ENSIFERUM to return to North American shores!

Fresh off a successful stint on this year's Summer Slaughter Tour, Finnish folk metallers ENSIFERUM will kick off a US headlining tour in support of their upcoming full-length From Afar on November 5th. Support will come from Nuclear Blast recording artists HYPOCRISY and EX DEO as well as Sumerian recording artists BLACKGUARD. Said ENSIFERUM guitarist Markus Toivonen of the upcoming dates: “We had a great time on this year's Summer Slaughter tour. Thanks to all the bands involved, and to all the fans that came to see us. We're very excited to come back to the USA in November to support our new album, From Afar. HYPOCRISY, EX DEO and BLACKGUARD are great bands. It should be great fun for everyone!”

Swedish death metal legends HYPOCRISY are readying to release their highly anticipated new full-length, A Taste Of Extreme Divinity. The record will mark the band's their first full-length since 2005's Virus. Commented frontman Peter Tagtgren on the record: “Were happy of the result so far; its got everything a HYPOCRISY album should have in our own point of view. We will release it October 23rd (Europe) and November 3rd (North America) and start touring in the USA, supporting ENSIFERUM!”

Roman-themed death metal troop EX DEO, featuring members of Kataklysm and Blackguard, will be touring in support of their recently issued debut Romulus. “I would like to thank everyone from the ENSIFERUM camp for this generous invitation,” said mainman Maurizio Iacono. “We cordially accept the offer, but make no mistake: Rome bows to no one and our American legions are growing rapidly. We come for blood and we shall take no prisoners and in the great words of Caesar, 'Vini, Vidi, Vici,' and this is what we intend to do in November.

Added BLACKGUARD vocalist Paul Ablaze: “We had such a blast with our Finnish brothers ENSIFERUM on the Summer Slaughter tour that a second round seems appropriate. Magnified by the legendary HYPOCRISY and our friends in the Roman legion of EX DEO, this will be the show to see this late fall.” The folk-influenced progressive metal act is currently celebrating the release of their debut, Profugus Mortis.

ENSIFERUM's From Afar is scheduled for a US release on September 8, 2009 (September 9th for the rest of the world) via Spinefarm Records. The CD was produced by Tero Kinnunen (Nightwish, Amorphis) and Janne Joutsenniemi, who produced the band's previous offering, Victory Songs and mixed by Hiili Hiilesmaa (HIM, Sentenced, Amorphis).

Check back in at METAL CENTRE when the finalized tour dates become available.