Limited Deluxe Boxset includes: - Album on Vinyl (White Vinyl) - Bonus Live-CD (Live in Europe) - Slip mat - Poster-Flag - Button Pins "Rock and metal music have always been a haven for those who have bigger stories to tell; who have grander emotions to convey. For more than thirty years, Finnish figureheads Amorphis have done their best to carve their very own niche in heartfelt yet aggressive, melancholic yet soothing tunes. On “Haloâ€, their staggering fourteenth studio effort, the Fins underline their trailblazing status as one of the most original, culturally relevant and rewarding acts ever to emerge from the land of the thousand lakes. In the past, mythology and legend took the role of today’s pop culture: Stories and a set of values uniting us by giving us a voice and a tapestry on which we can find each other and identify with something. By weaving the tales of Finnish national epos “Kalevala†into their songs and interpreting them in a timeless way, Amorphis combine the role of ancient minstrels and luminaries of the modern world, honouring tradition without getting stuck in the past. The vibrant, lively, and touching beauty that is “Halo†highlights their musical and storytelling mastership on a once again soaring level: It’s a progressive, melodic, and quintessentially melancholic heavy metal masterwork plucked from the fickle void of inspiration by original guitarists Esa Holopainen and Tomi Koivusaari, bassist Olli-Pekka Laine, drummer Jan Rechberger, longtime keyboardist Santeri Kallio and vocalist Tomi Joutsen, the band’s long-standing lyrical consciousness Pekka Kainulainen and a selected group of world class audio professionals led by renowned Swedish producer Jens Bogren. Considering the band’s prolonged journey in the forefront of innovative metal music, it’s difficult to grasp how Amorphis manages to raise the proverbial bar time and time again, presenting a more than worthy finale to the trilogy begun with 2015’s “Under the Red Cloud†followed by 2018’s “Queen of Time.†“It really is a great feeling that we can still produce very decent music as a band,†says Holopainen, a founding member of the band. “Perhaps a certain kind of self-criticism and long experience culminate in these latest albums.†To the songwriter himself, “Halo†sounds both familiar and different. “It is thoroughly recognizable Amorphis from beginning to end but the general atmosphere is a little bit heavier and more progressive and also organic compared to its predecessor,†he elaborates. Tomi Joutsen, the man with vocal cords capable of unleashing colossal, bear-like growls as well as singing soothing, mesmerising lullabies, adds, “To me, ‘Halo’ sounds a little more stripped down compared to ‘Queen Of Time’ and ‘Under The Red Cloud.’ However, don’t get me wrong: when a certain song needs to sound big, then it sounds very big.†He’s right, of course: By stripping down some of the arrangements, the monumental moments become even more monumental. That’s of course also thanks to producing renaissance man Jens Bogren who harvested the thirteen final tracks from a batch of thirty songs Amorphis offered him. “Jens is very demanding, but I really like to work with him,†says Holopainen. “He takes care of the whole project from start to finish, and he allows the musician to focus on just playing. I may not be able to thank Jens enough. Everything we’ve done together has been really great, and this co-operation has carried Amorphis significantly forward.†Indeed. Setting off with the stormy grandeur of opener “Northwards,†Amorphis take us on an epic journey through the lands of the north, their rich cultural and historical heritage and musical traditions. This is not only an album for fans or metal connoisseurs. It’s a must for every imaginative mind out there with a soft spot for cinematic soundscapes, triumphant melodies...
Release date:
March 11, 2022
Label:
Install our app to receive notifications when new upcoming releases are added.
Recommended equipment and accessories
-
Phono Preamps - Top Picks
A selection of the best phono preamps for your turntable setup
-
Vevor Ultrasonic Cleaner
Thoroughly clean and restore your vinyl records, removing dust, dirt, and grime from every groove without damaging the surface
-
Audioengine A2 Plus
Precision-engineered 2.75-inch woofers and a 0.75-inch silk dome tweeter, featuring built-in DAC and Bluetooth connectivity for seamless integration.
-
Vinyl Care - Top Picks
A selection of accesories to keep your turntable equipment & vinyl records in the best shape
-
Turntables - Top Picks
A selection of reliable record players you can buy today, for every budget
Featured Upcoming Vinyl
-
Banks Off With Her Head
Her Name Is Banks, Inc
February 28, 2025 -
Avatarium Between You, God, The Devil & The Dead
Afm Records
February 7, 2025 -
Dean Wareham That's the Price of Loving Me (Clear)
Carpark Records
March 28, 2025 -
Jessie Wagner War Within
Wicked Cool Records
April 25, 2025 -
Shagor Lyksalver
Vendetta
February 7, 2025 -
Kane Brown The High Road [2xLP]
Sony Music Nashville
January 24, 2025 -
Vundabar Surgery and Pleasure
Loma Vista Recordings
March 7, 2025 -
Tunng Love You All Over Again
Full Time Hobby
January 24, 2025 -
Bartees Strange Horror
4Ad
February 14, 2025 -
Dragonknight Legions
Scarlet Records
February 14, 2025 -
Mary Chapin Carpenter Looking For The Thread
Lambent Light Records
January 24, 2025 -
LAKE Bucolic Gone (Baby Blue)
Don Giovanni
March 7, 2025 -
Abel Selaocoe Hymns of Bantu
Warner Classics
February 21, 2025 -
Liliths Army Doll
Criminal Records
March 28, 2025