Silent Waters

Silent Waters is a fulfilling ninth album on which Amorphis beautifully binds beautiful folk melody, heavy, powerful guitar and Tomi Joutsen’s rich, expressive singing. It pushes the new-lineup golden-age style established on the previous Eclipse more deeply. The songs, while holding a quiet, deep sorrow within, powerfully put forward a sure strength as metal at key points, and that dynamic contrast is truly splendid. A record where the band’s mature expression shines. From the powerful drive of the opener “Weaving the Incantation” and the drama of the dramatic title track “Silent Waters” to a cut like “Towards and Against,” every song is engaging, while cuts like “A Servant,” “I of Crimson Blood” and “Enigma” convey the work’s fullness. The Nordic, cold, beautiful shading hanging over the whole powerfully enfolds the entire work like one grand story. An important, fulfilling work of Amorphis on which heaviness and rich melody melt extremely naturally and deeply. Tomi Joutsen’s outstanding singing gives that world a sure depth. An engaging masterpiece expressing Finland’s deep lyricism with modern metal’s weight — a record where the band’s steady ability shines.