To Celebrate three decades of their genre defining second album Finland’s Amorphis have released a special live version of Tales From The Thousand Lakes recorded at the world famous Tavastia which also includes a full live performance which I will be discussing here.
Review by Rick Eaglestone for MPM
Rerecording and performing a landmark album can be a tricky task to navigate as there are varying factors to consider such a change of musicians along the way and can a newer version capture the atmosphere of the original?
Well, the short answer is yes as Amorphis manage to build the bridge from their musical roots to their contemporary iteration whilst still managing to keep the timelessness of their music and tightly woven Finnish landscapes and lore part of their enduring musical legends.
Performing a landmark album in its entirety, front to back in the chronological order, is an extraordinary moment. The blue tones are prominent and rightly so as each track shimmers with spellbinding Northern beauty and the vigour of a present-day metal show.
The iconic instrumental “Tales From The Thousand Lakes,” set to aerial shots of the Finnish wilderness, the stormy opener “Into Hiding,” the unforgettable classic “Black Winter Day” or “Magic & Mayhem” take us back in time while firmly holding tight to the here and now.
There are some wonderful bonus additions such as bringing it back to where it all began with the blistering delivering of sheer death metal “Vulgar Necrolatry” and the wonderful musician highlighting on the near nine-minute opus “My Kantele” which provides fans (who may have various editions) something else to further enjoy.
“It was an interesting yet confusing experience”, vocalist Tomi Joutsen says of the era of streaming concerts. “On the one hand we just did what we had done hundreds of time before. On the other I felt very nervous, because at that point we were lacking the routine of playing live.” Seeing this band revel in one of the great all-time classics of heavy metal doesn’t make you realize that. And what’s more: For Joutsen and AMORPHIS, it was also a much-needed remedy in dire times. “It was a good reminder for all of us of just how great it feels to play music together as a band.” And now get that show on the road.
Tales From The Thousand Lakes (Live at Tavastia) is a tightly delivered celebration of both past and present.
Amorphis – Tales From The Thousand Lakes (Live at Tavastia) track listing
- Thousand Lakes
- Into Hiding
- The Castaway
- First Doom
- Black Winter Day
- Drowned Maid
- In The Beginning
- Forgotten Sunrise
- To Father’s Cabin
- Magic and Mayhem
- Vulgar Necrolatry
- My Kantele
Line-up:
Tomi Joutsen – Vocals
Esa Holopainen – Lead Guitar
Tomi Koivusaari – Rhythm Guitar
Santeri Kallio – Keyboards
Olli-Pekka Laine – Bass
Jan Rechberger – Drums
https://www.facebook.com/amorphis
https://www.instagram.com/amorphisband
10/10
