Amorphis –Under the Red Cloud

I still recall the first time I stumbled upon Amorphis, the highly praised metal act from Finland with a history spanning approximately 25 years.  “Silver Bride” from the band’s ninth studio album Skyforger was the first track I had heard, and I was immediately drawn to its main riff, one that continues to fill my core with contentment and simultaneously punch me in the face to this day (seriously, listen to this track and try not to bang your head, it’s nearly impossible).  Initially a death metal act, Amorphis’ music has undergone a fair amount of change since the band’s formation in 1990, and the song I had first been exposed to was a clear result of this change.  Their latest effort, “Under the Red Cloud”, continues to utilize elements heard on records such as “Skyforger”, 2013’s “Circle”, and others.  Let’s take a closer look at the band’s latest achievement, undoubtedly one of the most anticipated releases in heavy music this year.

Under the Red Cloud opens with its title track, immediately giving the listener what he or she would expect from any modern-day Amorphis offering.  Beautiful piano quickly turns to an explosion of tasty, perfectly seasoned Finnish melodic metal that has helped the band effectively carve its very own niche in metal.  Unlike other bands in the scene that shall remain nameless, Amorphis’ progressive change in musical direction has arguably earned them more praise than criticism.  Many fans from early on in the band’s career have continued to follow them, while new fans have been drawn in and prompted to explore older records from the band, such as 1994’s “Tales from the Thousand Lakes”.

AMORPHIS – Sacrifice (OFFICIAL VIDEO)

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“Under the Red Cloud” moves forward with a ferocious second cut entitled “The Four Wise Ones”, followed by one of my personal favorites on the album, “Bad Blood”.  Like any other release from Amorphis, Under the Red Cloud has a track listing that seems to flow almost flawlessly.  Each song is in an ideal place leaving the listener wanting more, an important aspect in determining the quality of any record.

Furthermore, each member of Amorphis continues to improve and fire on all cylinders with each release.  Vocalist Tomi Joutsen transitions from clean to harsh vocal styles almost effortlessly, accompanying the musical shifts from soft to straight up heavy.  Guitarists Esa and Tomi provide rhythms, riffs, and solos that can easily be sung, which are accompanied by aggressive, yet almost gentle low end from bassist Niclas Etelävuori.  Santeri Kallio’s keyboard complements the music in a way that is crucial, a great addition to folk-inspired metal. Rounding out Amorphis behind the drum kit is Jan Rechberger, whose drum parts provide the solid foundation that each song requires, never overplaying and always finding an ideal balance between groove and flair.

Elements of folk have always been an important part of the music that Amorphis creates, and this remains unchanged to this day.  One of the best examples of this element on Under the Red Cloud is heard in songs such as “Death of a King”, as well as “Enemy at the Gates” and “Tree of Ages”.  Solid metal with folk influence peppered throughout, a recipe for great music.  Other tracks, such as “Sacrifice” and “Dark Path” undoubtedly contain more of these elements, but more specifically focus on steady, hard, and heavy flow.

Any substantial album would not be complete without a solid closer, and Under the Red Cloud is no exception.  The album concludes with “White Night”, which combines emotional melody with aggressive attack to perfection. The addition of female vocals on this song works extremely well, and the album finishes on a high note, signaling the end of yet another release from a band that only seems to improve with time.  Amorphis is back, and Under the Red Cloud is definitely a 2015 release worthy of your time and attention.