Search - Amorphis :: Tales From the Thousand Lakes

A Crowning Achievement

OzzyApu | Seattle, WA | 05/02/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Why do I always end up reviewing after Sunshine The Werewolf? Anyways...

As most of us know, this is a major centerpiece in the Melodic Death Metal universe. While the Holy Trinity between In Flames, Dark Tranquillity, and At The Gates was forming over in Sweden, Amorphis had already reached perfection with -Tales From The Thousand Lakes- in Finland. Months ago this album caught my eye with its glorious cover. I knew that these guys had immense potential, but at the time I didn't know and was too lazy to listen.



Vocalist/guitarist Tomi Koivusaari, my favorite member of Amorphis, does the growls/cookie monster vocals, which I think mixes very well with the music. Amorphis hired Ville Tuomi to play the clean vocals for a sense of variety and so that Tomi's doesn't get dull. Anyways this was my introduction to Amorphis and their greatness. They have their own style I see, which massively changes with -Elegy-, the next album. This would be their last step as a Melodic Death band, as they would go on to achieve musical greatness while having more folksy, rock-oriented riffs and less aggressiveness. My theory behind the appeal that this album holds to so many people is the atmosphere it creates when you let it fully absorb you. I do find the production to be rusty on some tracks more than others, especially when compared to -Elegy-. Though we should be thankful such sound was produced.



All the songs are their own art. -Elegy- does put light on things, but the mood and vibe of this record pours out with each one you hear. The monster vocals are easy to take in, but the clean singing at first will appear shallow, which is probably the reason why they hired Pasi to handle them on later records. Songs like "Into Hiding" and "Black Winter Day" will have memorable passages that will automatically hook you. You know just as much as I do that the tune on "Black Winter Day" is unforgettable.



My personal favorites will always be "In The Beginning" and "Magic And Mayhem" because they are majestic in all aspects. The former starts out with a solid riff and a duet between Ville and Tomi which ends with a slower riff and Esa letting loose a beautiful passage. Here...is where it becomes the best song on the album along with "Black Winter Day", or in my opinion even better. Esa unleashes the perfect guitar solo that sounds so epic it makes Lord Of The Ring look like going to the grocery store. This part alone is worth the purchase of this legend.



The latter begins with a melodic instrumental passage that you would expect from a track under an album cover like this. After roughly over a minute, it starts to chug its way into your head with a pounding riff atop Tomi's beastly vocals. A very sweet riff starts at 2:30, just before picking up the pace. No clean vocals make this one a pleaser. After this short pick up, it goes back into an instrumental passage with electronic beeps, that is, before actually having electronic beats and tunes flash everywhere. Tomi and the gang break it up with their powers and end the record superbly.



Of course the battle will always rage between this and -Elegy-. It is really a hard decision, but I truly find -Tales From The Thousand Lakes- reigning supreme in my book. As for this, pick it up, one way or another. The Karelian is waiting for you."

Excellent melodic death

Smithy1185 | San Diego, CA USA | 05/16/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"After hearing many negative comments from others about the newer albums from Amorphis, I never looked into their older releases until a few weeks ago. After listening to this album I can say that this is an excellent cd that is some of the best of the melodic death genre. The lyrics are quite good too as they focus on the Finnish folk legend of Kalevala. The sound quality is great and although I'm not a huge fan of the higher pitched singing found throughout several of the songs, it does add something different to the mix. If you have yet to pick up this cd and are a fan of melodic death metal, be sure to grab a copy as you will surely be listening to this classic for quite some time."

Best Death Metal Record Ever Recorded

Jazon D. Fletcher | Rosepine,LA | 08/31/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Tales From The Thousand Lakes is the best Death Metal Record Ever Recorded. In my opinion it is the Sgt. Pepper of the Death Metal Genre. The vocals are always spot on even though to most they are nothing more than growls , they are still the best recorded growls bar none and recorded as poetry based on the Finnish national epic, the Kalevala.



The guitars are heavy, melodic , and easily accessible no matter if your a fan of cannibal corpse or a fan of metallica. The double kicks are their for the bass heads and their are plenty of keyboards and synths to smoke out to. It is also a record that most metal heads will play many times from start to finish and not get burned out on



At times listening to this record is like listening to the haunted souls of H.P. Lovecraft or Edgar Allen Poe, it's shere genius and a work of pure magick that is really shocking coming from a genre that is usually a graveyard for mediocrity.



Give it a listen and I'm sure you will agree it is a jewel in the crown of the metal genre.



My favorite song off the Album is " Black Winter Day ""