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Rating: The north wind whistles on a chilly day that has nothing of early spring but rather seems to announce the arrival of a winter that has already been raging for several months in the silent Oulu. Having completed seven hours in language class and finally having a free evening from work, I prepare for the arrival of the much adored Amorphis by revisiting their discography with some long-haired Finnish friends intent on downing numerous "Kaljat" (beers in the local dialect), ready to show up perfectly drunk at the venue entrance.
The club in question is one of the most popular in these parts, famous for having hosted a surprise concert by Him a few years ago and perpetually frequented by incurable rockers from all over Finland. Rather cozy, it consists of three floors, the top of which will host the Helsinki sextet, and it reveals itself as a real gem for lovers of prog-rock and 80s hard'n'heavy in general. Arriving by car (driven by the only sober member of the group), you have to walk 20 meters, which, however short, turn into an excruciating "pain" due to a blustery snowfall and the horrible 15 degrees below zero that have been relentless for almost three months.
Inside, there is a notable crowd and an audience evenly split between studded long-haired individuals and numerous dark-ladies, with the alcohol level of the evening already quite high considering the start time (22:00...). Just time enough to savor the bitter delight of the first pint and the six prog-deathsters open the dance with the lethal "Two Moons" from the latest effort "Eclipse" and what an opening! Devastating tight-riffing, crisp keyboards in the foreground and, above all, Mr. Joutsen really stands out with a blistering vocal performance. Acclaimed by the audience, surprisingly warm considering the latitude, Amorphis unroll a series of "House of Sleep", "Leaves Scar", "The Smoke" and "Shame Flesh", leaving me completely stunned by such fury and energy! Esa and Tomi's guitars "wound" irresistibly, continuous intertwining of riffs/solos between class and power while the unleashed singer lets his voice soar between poisonous death grunts and soft openings reminiscent of the Floydian masterpiece "Tuonela". Truly engaging.
The surprise comes nonetheless halfway through the concert with the revisiting of the pieces that made the first two chapters in the band's history famous: I refer to the well-known "The Castaway", "A Sign from the North Side" and "Drowned". Here, they surpass themselves, further increasing the death-metal ferocity thanks to hyper-fast drumming and the crushing crunch of the guitars, needless to say, Joutsen doesn't miss a beat and leaves behind the grandeur of the equally talented Koskinen, proving to be the true hero of the evening. Among the finals, I highlight the grace of "The Way", masterfully re-proposed live with disarming precision and a symphonic arrangement of crystalline class, capable of making the ethereal-dreamlike atmospheres already admired on the CD palpable.
Once the performance ends, the evening continues amid overflowing alcoholism and the time to congratulate bassist Nicklas (by far more inebriated than I am) intent on gazing at the club floor! Naturally, returning home by taxi at the crack of dawn will force me to ingest potatoes and pea soup for at least two weeks, due to an exorbitantly expensive night (80 euros!).
In conclusion, an exciting and energetic performance as proof of a band in excellent shape, capable of delivering strong vibes and not in the least surpassed as some might suggest. Class is not water.
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