Amorphis
Queen Of Time

Queen of time is their latest album. 12 songs and over 69min. It has typical cover design.

Amorphis have not disappointed with any album yet. But with Queen of Time, they set a milestone. Every song here is a jewel. Compared to its predecessor, Under The Red Cloud this album not a break in style, but a subtle variant and/or further development. The new style tools are not dominant, but are used in a targeted and musical way, and overall Queen of Time shows a great self-confidence — AMORPHIS knows who they are, and remain true to themselves and to their style.

After the previous Finnish masterpiece “Under the Red Cloud”, it seemed as if the team had reached a peak and there was nowhere to grow further. However, three years later it turned out that there is where. The ideas and findings of the Red Cloud were developed in the Queen of Time. No, Amorphis has not changed beyond recognition, they still actively use the melody of Finnish folk songs, not stuffing it with the brain-building progressive. Although difficult rhythmic and arranging techniques are present here. But everything is organic and melodic. Many things have to be said thanks to producer Jens Bogren, the second album in a row to appear as the "seventh member of the group." Probably expanding the toolkit is his idea. In addition to synthesizer keyboards, we hear a church organ recorded by full-time keyboard player Amorphis Santeri Kallio, as well as the piano and hammond, played by Aki Sivonen. At times, the Hellscore Choir and Orphaned Land Oriental Orchestra appear. Both teams collaborate with one famous Israeli progressive-folk formation (tell me, what is her name?). In Daughter of Hate, we hear saxophone solo performed by Jörgen Munkäby and recitation in Finnish by the full-time poet Amorphis Pekka Kainulainen. In “The Golden Elk”, Affif Merhey played a solo on the oud, and Israeli singer Noah Gruman is responsible for the “Ofra Haza vocals” on the disc, as indicated in the booklet. Anneke van Girsbergen visited the song “Amongst Stars”, and Albert Kuvezin's throat singing was in the opening album “The Bee”. And each guest is more than appropriate. In the main team, a small change happened. Last year, right before the Russian tour, bass player Niklas Etelavuori left Amorphis, and the musicians called to the rescue of ex-band member Olli-Pekka Line. Temporary replacement was permanent. Opplineen, as vocalist Tom Joutsen called him at a concert at the Volta Club, stood at the origins of the band, spent the entire 90s in it and left Amorphis in 2000. So the musician was able to "enter the river twice." The composers of Queen of Time are keyboardist Santeri Kallio and founding guitarist Esa Holopainen. And here is one of two bonus tracks, “As Mountains Crumble”, composed by Olli-Pekka. By the way, bonuses also entered the Russian edition - a luxurious six-band digipack, which is “richer” than only the Japanese edition with three bonuses. Despite the duration of as much as 70 minutes, Queen of Time flies in one breath and asks for a repeat, as well as on the list of Albums of the Year.

un gran disco, al nivel del anterior "under the red cloud" que para mi fue de lo mejor que han sacado en los últimos 15 años, grandes temas que enganchas para el directo