Amorphis- Tuenola (1999)


Amorphis returns after a 3 year waiting period to release Tuenola. Although many people will be disappointed with it, I'm sure that this album gained as many fans as they had lost. The reasons for disappointment include the loss of Tomi singing (Tomi does still play lead guitar in the band and is still a full time member) and the use of Pasi's vocals. However, before judging too harshly, just take a listen to "Greed" which features Pasi doing some outstanding death vocals (although they are a bit harder to adjust to than Tomi's). Also, the band is currently without a full time keyboard player as Kim Rantala left in 1997. The band still does incorporate keys into their music, they are just used more subtlely. Listen to the track "Summers End" (a fave track of mine) and you can hear how the keyboard is played underneath the wall of guitars and such but it gives the music a much more eerie sound. Its amazing how atmospheric some of the music sounds with this method. Other standouts include "The Way" which uses the same keyboard method as "Summers" but "The Way" also gives Tomi a chance to shred on the guitar and theres no denying that he does a damn good job. The title track (which I can not spell for the life of me without the CD in hand) is perhaps the slowest on the CD and it reminds me of a better thought-out version of Metallica's "The Unforgiven"....this song also features a very cool saxophone solo at the end. "Rusty Moon" seems to be a fan favorite and reminds me of "My Kantale" from the Elegy album- the reminder comes from the flute player in this song- its very swirly(?) like the keyboards that were used in "My Kantale" and "Black Winter Day". Overall, this is a very strong effort from Amorphis and I can't wait to hear what they come up with next.