The Beginning of Times

The Beginning of Times

by Amorphis
The Beginning of Times

The Beginning of Times

by Amorphis

CD

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Overview

Pretty much from the very start, Amorphis' career has been about constant reinvention (hence the name, hello!), and so the Finnish group's albums have traversed the realms of death, folk, progressive, electronic, and psychedelic rock and metal over the past 20 years -- never looking back along the way. Until now. The Beginning of Times isn't entirely correct in its billing because it doesn't quite bring Amorphis full circle to their brutal death metal debut of 1992, The Karelian Isthmus, but rather to its highly influential sophomore successor, 1994's Tales from the Thousand Lakes, which first proved they had something original to say -- something heavily indebted to their country's folk music traditions and tales, yes, but original nonetheless for taking such daring license in blending those exotic, elegant melodies with "vile" extreme metal hallmarks to fascinatingly contrasting effect. So Amorphis obviously sacrifice the element of surprise by going back to the well on this, their tenth studio album, but not the sense of excitement resulting from once again hearing this particular, familiar yet still fresh, combination of unrelated styles, darkness and light, as clean and crude vocals, raw guitars, and swirling keyboards joust playfully all over tracks like "Battle for Light," "You I Need," and "Beginning of Time." Guest vocalist Netta Dahlberg also adds a feminine touch to "Mermaid" and "Soothsayer," and a progressive rock thread reminiscent of the band's latter-day albums is maintained across many tracks, including the Jethro Tull-like vibes of "Song of the Sage" and the all-binding thematic umbrella that sees Amorphis turning yet again to their trusty Kalevala for a story cycle, here inspired by the legendary hero Vaeinaemoeinen. Deja vu, anyone? Certainly there will be listeners disappointed at Amorphis' creative about-face on The Beginning of Times, but there's no denying its entertainment value and the fact that most of the band's longest-serving fans were probably ready for a nostalgic exercise like this right about now. ~ Eduardo Rivadavia

Product Details

Release Date: 09/22/2023
Label: Atomic Fire
UPC: 4251981704418
Rank: 66839

Tracks

  1. Battle for Light
  2. Mermaid
  3. My Enemy
  4. You I Need
  5. Song of the Sage
  6. Three Words
  7. Reformation
  8. Soothsayer
  9. On a Stranded Shore
  10. Escape
  11. Crack in a Stone
  12. Beginning of Time

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Amorphis   Primary Artist
Niclas Etelaevuori   Bass
Netta Dahlberg   Vocals
Savotta Choir   Vocals
Tomi Joutsen   Vocals
Tomi Koivusaari   Guitar
Jan Rechberger   Drums
Iikka Kahri   Saxophone,Clarinet,Flute
Santeri Kallio   Keyboards
Esa Holopainen   Guitar

Technical Credits

Tomi Joutsen   Group Member
Travis Smith   Art Direction
Niclas Etelaevuori   Group Member
Erkki Virta   Translation
Pekka Kainulainen   Composer,Lyricist
Tomi Koivusaari   Group Member,Composer
Stefan de Batselier   Band Photo
Jan Rechberger   Group Member
Svante Forsbaeck   Mastering
Mikko Karmila   Mixing
Sami Koivisto   Engineer
Santeri Kallio   Group Member,Composer
Esa Holopainen   Group Member,Composer
Amorphis   Arranger,Producer
Marco Hietala   Vocal Producer
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