Amorphis
Skyforger

The Amorphis were true to their word: here we are at the third part of the trilogy on the Kalevala, a collection of Finnish national poems used by the band as a source of inspiration for "Eclipse", "Silent Waters", and the new "Skyforger". The project of vocalist and frontman Tomi Joutsen is thus complete: let's see if the result lives up to the group's fame or not.

The album revolves around the adventures of the Sampo, a wondrous object forged in the forges at the base of the tree of life by the blacksmith Ilmarinen, and its disappearance at the hands of the witch Louhi. I won't go further into the story for two reasons: I am not (unfortunately) perfectly aware of the details of the "original" events (passed down from the original texts), and I want those who will listen to the album to interpret the story themselves, following the lyrics composed by the band.

Musically, the album stands halfway between "Eclipse" and "Silent Waters". I'll tell you right away that I consider the latter to be the best album of the band for some time now (since the group practically changed course and sound), but "Skyforger" follows close behind, matching it for expressed emotions and ethics.

Joutsen does not give up on aggressive parts and growl: he limits their use, true, but he proves to be an exceptionally versatile singer, able to seamlessly switch between various expressive registers, modulating his voice to touch even the deepest chords. Esa Holopainen and Tomi Koivusaari, for their part, excel, delivering riffs that are at times power, at times progressive, at times death, avoiding the slowdowns that at times painted the previous "Silent Waters" with shades tending towards doom. Throughout the album's grooves, there is a violently melodic aura (forgive the oxymoron), a great expressiveness and passion transmitted from the very first track, "Sampo". It's a spectacular opening, heavily indebted to the two previous albums, and a continuation of the piece that is engaging and epic, with a truly captivating chorus and an overall structure that repeatedly (and this will be a constant for other pieces) embraces seventies progressive tones.

The subsequent "Silver Bride" is the track used as a forerunner for "Skyforger", and by listening to it, you'll understand why: it contains all the elements that have so far characterized the new Amorphis, all gathered in a piece that is relatively short but of great impact.

The band's angry side has not yet fully emerged, except in parts: you have to wait for "Majestic Beast" to appreciate it (not without first enjoying "From The Heaven Of My Heart" and especially "Sky Is Mine", with its overwhelming finale). The beginning of this track even reminds me of "The Grand Conjuration" by Opeth, due to the role played by the voice (a cavernous growl) and the guitars, which weave solemn and classical textures. To this brutality, one of the sweetest choruses heard so far in the album responds, a ray of sunshine breaking through an apparently impenetrable curtain of clouds.

"My Sun" helps us relieve the power of the previous track (a somewhat tepid quasi-ballad, to be honest) and takes us to another big single, "Highest Star", the one with the most folk tones of all the pieces heard so far, also enhanced by a spine-tingling chorus.

After so many great pieces, a drop in tone can be expected: the subsequent "Skyforger" and "Course Of Fate" indeed do not reach the anticipated results, and you'll soon find yourself skipping them. However, "From Earth I Rose" ties together the entire album again, very much like an epic final piece, a summary of what has been heard so far, the closing credits, so to speak, of the entire album. The folk component of "Highest Star" is revisited here and taken to an even higher level, and the same melodies very much resemble what was admired with "Tuonela", with heavier moments and others more subdued. An exceptional conclusion, therefore, no better choice could have been made.

Summing it up, we have yet another hit from Amorphis in our hands. Let me be precise to avoid pointless criticisms: they are not those of "Elegy" or "Tales...". Those Amorphis belong to the past; they are a stage of an evolutionary process that has taken the Finns far from the death (with folk and progressive shades) of their beginnings. These elements have gone on to form, along with others, the backbone of the current group, constituting one facet of it, but fortunately, no longer the only one. I repeat my already expressed opinion: putting aside for a moment the various "Elegy", "Tales...", and "Tuonela" and considering only the latest productions of the band, this "Skyforger" stands a step below "Silent Waters", for me still unsurpassed. Nevertheless, it is an album to own by all means, and I don't think it will disappoint anyone who makes it theirs. Finally, the persistence of the band in exploring and presenting themes common to not many should be praised, trying to share them and make them more accessible to the public.

For now, one of the best metal releases of this first half of 2009.