Am Universum

Am Universum is an ambitious fifth album on which Amorphis, while keeping heavy guitar as its foundation, takes in keyboards, saxophone and clean vocals extremely widely. No longer fitting within a specific genre frame, the distinctive air the songs create and their rich flow are valued above all. Experimental content on which psychedelic, progressive elements are more strongly put forward. Pasi Koskinen’s singing deeply colors that world. From the drive of the powerful opening classic “Alone” and the drama of “Goddess” to a cut like “The Night Is Over,” every song is engaging, while cuts like “Crimson Wave” and “Forever More” convey the work’s fullness. Even within a dark, weighty texture, there are open, beautiful passages, and their color richly increases the more you listen. A record that became an important turning point, powerfully moving into a broader, freer expression without ever completely discarding the old death-metal weight. Its bold experimental spirit, such as the introduction of saxophone, gives the work a one-of-a-kind character. An engaging, ambitious work showing Amorphis’s tireless inquiry — a record where the band’s breadth shines.