doubts are put to rest, especially the live performances.  Bassist Sami Hinkka’s enchanting vocals were some of the best of the entire night, bringing you to a time back when swords were forged through blacksmiths, wizards ruling the land, and the townspeople dancing to the sounds of Folk Music with drinks in their hands.  The level of narration the band can form onstage was ridiculous, I was quite impressed.  It was also a pleasure to see Tolvonen’s musical and guitar ability, as working with Jari for two of the band’s first albums, you notice how tight the timing of the band is, and to carry on that knowledge and working alongside another incredible musician, it tremendously colours the music and overall language that the band creates and translates throughout their songs and abilities.  From seeing them nearly 10 years previous, “Lai Lai Hei” was then and now, a classic closing song, in which the audience couldn’t contain singing vicariously the name of the title track, all song long.  Personally, Kalmah was my #1 reason for this show, but Ensiferum absolutely put on a much greater show than I could ask for.  Despite Slayer playing minutes away, The Echoplex was the best Metal show to be witness to, on this brisk evening.

     The beauty of Folk Metal can be found in a varied sort of bands, countries and musical guidance and ability.  Kalmah and Ensiferum both represent the gorgeous aura and profound level of play and atmosphere, and it brought forth an unforgettable evening of Metal here in Los Angeles, California.  Both bands unfortunately do not tour here in the states often, any possible chance you get to witness this glorious epoch of their vibrant history, do so quick fast, in a hurry.  Thank you, Finland, for making both bands possible.

 Ensiferum setlist

1. Blood is the Price of Glory

2. One More Magical Potion

3. Token of Time

4. From Afar

5. Smoking Ruins

6. Two of Spades

7. Heathen Horde

8. For Those About to Fight for Metal

9. Way of the Warrior

10. Burning Leaves

11. In My Sword I Trust

12. Ahti

13. Victory Song

14. Hero in a Dream

15.  Lai Lai Hei