AMORPHIS — The Beginning of Times (review)

AMORPHIS — The Beginning of Times album cover

Album · 2011 · Progressive Metal

5/5 · 2011-08-03
Diogenes

Upon hearing that Amorphis was releasing a new album in May (June for Americans like myself), I was ecstatic. Skyforger is one of my favorite metal albums of all time, and while I doubted that the band could top that, I was still expecting the usual excellence from the band that has given us nothing but since 2006’s Eclipse. And while some people might be put off by the Finns’ latest effort by virtue of it not being up to snuff to its predecessors, The Beginning of Times is what it is: another masterpiece by Amorphis.

I know when I first heard The Beginning of Times, something seemed a little…off. The album is definitely darker than Skyforger, but not dark to the point of Silent Waters. It’s somber, and almost sad at certain points. Tomi Joutsen’s impressive death metal growls are used much more often here, to the delight of the band’s older fans, but they’re employed in a manner that’s more melancholy than it is aggressive. The album length is another concern; although the 54 minutes isn’t that much longer than previous Amorphis efforts, when coupled with the downtrodden sound, it becomes more problematic. Whereas time flies by whenever I listen to Skyforger, The Beginning of Times seems plodding in comparison. The title track at the end was the only one that really stood out to me at this point.

BUT WAIT! After a couple of listens, the genius of The Beginning of Times suddenly explodes out of the murkiness like the giant chicken is about to explode out of that egg on the cover. The melodies, which seemed unmemorable on the album’s first spin, begin sticking just the same as those on Skyforger did. The album’s more complex sound, with many more folk elements being used, is suddenly refreshing instead of disappointing. Take Soothsayer, for instance; what I initially deemed as being “boring” is anything but. It’s gloomy, yes, but the emotion pours from the instruments and Joutsen’s vocal chords all the same. You I Need, the album’s radio-friendly single, may not be catchy as House of Sleep or Silver Bride, but I’ll be damned if it isn’t up there. And guess what? It’s a metal song with love-related lyrics, and it doesn’t suck at all! Amazing. Oh, and the title track is by far the best album closer Amorphis has written in a while. Joutsen steals the show in a chorus that you won’t be forgetting any time soon, and the lyrics wrap up the previous songs perfectly. Each and every track that may have seemed too weird or too slow before comes forth with something unique. The Beginning of Times takes some tender loving listening to fully digest, and it can be hard to make an effort to do so with the gloomy mood, but you really should try to listen to this at least three times. There’s some amazing stuff here.

I already mentioned that there are more folk elements on this album. While the flute, saxophone, and clarinet are all used, there are clearly more folk influences in the regular instrumentation as well. Santeri Kallio, known for setting the traditional Amorphis atmosphere with his synth, uses his piano to stunning effect, especially in songs such as the opener Battle for Light and Reformation. The piano melodies on The Beginning of Times tug at the heartstrings with feeling, each one reminding you that this is not just another metal album. The lovely Netta Dahlberg provides the female vocals that add the perfect tinge of emotiveness, whether it be backing up Joutsen or having the spotlight to herself in Mermaid. And, as usual, the lyrical content of the album is based on Finnish mythology; the band tells the tale in a way that isn’t too cheesy. The folky aspects might seem like a mixed bag at first, but I’m glad they brought them back in full force.

In what would be a pointless aside in any other review, this is one of the few metal albums that I can think of with cover art that flawlessly represents the music inside. The darkness is accented by the waves crashing against the land, with a dim, cloudy sky that seemingly never ends. But the light in the distance hints that the old Amorphis magic didn’t leave at all; it’s just more concealed within the album’s depths. When you find it, it’s more satisfying than ever. To hide such a magnificent piece of work under a morose aura shows a band that has mastered both their individual instruments and the art of working together; six men working as one in perfect harmony.

Overcoming an unimpressive first listen, I must say that these guys continue to meet the lofty expectations that they set for themselves. The Beginning of Times is simply another day at the office for THE premier melodic metal band. Amorphis have truly perfected the act of reinventing themselves with every release, while sticking to the same formula that makes their music so damn good at the same time. Thus, I now realize that comparisons to Skyforger or any of their older albums should be left alone. While this is the band’s first effort in a while that will inevitably bring up debate as to whether they’re running out of steam, the final conclusion should be nothing less than another album of the year by the venerable Finns.