MP3: Amorphis - Weaving the incantation
I stopped paying attention to Amorphis soon after 1996's "Elegy". The follow-up EP "My kantele" was excellent, but the next album "Tuonela" was weak and the next one, "Am universum", was even worse. I figured, along with most folks, that the band had peaked and was slowly winding down. Considering that both 1994's "Tales from the thousand lakes" and the aforementioned "Elegy" are held by many to be landmark releases, that's a career to be proud of. So I was surprised when I started to see glowing reviews of the new record "Silent waters" and I figured I should investigate. I fully expected to hear a band pathetically trying to revisit their glory days, but let me tell you - I was blown away from the get-go. Not only is the heaviness back in full-effect, but the band is playing with renewed vigor, no doubt inspired in part by the recent addition of frontman Tomi Joutsen. An overwhelming number of modern metalcore bands try to incorporate death-growls and clean singing, something that Amorphis pioneered, and once again they show the world the way it's meant to be done. Tomi's performance is powerful and full of nuance - he hits the highs and lows with equal force and fury. The band, too, steps up to match him. As I said, the music is potently heavy, something you hear from the very first note. And listen for the 70s space-rock breaks as well, those too are performed with suitable vigor. So yeah, not just an impressive return to form, but an astonishingly great record. Very recommended.
Amorphis - Weaving the incantation