Amorphis – Queen of Time
Amorphis – Queen of Time
Atomic Fire Records
Release Date: 13/10/23
Running Time: 1:02:44
Review by Paul Hutchings
Rating: 10/10
Shot in an empty Tavastia in 2021, this is an album that every metal fan should already be familiar with. The fact that many are not intimately involved with the Finnish outfit is one of life’s great mysteries. “Queen of Time” was the band’s 13th album, coming three years after the magical “Under the Red Cloud”. The band has released the scintillating “Halo” since “Queen of Time” of course, possibly even more epic than this release, but we are transported back to the hideous days when the world stood locked in the grip of panic, a time of poor decision making and, well, yeah, let’s leave all that shall we?
I reviewed this album in May 2018 for Musipedia of Metal. It received a full house of marks, for it is a massive record. This recording may be even better if that’s possible, for although we only have the audio to work with, “Queen of Time” comes to you with concert quality film, shot from multiple angles, dispelling the sterility of an empty venue.
Now, I wasn’t a huge fan of bands playing their wares to a film crew and a couple of friends, and I haven’t seen the film here. I’ll leave it like that and dive deeply into an album that I thoroughly enjoyed five years ago. And it’s the band who enjoyed this as well. Bandleader Esa Holopainen: “It wasn’t weird actually,” he says. “We’ve shot music videos like ‘Against Widows’ in an empty Tavastia before. Also, we played almost empty crowded gigs in the past.”
There’s something for everyone included in this release. The progressive breakdowns of ‘Daughter of Hate’ with the saxophone adding a subtly different dimension, the crunching opener ‘The Bee’, and the combination of gruff and clean vocals which bring a classic European veneer to proceedings. The songs flow in a fluid, organic manner, with the folkish elements mixing beautifully with the more aggressive and explosive parts.
It’s not an album that I need to explore in great deal. Just get hold of this and allow yourself to immerse yourself in ‘The Golden Elk’, with its driving tempo and delicious vocal interplay that Tomi Joutsen can conjure up with such magnificent ability. And when you have done all that, marvel at the magnificent cameo by the one and only Anneke van Giersbergen who duets with Joutsen on ‘Amongst the Stars’. If this doesn’t raise the hairs on the neck, then you must be dead.
I’ll stop there, for more superlatives are unnecessary. Dive and drink deeply from one of the most innovative bands to grace the metal world in the past three decades. And play it again and again.
TRACKLISTING
01. The Bee
02. Message In the Amber
03. Daughter Of Hate
04. The Golden Elk
05. Wrong Direction
06. Heart Of the Giant
07. We Accursed
08. Grain Of Sand
09. Amongst Stars [feat. Anneke van Giersbergen]
10. Pyres on The Coast
LINE-UP
Tomi Joutsen – Vocals
Esa Holopainen – Guitars
Tomi Koivusaari – Guitars
Olli-Pekka Laine – Bass
Santeri Kallio – Keyboards
Jan Rechberger – drums
LINKS:
Disclaimer: This review is solely the property of Paul Hutchings and Ever Metal. It is strictly forbidden to copy any part of this review, unless you have the strict permission of both parties. Failure to adhere to this will be treated as plagiarism and will be reported to the relevant authorities.
