One Man Army is a marked improvement over 2012’s Unsung Heroes. For one, this album features the best one-two punch to open the proceedings since 2007’s Victory Songs. Dancing acoustic guitars in “March Of War” lead the way to the stomper “Axe Of Judgement”, which has the hallmarks of a great Ensiferum song: fast riffs and vicious vocals to get the blood pumping. “Two Of Spades” also has the most “wtf” interlude since “Stone Cold Metal” from 2009’s From Afar. This thrashing goodtime track is interrupted by a western/disco part which is completely crazy, but yet works so well. This one stuck in this writer’s head for long time. These metal warriors also felt determined to comeback with another ten-plus minute epic with “Descendants, Defiance, Domination” and is much better than the sloppy “Unsung Heroes”. There are a lot of musical happenings within “DDD” and it gives off a feeling of vindication and there is some little noodle of rhythm and music to pick-up each time after a listen.

Ensiferum are at their best with their soft interludes. The melancholic sounds of “Burden Of The Fallen” fits right around the campfire and gives way to the magnificent “Warrior Without A War”. The last track, “Neito Pohjolan” is a female led country/western type track sung entirely in Finnish. I just get this feeling that the rope tugs for these guys (and gal) to make a soft, pure folk album with minimal metal elements, but that’s purely speculation and a discussion for another time. What’s important is this lone soldier of One Man Army is a return to form for Ensiferum, so don the war paint and get ready for battle.