For the first time since 2004, founding vocalist and guitarist Jari Mäenpää will reunite with Ensiferum (Markus, Petri, Janne, Sami, and Pekka) for very special live shows – marking his first appearance with the band outside of Finland.
This reunion will celebrate the early era of Ensiferum, focusing on the material that defined the band’s legacy and helped shape the modern folk metal landscape.
Fans will witness Jari performing lead vocals on the songs he originally recorded, in a setlist spanning:
• 1997 Demo Tape
• Ensiferum (2001)
• Iron (2004)
• Dragonheads (2006)
• Victory Songs (2007)
From fan favorites to deeper cuts and rare early tracks, this performance will be a definitive tribute to Ensiferum‘s formative years – and a rare opportunity to see Jari return to the material that first brought him international acclaim.
The band states: “This is more than a show – it’s a return to the roots. To the energy and vision that started it all.”
Jari adds: “I’m excited and honored to be joining Ensiferum for these very special ‘Early Years’ live shows! After more than 20 years, I’ll be performing with Ensiferum again. I can’t wait to sing these classic songs with you all. See you there!”
Whether you have followed Ensiferum since the demo days or discovered them through the legends of Finnish metal, this is a historic reunion that no fan will want to miss.
Jari Mäenpää is a Finnish multi-instrumentalist, composer, and one of the founding members of Ensiferum. He performed vocals and guitar on the band’s first two studio albums – Ensiferum (2001) and Iron (2004) – before departing to form Wintersun in 2004, a band that would go on to achieve its own cult status in the extreme metal world. His style and songwriting helped define the sound of Scandinavian epic folk metal, blending blistering melodic riffs, heroic storytelling, and deeply rooted Finnish musical traditions into a blueprint that inspired an entire generation of bands.
Ensiferum – Latin for “sword bearing” – are one of the most enduring and beloved bands in folk metal. Founded in Helsinki, Finland in 1995 by guitarist Markus Toivonen, the band has spent three decades forging a signature sound that blends ferocious melodic death metal with sweeping folk melodies, heroic battle anthems, and deeply rooted Scandinavian tradition.
After a series of early demos that earned them a deal with Spinefarm Records, Ensiferum released their self-titled debut in 2001 – a record widely regarded as a landmark of the genre. Their sophomore album Iron (2004), recorded at Sweet Silence Studios in Copenhagen with producer Flemming Rasmussen, further cemented their reputation. Following Jari Mäenpää‘s departure to form Wintersun, guitarist and vocalist Petri Lindroos stepped into the role, and the band continued to evolve and expand their reach without missing a step.
Across nine studio albums – including Victory Songs (2007), From Afar (2009), Unsung Heroes (2012), One Man Army (2015), Two Paths (2017), Thalassic (2020), and Winter Storm (2024) – Ensiferum have remained one of the genre’s most consistent and passionate acts, headlining major international festivals and touring across the globe. Their catalogue spans Spinefarm Records and Metal Blade Records, and their fanbase spans continents.
Today the band consists of Markus Toivonen (guitars, vocals), Petri Lindroos (vocals, guitars), Sami Hinkka (bass, vocals), Janne Parviainen (drums), and Pekka Montin (keyboards, vocals) – a lineup that continues to carry the Ensiferum torch with fire, pride, and the spirit of warriors.
