ITP V.022 REVIEW: AMORPHIS: "HALO"

 

 

 BAND: AMORPHIS (HELSINKI, FINLAND)

GENRE: EXTREME METAL

LABEL:ATOMIC FIRE RECORDS

RELEASE DATE: 2/11/2022

TITLE: "HALO"
 

PREVIOUS RELEASES (CATALOG): 

"THE MOON AND MORE" (EP), 1/25/2022 via ROCK HARD. 

"LIVE AT HELSINKI ICE HALL", 5/21/2021 via NUCLEAR BLAST RECORDS.

"QUEEN OF TIME", 5/16/2018 via CHAOS REIGNS. 

"AN EVENING WITH FRIENDS AT HUVILA" (LIVE RELEASE), 2/24/2017 via NUCLEAR BLAST RECORDS.

"TALES FROM LAKE BODOM" (SPLIT WITH CHILDREN OF BODOM), 9/18/2015 via LEGACY MAGAZINE. 

"UNDER THE RED CLOUD", 9/4/2015 via NUCLEAR BLAST RECORDS.

"CIRCLE", 4/17/2013 via VICTOR. 

"THE BEGINNING OF TIMES", 5/24/2011 via VICTOR. 

"MAGIC AND MAYHEM: TALES FROM THE EARLY YEARS", 9/15/2010 via NUCLEAR BLAST RECORDS. 

"FORGING THE LAND OF A THOUSAND LAKES" (VIDEO), 7/7/2010 via .NUCLEAR BLAST RECORDS. 

"SPLIT WITH EPICA", 10/30/2009 via .NUCLEAR BLAST RECORDS. 

"SKYFORGER", 5/27/2009 via VICTOR., 

"SILENT WATERS", 8/22/2007 via VICTOR., 

"SPLIT WITH AFTER FOREVER, EPICA, GOTTHARD, 2007 via NUCLEAR BLAST RECORDS.

"ECLIPSE", 2/15/2006 via .NUCLEAR BLAST RECORDS.

"THE NECKBREAKERS BALL", (SPLIT WITH SOILWORK, HYPOCRISY, ONE MAN ARMY AND THE UNDEAD QUARTET,  SCAR SYMMETRY), 2006 via .NUCLEAR BLAST RECORDS. 

"RELAPSE SINGLE SERIES VOL. 4" (SPLIT WITH EXIT 13,  PHOBIA, GOREAPHOBIA) , 11/9/2004 via RELAPSE RECORDS. 

"SPLIT WITH FAR FROM THE SUN, THE AUDIO INJECTED SOUL, WARKULT", 2004 via NUCLEAR BLAST RECORDS. 

"FAR FROM THE SUN", 5/26/2003 via EMI.

"AM UNIVERSUM", 4/3/2001 via RELAPSE RECORDS. 

"STORY-10th ANNIVERSARY" (COMPILATION), 5/10/2000 via SPINEFARM RECORDS. 

"TUONELA", 3/29/1999 via NUCLEAR BLAST RECORDS.

"NUCLEAR BLAST CLUBHITS VOL.1", (SPLIT WITH DISMAL EUPHONY, STAHLHAMMER), 1999 NUCLEAR BLAST RECORDS.

"MY KANTELE" (EP), 5/27/1997 via RELAPSE RECORDS. 

""MY KANTELE"/BLACK ASH INHERITANCE" (SPLIT WITH IN FLAMES), 1997 via MORBID NOIZZ PRODUCTIONS. 

"ELEGY", 5/14/1996 via RELAPSE RECORDS. 

"THE MASTERS OF DARKNESS" (SPLIT WITH DISSECTION, EDGE OF SANITY, SENTENCED, LAKE OF TEARS, FURBOWL), 9/21/1995 via VICTOR. 

"BLACK WINTER DAY"/"FEAR" (SPLIT WITH GOREFEST), 1995 via VICTOR. 

"BLACK WINTER DAY" (EP), 10/1/1994 via RELAPSE RECORDS. 

"TALES FROM THE THOUSAND LAKES", 7/12/1994 via RELAPSE RECORDS. 

"PRIVILEGE OF EVIL" (EP), 12/5/1993 via RELAPSE RECORDS. 

"THE KARELIAN ISTHMUS", 11/1/1992 via .RELAPSE RECORDS.

BEST RELEASE(S): "TALES FROM THE THOUSAND LAKES",  (1994), "ELEGY" (1996), "TUONELA" (1999),"HALO" (2022),  "AM UNIVERSUM" (2001), "QUEEN OF TIME" (2018), "THE MOON AND MORE" (EP, 2022)


AMORPHIS::"HALO": TRACKLISTING: 

1. "NORTHWARDS"

2. "ON THE DARK WATERS"

3. "THE MOON"

4. "WINDMANE"

5. "A NEW LAND"

6. "WHEN THE GODS CAME"

7. "SEVEN ROADS COME TOGETHER"

8. "WAR"

9. "HALO"

10. "THE WOLF"

11. "MY NAME IS RIGHT"

ITP RATING: ****1/2
PRODUCTION: ****1/2
SONGWRITING:****1/2
PERFORMANCE:*****

Progressive extreme metal band AMORPHIS put Finland on the map within the 30 years of the bands unique brand of metal. 

From 90's  death, doom AMORPHIS to the bands transition into melodic progressive metal, AMORPHIS remain relevant metal pioneers over 30 years later.  

ITP V.022 has AMORPHIS'S  new release   "HALO" on tap to review. 

AMORPHIS'S   "HALO"  kicks off with "NORTHWARDS", a rager with melodic guitar, death metal and clean vocals and crunchy guitar riffs. "NORTHWARDS" diversity is  evidenced in progressive metal coupled with beautiful guitar solos, wondrous organ, and acoustic interludes. 

AMORPHIS'S  "ON THE DARK WATERS" kicks in with a definitive, almost funky riff complimented by an amazing clean and death vocal performance via TOMI JOUTSEN..

AMORPHIS'S . "THE MOON" enters with a soaring melodic guitar riff segueing into progressive rock excursions within the frame work of a great track. "THE MOON" features some good songwriting and excellent vocals as the track is predicted to get alot of airplay.   

AMORPHIS'S ."WINDMANE" enters beautifully wit the sound of flute as the track segues into some vicious progressive metal. A mournful melodic guitar riff floats through "WINDMANE" as vocalist TOMI JOUTSEN weaves seamlessly  between death and clean vocals. A short time later, "WINDMANE" picks up the tempo for an awesome keyboard solo."WINDMANE'S diversity flows very well for a truly progressive track. 

 AMORPHIS'S  "A NEW LAND" is a rocking a rager featuring great, melodic guitar and sitar interplay and female backing vocals. .

  AMORPHIS'S "WHEN THE GODS CAME" enters with keyboards seguing into progressive metal. Drmatic keyboard interplay dance in and out of  WHEN THE GODS CAME" as the track features both clean and death metal vocals performed at the highest quality. I love the breakdown featured on "WHEN THE GODS CAME" as the keyboards follow the riff into some excellent songwriting. 

AMORPHIS'S "SEVEN ROADS COME TOGETHER" features majestic, melodic guitars and dramatic riff and keyboard interplay. I love "SEVEN ROADS COME TOGETHER", tasteful progressive influences and how they meld with melodic death metal. 

 AMORPHIS'S "WAR" enters in heavy fashion with technical melodic and thrash guitar riffs. "WAR'S seguing into folky segment before taking off into a mellow interlude with clean vocals.."Black is my Earth and my home" sings AMORPHIS vocalist TOMI JOUTSEN before the track segues into a choral of female vocals and back to thrash for HALO'S heaviest track.   

"HALO", the title track from this  awesome AMORPHIS release is a soaring track dripping with melody and coupled with clean and death male vocals and female back up vocals. I love the mid track melancholic little break with female back up vocals, nice touch on an anthem of a track.  

AMORPHIS'S "WOLF" kicks off heavy with death metal vocals and death metal riffing before in the blink of an eye, segueing into a more melodic segment with soaring clean vocals. Mid way though "WOLF" , the track slows down pace with melodic guitars for a melancholy segment and choral vocals before taking off again. 

AMORPHIS'S "HALO" closes with  "MY NAME IS RIGHT" is a stunning and beautiful  folk ballad featuring PETRONELLA NETTERMALM,. "MY NAME IS RIGHT" in all its melancholy, is emotive and epic. 

AMORHPI'S "HALO" is the third release in a trilogy of Northern myths of Finland. However, the lyrical topics could be applied to what's going on the world currently. 

 AMORHPI'S "HALO" is brilliant cauldron of progressive and melodic metal featuring truly amazing songwriting and musicianship. I love how  AMORHPI'S "HALO" segues from progressive elements to melodic rock and metal in the blink of an eye. 

 AMORHPI'S "HALO" features excellent production and insightful lyrics and songwriting. 

Truly, magnificent,  AMORHPI'S "HALO" is one of the most insightful releases of this young year and should be considered for a Finnish Grammy.  

ITP RATING: ****1/2
PRODUCTION: ****1/2
SONGWRITING:****1/2
PERFORMANCE:****  

 

AMORPHIS "HALO": 

https://spak-individualthoughtpatterns.blogspot.com/2022/02/amorphis-streaming-new-release-halo-via.html 

ITP V.022 REVIEW: AMORPHIS "HALO" by INDIVIDUAL THOUGHT PATTERNS V.022 is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
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Thanks-Stay Metal, Stay Brutal-\m/ -l-