Amorphis
Silent Waters

THE REVIEW

The biting cold of September breezes brings with it the marvelous notes of this true gem, sparkling in the gray skies of a Finland already ready to cradle itself in the winter darkness. Preceded by the eponymous lead single, comes this sum of total epicity, cradling us among wild atmospheres, romantic dreams, battles, and spells, all centered around the figure of the hero-warrior of the Kalevala named Lemminkäinen!

Uncontainable Amorphis, inspired once again by the national epos so dear to them, unleash a whirlwind of melodies that shine with their own light, leading the listener to feel them as their own, causing copious tears of joy and melancholy during their listening. It is the victory of originality in an increasingly inflated and monotonous market, the triumph of a pioneering and often forgotten band, which with one blow dismisses the competition, demonstrating such superiority as to dispel any doubt about who really knew how to CREATE.

Lemminkäinen, the guiding spirit of this work, is one of the protagonists, along with Väinämöinen and Ilmarinen, of the aforementioned Kalevala, and the lyrics represent the cycle of poems dedicated to him where it is told of his journey to Pohjola (the kingdom of the Lapps) to win, by any means, the hand of the daughter of Louhi, the queen of the North. An attempt that, despite the almost limitless abilities of the hero, will end in defeat and loss of life in the river of Tuonela, causing the inconsolable grief of the mother spoken of in the title track "Silent Waters".

"Weaving The Incantation" transports us into a hurricane of roaring riffs, melting into a chorus full of expressive richness between deep growls and "clean" vocal openings full of feeling, allowing us to admire the talent of superb singing. You can hear much of the Opeth in the foggy atmospheres of this piece, even though everything is arranged in the context of Amorphis’ sound, as well as in the epic urgency of "A Servant", anthemic, shining with radiant harmonies chiseled by tireless guitars and energetic vocals. "Silent Waters", a poetic soliloquy of the hero's mother, allows our eyes to moisten in the face of such passion. The melancholy solos of Esa sink their enchanting strength into Joutsen’s performance, whose voice is now an absolute protagonist and dominator.

The peak is reached with "Towards And Against", a living melodic ruby on a dreamy and velvety riff, on keys dense with solemnity and, above all, on a chorus of overflowing epic intensity. Here too, one finds changing vocal choices between harsh guttural and the sweetness of lavish, emphatic cleans, perfect in a single word.

The band's soundscapes become increasingly ethereal as the work progresses, with the sweet notes of "Her Alone", a semi-ballad of great class, where Kallio’s keyboards play like snowflakes at dusk, while pieces like "I, Of Crimson Blood" or "The White Swan" bring us close to the progressive archetypes of "Tuonela". Exhausting the work of the guitars, eternally stretched to paint naturalistic visions worthy of the Finnish painter Hugo Simberg, while the rhythm section is soft as a solitary walk among the leaves of the October Ruska. In the finale, there is even room for the folk-Celtic digression of "Enigma", a graceful acoustic play dominated by a sensational Joutsen, skilled in setting to music Louhi’s requests to the valiant Lemminkäinen and, finally, the emotional rain of "Black River". Slow piano harmonies chase the sweet and shadowy singing for an ending where the way back is paved in lyrics steeped in melancholy.

Amorphis deliver us a full-fledged emotional river, a musical sculpture to be appreciated in silence, walking on the shores of lakes abandoned to the rigors of the cold, intensely awaiting the sweet tenderness of winter. The allure of the north, intense and enchanting. Enjoy it through the genius of these six Helsinki guys who have been writing marvelous pieces for 16 years!