Finnish folk metallers ENSIFERUM have issued the following brief update:

"Ensiferum will do a short tour of South Africa this October. Support for the trek will come from RIDDARE AV KODEN."

Dates are as follows:

October

27 - Burn Nightclub - Durban, KZN
28 - Cool Runnings -Fourways, JHB, Gauteng
29 - Rumours - Weltevreden, JHB, Gauteng
30 - The Black Dahlia (Halloween Party) - Boksburg, JHB, Gauteng

As previously reported, following a successful first run in 2010, The Finnish Metal Tour will once again unleash itself on North America in early 2011.

Dubbed The Finnish Metal Tour 2, the tour will feature co-headliners FINNTROLL (Century Media) and Ensiferum (Spinefarm). Additional support will come from BARREN EARTH (Peaceville), and ROTTEN SOUND (Relapse). The tour will start on January 31st in Orlando FL, and conclude on March 4th in Raleigh NC.

Finntroll have returned with their new slab of folk-rooted metal hymns, entitled Nifelvind, that is now available everywhere. It was recorded at Sonic Pump Studios in Helsinki, Finland and mastered by Mika Jussila at Finnvox Studios. The album cover artwork was done again by the band's own guitarist Skrymer and visually captures the true Finntroll spirit perfectly. The band toured throughout North America this past April with MOONSORROW and SWALLOW THE SUN. Head over now to this location in order to stream new tracks and view their tour itinerary.

Finnish folk metallers Ensiferum released their 4th album, From Afar, on September 8, 2009 via Spinefarm Records. The CD was produced by Tero Kinnunen and Janne Joutsenniemi, who produced the band's previous offering, Victory Songs, and mixed by Hiili Hiilesmaa. Ensiferum completed their first headline tour of the USA this past November with BLACKGUARD and SWASHBUCKLE. Visit the band’s MySpace page here to check out tracks, and view the latest tour dates and news as it becomes available.

Ensiferum bassist Sami Hinkka had this to say about the upcoming tour: "Greetings from the north our brothers and sisters of the new continent! The time has come to unite forces with our fellow countrymen and raid your cities with unforeseen power. The amount of alcohol consumption on this tour is going to be horrifying, so don't forget to bring your drinking horn! Grab your swords and hold them high with pride and join the ultimate metal event of 2011. Folk on!"

The dates are as follows:

January

31 - Orlando, FL - The Club at Firestone

February

1 - Atlanta, GA - The Masquerade
2 - Louisville, KY - Headliner’s Music Hall
3 - Tulsa, OK - Marquee
4 - Austin, TX - Emo’s Alternative Lounging
5 - Dallas, TX - Ridglea Theater
6 - Amarillo, TX - The War Legion Underground
7 - Tempe, AZ - Clubhouse
8 - Los Angeles, CA - Key Club
9 - Ramona, CA - Ramona Mainstage
10 - San Francisco, CA - DNA Lounge
11 - Portland, OR - Hawthorne Theatre
12 - Seattle, WA - El Corazon
14 - Calgary, AB - The Republik
15 - Edmonton, AB - Starlite Room
16 - Regina, SK - The Exchange
18 - Minneapolis, MN - Station 4
19 - Chicago, IL - Reggie Rock Club
20 - Detroit, MI - Blondie’s
21 - Cleveland, OH - Peabody’s
22 - Toronto, ON - Opera House
23 - Quebec City, QC - Imperial de Quebec
24 - Montreal, QC - Metropolis
25 - Rochester, NY - Montage Music Hall
26 - New York City, NY - The Gramercy Theatre
27 - Worcester, MA - The Palladium

March

1 - Philadelphia, PA - The Trocadero
2 - West Springfield, VA - Jaxx
3 - Charlotte, NC - The Casbah
4 - Raleigh, NC - Volume 11