Album Review: Amorphis – Borderland (Reigning Phoenix Music)

Finland’s legendary genre-defying heavy metal band Amorphis enter a new era with their 15th studio album, Borderland, set for release on the 26th of September via Reigning Phoenix Music.

Amorphis have long been a band to admire within heavy metal. A respected band with 35 years of history behind them, that are still relevant and forward thinking today and still features all of their original lineup from back in 1990 (with a few talented additions joining the ranks). The lineup stuff alone is pretty much unheard of but it is Amorphis’ genre bending, groundbreaking and experimental ways that have really helped keep them firmly marching forwards. From their original death metal roots, they moved towards melodeath, progressive, power metal, folk, heavy rock and combinations of all of the above across their storied history.

Clearly not a band to sit still for very long, and certainly not lacking in inspiration or imagination, Amorphis now open the door on a brand new chapter with Borderland. An album that marks both a continuation and reinvention of the band’s legacy. Borderland is described as a cohesive yet adventurous album that bridges innovation with tradition. A rich, layered voyage where the band’s signature melancholy, melody and heaviness pulse through every note.

Best put by Tomi Koivusaari:

“After three and half decades, we still follow our instincts and honestly, Borderland might be the most Amorphis-sounding album we’ve ever made. After such a long and successful career, that feels pretty damn great!”

Amorphis is guitarists Esa Holopainen and Tomi Koivusaari, vocalist Tomi Joutsen, keyboardist Santeri Kallio, bassist Olli-Pekka Laine, and drummer Jan Rechberger.

Borderland comes with 10 new tracks on it getting underway with The Circle. A song that instantly grabs you with it’s familiarity. Amorphis don’t really have many boundaries to push these days and so often it sounds more like a continued honing of a well honed sound. The vocals are smooth and engaging. The melody, bubbly and uplifting. Chuck in some catchy drum beats and poppy keys with a brief moment of shouting and you get a very typical Amorphis song, but in a good way.

Bones brings a bit more emphasis and power to Borderland with some nicely growled vocals and some strong riffing, combining with an Eastern sounding melody. The transition into cleans is so them, and so good to listen to. Add in a banging solo and a nice bit of guitar and keys duelling and it’s a strong song that is very easy to listen to and easy to enjoy. It’s not simple music though. The melodies are perfect, and suit the vocal style perfectly and the transitions into the meatier riffs are silky smooth. Amorphis are just a band who make it look easy.

Dancing Shadow is likely to become a bit of a fan anthem such is it’s maddening catchiness. Twinkling melody, layered keys and of course superb vocals. Tomi Joutsen delivers in a way that his voice just becomes another instrument, delivering a fine balance of perfect melody with perfectly placed growls emphasising lines or words at the right time. It’s a little more progressive as a track, blending all of those well loved Amorphis elements, from prog, to folk, to rock, to metal into a single writhing mass.

Fog to Fog  continues to highlight Amorphis strength and experience in creating songs, and albums, that flow with a gorgeous folk led intro that evolves as you listen, adding in more elements, more vocals, more power. The Strange brings the surgical balance between styles emphatically with a piano led intro that grows into a superbly catchy drum foundation and a mix of harsh and clean vocals. The guitars layer melody in the choruses and a chugging riff in the verses. The verse is catchy, the prechorus is nice and heavy and the chorus soars – it’s a stunning track.

Tempest is up next on Borderland and brings a more melancholic, brooding sound – a sound that is so perfect for Joutsen’s smooth vocals. The combinations of guitars and keys is a masterclass in writing, and the chorus adds a sprinkle of optimism lifting your spirits. The same can be said for the growing guitar melody in an emotional and atmospheric song that packs an absolute gem of a solo. Light and Shadow, the first single from Borderland, comes next. It’s a song already being repeated regularly by me, since it’s release.

I love this song – it is, for me, everything I love about Amorphis. A balanced track, sung wonderfully with uplifting melody, catchiness, groove and sprinkles of heaviness. The verse flows, the chorus is insanely catchy, and sung so well. It’s an amazing track, and if you are an Amorphis fan, you probably have already been listening to this one since it’s release and know that already.

The Lantern has an 80’s synth start that soon transforms into guitar melody in a track that oozes melancholy with folk and psychedelia thrown into the mix. The slightly off kilter rhythms challenge your mind a bit, before the silky vocals come in to settle things. The chorus brings chunky riffs, groove and harsh vocals to give the headbangers something to work with. It really amazes and impresses how many different styles and components Amorphis can throw at a track, and an album. There is a sense of freshness to everything on Borderlands with no one song ever touching anywhere near repetition.

The title track, Borderland is up next. It’s the longest song on the album, just, and lyrically explores the symbolic meeting of a father and son between two worlds. I really like the leading melody, and the back and forth between harsh and clean vocals. The drums are solid and the slight change up in beat and riff when the vocals change to either harsh, or clean is a very clever way to highlight the “father” or “son” bit. There is a cool solo, a neat instrumental section all round with the finely balanced keys and guitar work blending to become a singular force.

Borderland closes with Despair as Amorphis look to make sure this chapter of their amazing history ends with flair and flourish. I guess detractors could argue this is just exactly what you would expect from them, but they do it so well! It’s a cinematic, brooding and melancholic ballad of sorts. Offering moments of genuine tear inducing beauty balanced finely with melancholic aggression (or despair, I guess). The vocal performance, again, is just perfect and the song writing prowess is quite astonishing with intricate melody weaving through the vocal lines while the riffs and beats add waves of tension. Along with orchestral touches and a stunning solo, it’s a fitting end to an album that demonstrates mastery of music.

Borderland may very well be Amorphis doing Amorphis things but they do it so well. So many years of experience have been spent tweaking and honing and carving their identity that there aren’t really any more boundaries left for them to push, instead they just seem to have found a moment of balance and perfection in an imperfect and unbalanced world. It’s an album that feels very complete with nothing left to chance and no excess. Every note, every beat belongs and makes the album feel very clearly theirs, but very flowing and fresh. They are a band of immense talent, a band that have reached the stars and sit elevated above many others of this same style and genre.

When you set such a standard in music as they have in recent years, it is harder to maintain that standard, than reach it but Amorphis have achieved that with Borderland.

Preorder Borderland, here.

Tracklist:

The Circle
Bones
Dancing Shadow
Fog To Fog
The Strange
Tempest
Light And Shadow
The Lantern
Borderland
Despair

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