Tales from the Thousand Lakes

Tales from the Thousand Lakes is a monumental, important work of 1990s Nordic metal on which Amorphis binds death metal’s weight, Finnish-folk melody and a mythic air at extremely high density. Themed on the world of Finland’s national epic the Kalevala, it became a great turning point for the band. Low, heavy guitar and growls make a sure foundation, while the keyboards and beautiful melody vividly draw a cold, vast scenery. From the drama of the opener “Thousand Lakes” and the power of the signature “Into Hiding” to the solemn classic “Black Winter Day,” every song is engaging, while cuts like “The Castaway,” “Drowned Maid” and “First Doom” convey the work’s fullness. Fierceness and deep sorrow are by no means placed separately but switch extremely naturally within the same song, powerfully advancing the story. A record that defined the band’s unshakable character and its influence on the era by making folk color function as a sure part of the heaviness itself, rather than mere decoration. Savoring the riffs’ sure weight while following the moments the melody vividly changes the air and the deep afterglow the keyboards leave, its grand world deepens all the more. An enduring classic of melodic death metal — an essential record for all metal fans.