Skyforger

Skyforger is an important work on which Amorphis fuses heavy, powerful guitar and deep Nordic sorrow in an extremely natural flow. Again themed on the world of Finland’s national epic the Kalevala, it strongly puts forward its narrative. Powerful, aggressive parts and soft, beautiful melody constantly intersect, and while heavy, it surely leaves deep emotion in the listener’s heart. Tomi Joutsen’s outstanding vocals powerfully drive that world. From the powerful drive of the opener “Sampo” to the catchy hit classic “Silver Bride,” every song is engaging, while cuts like “From the Heaven of My Heart,” “Sky Is Mine” and “My Sun” convey the work’s fullness. Rich folk color and modern metal’s sure texture coexist, and the scenery vividly changes from song to song. In particular, “Silver Bride” became one of the band’s signature songs. A polished album on which one can splendidly feel the band’s many-sided appeal as one sure flow. It inscribes one peak of the fulfilling period after Tomi Joutsen joined. An engaging masterpiece that powerfully expressed Finland’s deep mythic world in modern metal — a record where the band’s maturity shines.