Amorphis
The Beginning Of Times

An Amorphis work is always an anticipated release because what the band has given in the past is not easily forgotten. Moreover, the new chapter from Joutsen and company always carries with it that mystery tied to the nature of the band: will it be a return to the death metal of the beginning or a renewal towards an increasingly modern and accessible metal?

Listening to "The beginning of times", there is no doubt about the answer: once again drawing heavily from Lonnrot's Kalevala, the six Finns have produced a work in line with the previous "Silent waters" and "Skyforger", yet seeking an even denser and fresher sound, free of any smudge. In this sense, a great help comes from the recording and the partnership with a certainly equipped label like Nuclear Blast. But despite this notable formal care and although there is no doubt about the quality of the musicians at work, The beginning of times does not fully convince, or at least it doesn’t do so entirely.

The band wanted to create a "fresh" sound and to do so they have over the years eliminated from their repertoire part of that death/doom which had made the Finns one of the most known and appreciated extreme bands in Scandinavia. Many argue that this change happened with the departure of Koskinen and the arrival of Joutsen. Precisely with the latter, the most melodic albums of the group have been born and The beginning of times is no exception.

The riffs and the general atmospheres of their latest CD appear all too easy listening: the bar is shifting heavily towards a pop/metal devoid of stimulus. On the other hand, however, there is more use of growl compared to the very latest works by Amorphis. The feeling is that they have touched what seemed to "their ears" a flaw. Yet listening to the atmospheric exchanges of tracks like the opening "Battle for light", "Soothsayer", and "On a stranded shore", it is clear how the band’s class remains intact. Everything is in its place, all the pieces are well thought out and played: yet this is precisely the weak point of the CD, which too often gets lost in keyboard effusions that are indeed evocative but add nothing to the glorious career of Amorphis. It’s as if there are ideas, but originality goes out the window.

Overall, "The beginning of times" is a sufficient work because Amorphis knows where to hit. Yet the impression that the album heads towards catchy and too easy shores remains even after several listens. Perhaps it’s no longer enough to rely on their name and produce what hundreds of others are already doing: for Joutsen and company, it’s time to return to writing and playing something truly heartfelt...

1. "Battle For Light" (5:35)
2. "Mermaid" (4:24)
3. "My Enemy" (3:25)
4. "You I Need" (4:22)
5. "Song Of The Sage" (5:27)
6. "Three Words" (3:55)
7. "Reformation" (4:33)
8. "Soothsayer" (4:09)
9. "On A Stranded Shore" (4:13)
10. "Escape" (3:52)
11. "Crack In A Stone" (4:56)
12. "Beginning Of Time" (5:52)