#VAGABONDZREVIEW: AMORPHIS - HALO
- Feb 22, 2022
- 17 min read
The album I was yarning for has finally seen the light. The new record of Amorphis titled Halo was released on February 11.
Amorphis is the band I truly adore and appreciate. Needless to say how much I was waiting for Halo to finally be released. It took me a while to put together and write down the thoughts because of the record's progressiveness and complexity. Now I'm absolutely happy to share my very own opinion on Halo with you.
The first time for me to listen to Halo and namely the half of this album was on February 10 - a day before the official release. I'm grateful to Radio Rock Suomi for making the album listening session two hours before the actual release. Moreover, followed by the band members' comments (Santeri Kallio and Esa Holopainen were discussing the creating process, some special features added and other things), every song image was drawn by my imagination before I could in fact listen to it. That's really riveting and important aspect for every writer or musician (or even both). Thus the listening session turned out to be cozy and warm and truly magical atmosphere was prevailing all around. Thank to this wonderful opportunity, I was able to create my first impression and write some thoughts down to my phone when listening. Spoilering a bit, I was truly astonished after listening to even a part of the upcoming album and now it's finally time to unveil my thoughts and analyze Halo all around.
It's been a while since I last mentioned anything concerning the album covers. Nowadays it seems the bands doesn't pay much attention to this important part of the release making the covers look unattractive, boring or with weak design applied. On the contrary, Halo album cover truly represents the inner filling of the record having the light and dark sides if we speak both of music and design. And it was made in truly Amorphis style! I associated Halo album cover with Under The Red Cloud (2015). It's not a surprise for those to have many elements in common, the same fact goes to Queen Of Time album cover. Amorphis were speaking of their trilogy albums for many times and Halo is to become the last chapter of Under The Red Cloud-Queen Of Time-Halo trilogy.
Northwards
The song titled Northwards is the first breath of the Halo album opening the new chapter in Amorphis history. I get shiver down my spine out of excitement as hear this deep and dark intro welcoming the song. Comparing to enlivened and moving keys intro in The Bee (Queen Of Time album) instantly gathering attention and exhilarating with the power, Halo takes the new direction being the softer and slower album-opener. As for me, those dark and gloomy keys feel like teasing especially with percussions and drums appear time after time. But when I hear the intro gradually progresses developing the song idea it feels like a deep breath of fresh air. To my mind, the keys sound in Northwards intro can be associated with a great shade of hope entering the initial gloominess. At least for me it feels just like that and the shade of hope immediately captures concentrating all attention on its sound. I truly adore the way the keys are built in Amorphis songs, taking the dominant positions across the song structure and expressing so different feelings. As far as the main idea develops, I notice the slight volume raise predicting for the rest of the instruments to enter the game. Oh yeah, the intro went truly tremendous!
Couple of powerful blast beats and here it comes! The best Amorphis classics with subline lead guitar melody driving the song and stable basement perfectly balanced with moving bass and rhythm guitar tracks. In complex, all instruments make outstanding dynamics letting the song develop.
Not even trying to hide it, I'm waiting for the first verse to fire up with Tomi's growling vocals. What totally amazes is the fact of his vocals compliment the firm and unforgivable rhythm guitars! This song part makes me headbanging due to its lasting dynamics.
The great enlivening and refreshment for Northwards is the chorus implementing the clean vocals of Tomi Joutsen. To tell the truth, Tomi is the only singer I have goosebumps from when it comes to his vocal range and incredible vocals power and precisely when it comes to the vocals style interchange (from growls to clean). I feel nothing but respect to Tomi's pure talent and hard work. The nice addition to this bright song part is guitar lead part on the background. It's important for that guitar part not to disturb but supply and this idea works just perfect here.
Back to the lead guitar melody I've already heard in intro, it's time to enjoy it once again. This time it's perfectly complimented with growls what definitely added up to the sound massiveness making this part mighty and remarkable.
What I like even more is the way the song parts are joined - from growls to growls keeping the main idea. After I hear the first half of the song, the second verse feels more powerful and convincing with those growls driving it. But now, it's time for the first surprise the band made.
Logically, I was prepared to hear the chorus another time but instead my predicted song pattern got broken. The same joining we had in the first chorus arrived but now it's time for the catchy and tranquil keys lead part unexpectedly come. I remember the same structure was used in The Four Wise Ones - one of my top favorite songs from Amorphis because of its pure and exhilarating heaviness and melodics fulfilling your veins with adrenaline. So the pattern repeats here in Northwards and to my mind it suits the song very much. I also welcome the clean guitar sound usage; it's another great step to diversify the song. The vocals add up to peacefulness and calmness with some magical effect expressing in the way of story-telling. This peculiarity enlivens without any signs of artifice. This is what I find marvelous in Northwards.
The breaking moment for the song directing to the final is demonstrated in the following joining. I predicted those structures here and finally those came. The joining includes the massive shades and pomposity inherent to classical music. The same element is also inherent to Nightwish music and of course Halo precursor Queen Of Time is fulfilled with the similar elements. What is more, the band added another unexpected element for Northwards. It's the short part of choir nicely accomplishing the occasionally appearing pompous parts mostly expressed by keys. Works perfect for the dynamics-driver making the song sound mighty and grandeur.
To finish the song in proper way, it's time to add another mind-blowing effect with increasing drums track speed when other instruments keep their own. This peculiarity works nicely to concentrate all powers on giving the song the bright and catchy ending.
On The Dark Waters
After the VERY promising Halo album beginning now it's time to move to another Amorphis masterpiece called On The Dark Waters. As far as the song saw the light earlier I get used to that and know this one pretty well already.
From the very intro part, I thought On The Dark Waters to be definitely my cup of tea. The intro immediately captures with dreamy keys sound and silent guitar sound preparing for the blast to come. And finally the song opens the gates with the classic Amorphis sound where all instruments are greatly balanced demonstrating probably one of the brightest and outstanding songs released by the band.
The prominent and distinguished guitar immediately gives me the food for thought. The noticeable change in rhythm guitar is obvious comparing to Queen of Time as far as Halo has heavier and ripper sound. The guitar sound seems to be built in more natural way and I’m convinced that the incoming sound wasn’t greatly polished. This is the main spark of On The Dark Waters and Halo album as a whole. Needless to say how much I appreciate that feature as far as I'm deeply into guitars for a really long time. As far as growling vocals drift together with that mighty guitar, they make the image of the song.
The chorus is nicely accomplished with background guitar solo classic for Amorphis music. In order not to disturb the listener, the lead guitar has milder and softer sound to emphasize the powerful vocals driving the song in so mighty way. The chorus went airy and opened fulfilled with freedom. The intro melody repeated and that fact makes the chorus have sounded even brighter for me. It's just the pure unstoppable hurricane capturing my feelings during every microsecond of the song. Another great chorus means another chance to enjoy the enlivening guitars energy and breathtaking vocals of Tomi Joutsen.
Needless to say, I was really intrigued what king of guitar solo would break into On The Dark Waters. I thought that the most suitable for this one is some heavy and powerful melody highlighting the main song idea but instead the Amorphis had done everything in reverse. Followed by peacefulness of the repeated intro melody, the guitar solo was made clean and tranquil adding up to the folk elements of On The Dark Waters. The solo style strongly reminds me of The Golden Elk.
The both powerful and calm part comes right after the solo drifted away. The bridge containing growls and supported with the thunderous blast beats is truly one of my favorite parts in entire Halo album. It's perfect break for the song that keeps the pressure but the same pointing out all powerful features of On The Dark Waters. Moreover, those feelings were outstandingly expressed in the music video for this song. Check it out here.
Another spark of On The Dark Waters is the final break moment that powerfully rushing to the main idea. According to its structure it reminds me of The Bee (opening song for Queen Of Time album). The melodics emphasized with growls are just mind-blowing and surely they add up much fire to the main sound. This moment is incredibly inspiring...
The Moon
To begin with, I adore the song order in whole album and my favorite songs change is here. On The Dark Waters-The Moon is the touching, breaking and powerful combination giving the greatest rush for my inspiration. The Moon was released last year and I could earlier express my feelings concerning that one in the earlier review (read here). Since, I can only prove and state that this song has awakened me from the darkness that was driving me crazy in the end of last year. The entire composition of The Moon expressed hope and belief for me and namely I find keys the best instrument to express those feelings. It's the most amusing one here. Thanks to The Moon, I could concentrate on my emotions to process them and finally direct into songwriting I haven't done for years. On my own example I could feel the healing comes from music and this effect is now proved.
Now I'd like to share my earlier thoughts on The Moon from December 22:
The Moon comes to life in mild and mesmerizing way filling you up with serenity and tranquility. It's the classic way for Amorphis to start a song and always winning regarding to their remarkable key melodies sticking to memory.
What can I add here after many and many listenings? I start loving this song more after every moment when put to my headphones. Opening the new elements and peculiarities in every Amorphis song is something I really like and Halo is the best example of feelings and shades diversity.
After the next chorus there comes my favorite combination of growling and cleans. Tomi does the transitions so easily and powerfully so I can just express my admiration to him another time.
The chorus is totally intoxicating and it makes me feel so alive, and I won’t stop saying inspiring. The list of the bands giving me those amounts of inspiration and power is pretty short, especially nowadays.
Compositionally and musically it makes me remind of Skyforger album that is endured with long standing fresh and airy melodies always ready to fill you up with its freedom and the state of feeling alive.
The Moon is definitely about feeling alive. This masterpiece is intoxicating.
Windmane
The darkness of keys intro is perfectly combined with that shadowy guitar slowly entering. Lead guitar melody is made in darker and so enchanting Amorphis way. The background keys are adding a bit of folk atmosphere to the existing gloominess. This element is Amorphis is something I always like because it gives an impression of some magic is about to appear.
The verse went totally intoxicating and namely because of the curious composition pattern implied. The vocals here are sailing through the melody pattern being its spicy driver while the drums are going separate from the rest of tracks. I feel the drums tempo to be increased a bit but it's not obstacle for the melody to play in the beat. This pattern is something really new for me that was a bit harder to catch up during the first listen on Radio Rock. But afterwards when I’d started to stream the album I caught that fascinating idea and now convinced that it was the brightest and the most complex part in Halo adding very special shade to the album atmosphere. The way guitars follow that drums pattern is undoubtedly attention-grabbing taking into account their heavier sound and gloominess. What's also interesting, there're percussions on the background strengthening the entire composition.
As far as the chorus enters, I immediately catch the Katatonia shade expressed in lingering and agonizing clean vocals nicely colored by delay. The way Tomi sings here naturally takes my breath away. The chorus demonstrates dreamier and softer side of Windmane taking a break from heaviness and growls.
The vocal transitions here are also striking. The jumps from the calm and peaceful ones in chorus to the magic growls are so nicely caught by the next verse. Already with the second chorus entering, the lead guitar dominance start developing and it's a sign of some interesting elements to come. Soon comes the moving bridge where guitars take advantage and start destroying. A pinch of anxiety here suits the gloomy mood of the song perfectly. Generally speaking, the way Amorphis express the feelings in their music is breathtaking. There also comes the keys solo afterwards, that sound so passionate!
When the song direction changes for the final part there comes the kicking growls - the classic way for Amorphis to finish the song. With the lead guitar melody, the entire composition blossoms with new colors even more.
How the song can be both heavy and easy-listening fulfilled with air and freshness? Windmane is the answer. Undoubtedly it takes time to feel the beauty of this song but it truly worth it!
A New Land
Airy and fresh breath of lead guitars intro as if a wake up call after the soft and dreamy Windmane. Again I feel the enlivening shade of Skyforger album here. I start liking the lead guitar here even more with every listen as far as it has lasting melodic in complex with the heavy rhythm on the background.
The growls are again the first to dominate the doom and gloomy verse. And guitars, I can't help enjoying this natural heaviness!
The female backing vocals are turned out to be another surprise in Halo and the first breath of this peculiarity enters in A New Land. The combination of male and female vocals is mostly a winning point to diversify the music and now we hear the perfect example. Just like in Windmane, A New Land vocals transition exhilarates, convincing the song to be dynamic and powerful especially when Tomi sings it. The element kept in my memory is when the growls and lead guitar enter the game simultaneously and drift across the song structure complimenting each other.
Another blast from the past! A New Land chorus definitely has the shades of You I Need taken from The Beginning of Times album. I really adore that song and precisely in combination with the music video plot. This kind of chorus refreshes and inspires putting Tomi's powerful vocals in accent.
The progressiveness of A New Land is enchanting. With all instruments dominating one by another, the song gets incredibly special. And I think it's now time to say how much I adore progressive elements in metal music as far as those let to dip into the instrumental version and even have a dialogue with the songwriter. The same melody can show different shades depending on your mood and it's always curious to catch some new elements in the same song.
When The Gods Came
The intriguing beginning includes thunderous blast beats with the lead guitar melody and massive and breathtaking keys appeared.
What a damn great riff and that awakening lead melody, I thought during the first listen of When The Gods Came. That song is written in the best traditions of melodic death metal and the album is now completed with pure energy and heaviness. This part has enough dynamics to instantly make me headbanging. As for me, the main instrument in this kind of parts is always bass that drives the entire instruments mixture keeping the balance.
The perfect change for growling vocals supported by firm and heavy guitar soon gets a highlight from the keys. I must also point out my pure respect and admiration to Santeri Kallio who is one of the best keyboard players I've ever heard (I've heard enough to make such conclusion). His passion finds expression in catchy and remarkable lead parts and massive and powerful background arrangements that's a must for Amorphis music. It's always perfect to listen to the work of the people who enjoy doing their job.
The dreamy bridge that soon changes for chorus is greatly fulfilled with folk elements and the same folk influence is heard in Tomi's singing style in this song. When the stress is put on "Gods" I feel this song to instantly remain in my memory. And yeah, even during the listening session! The breathtaking Tomi's vocals are nicely emphasized with lead guitar perfectly played by Esa Holopainen. I truly adore his lead parts. Those are always catchy and mesmerizing putting the accent to melodics.
When The Gods Came doesn't stop developing. Tomi's growls are now accomplished with percussions that adds more space to the second verse. It's unusual element but pretty catchy one because you always should make music interesting and expectable!
The instrumental bridge is so easy and nice to listen getting prepared for another chorus. Taking into account all elements situated in this song, I can call it the album-driver in melodeath respects.
Seven Road Come Together
I'm in awaiting for the blast since the first Seven Roads Come Together sounds reaching my headphones. The guitars sound is refreshing and opened giving the feeling of being alive. The verse has the earlier appeared pomposity once again and now it's more highlighted and opened. Must say I was waiting for some Queen Of Time vibes as far as it had loads of similar pompous parts. Tomi's vocals greatly emphasize that atmosphere created.
I enjoy the way the bridge and chorus are joined. To begin with, the chorus itself has the atmosphere of awaiting including a tremble feeling what makes is really special giving magical vibes. The atmosphere of this song is truly amazing. The growling part does its best to emphasize those feelings.
It feels for me that really detailed work was done with solo and lead parts in general. Those have bright and fresh sound and incredible accuracy expressed in every single note pointed out. It's a real pleasure to be listening to those ones.
The amazing way to keep the solo idea is to add the touching clean vocal line with the transition made back to growls. It's mind-blowing.
The song goes even heavier with harder and firmer rhythm guitar added emphasizing the vocal track when same time I hear keys are going louder too.
War
The folk elements in the beginning of War are instantly capturing. I really enjoy those parts played by Santeri Kallio, those always add up to the song mood a predetermine the way it would sound. The intro as a whole feels like a damn hurricane and I feel even power metal features here mainly because of drums massiveness expressed. Those blast beats are exhilarating! Moreover, the lead guitar part added to the verse makes great diversity and sounds a bit intriguing. The same time blast beats keep shocking being so thunderous and loud preparing for the change to be totally mind-blowing.
I always enjoyed double vocals tracks or extra delay used on a single vocal track. To my mind the biggest amount of power is situated namely using those special effects. With the thunderous blast beats dominating and the double growls appeared, War proves the effectiveness of those elements. The great rage is expressed in that vocals part and instruments keep those idea pointing out the vocal line peculiarities and namely guitar with its piercing sound.
The chorus on the contrary is lingering and slow with the same heavy guitars on the background. I'm in all ears listening to Tomi singing here. He's not going to stop surprising me with his powerful and versatile vocals so magically complimenting the entire instruments mixture. The point that this chorus is truly magical one is proved after the next one - I also caught how closely and lively those sound. Just amazing how it works.
To continue with, it's a pleasure to listen to choir again. Here in War those definitely add kinda anxious feeling in complex with the thunderous blast beats and guitars.
Halo
The loudness and power welcoming the titled track are mind-blowing. What I find amazing here is clean vocals starting the song and here there's the same vocal feature as in War. Close and enlivening, the vocals here make me have goosebumps other time. The deepness and tranquility of Tomi's voice having the gripping effect on me when I only concentrate on music and let it drive my soul.
The mixture of cleans and growls in Halo chorus is really powerful with those rapid transitions. Another element I adore in Amorphis music is the structures implementing the fast drums track and slow and mighty clean vocals following it. Moreover, Halo also includes clean female backing vocals joining on the second verse. The entire composition having the lead guitar melody in the middle range is a nice addition to both kind of vocals softening those even more.
Halo is the song combining all elements of Amorphis new album. The classic patters, the state of the art ones. All vocal styles, incredible power, massiveness, pomposity, progressiveness and of course folk. And even clean guitars with nice backing vocals.
The Wolf
The song titled The Wolf has really dark and gloomy keys intro soon accomplished with unreally heavy guitars. It may sound weird but the first association I caught with that guitar riff was Rammstein until the moment heard the ending of the riff. The Wolf is undoubtedly heavy and it captivates with this heaviness.
Again here I'm totally into the clean chorus concentrating the melodics. Lead guitars build a gloomy and a bit sorrowful melody that captivate in combination with vocals.
I really hope this song would be played live because it has those amazing vibes perfect to become the part of setlist.
The lead guitars across the song are enchanting and makes me feel a bit upset because we're moving closer to the end of the album.
My Name Is Night
The perfect ending for the advanced, complex and melody-wise album. Starting from the mesmerizing acoustic melody it instantly predicts the appearance of clean vocals. Choosing the female vocals to be the main focus of My Name Is Night is definitely great idea. In respects of diversity but keeping the same Amorphis style can't go wrong. It's always nice to enjoy the peacefulness of unplugged song. It shows the softer side of Amorphis with outstanding grand piano melody on the background. Tomi's clean vocals nicely compliment the female ones creating the catchy and mighty power for My Name Is Night.
Another great highlight of the closing song is the clean guitar solo. It's really dynamic and touching one. It really suits Amorphis and this addition makes the song sound bigger and deeper. The tempo is kept slow here but the drums save that thunderous shade from the earlier Halo songs.
With the last Tomi's vocal line here the sorrow immediately dominates over me.
The album is entire and complete now.
About The Entire Record
Needless to say how much I was waiting for Halo to finally fire up and blast in my headphones drifting me into the Finnishness and peacefulness soon to be expressed in this review. Fulfilling me with the hurricane of new feelings and emotions concerning the new elements across the record, Halo album has totally come up to my earlier expectations. I feel on cloud nine listening and re-listening to this one catching and processing the new elements appearing all over and across the record. Halo isn't the album to listen only once - it's a complex composition created for delighting and both analyzing. It gives an enormous amount of inspiration expressing in my instant desire to go writing my own music and also this really long review.
Now I’d like to mention some important aspects regarding the new album. The first key factor of a great record is the proper sound production. Across Halo, I couldn’t do nothing but enjoy the outstanding production of the album. I always put rhythm section as the most demanding element and basement of every album. Drums and bass in Halo nicely add up to dynamics same time balancing the entire instruments mixture. Having the deep and stable sound, Amorphis succeed in making so powerful lower range section.
Another key factor for any record to impress a listener with the rest of the instruments taking part of the record. I'd like to start with the instrument that is more native to me. The guitars are truly mood-drivers in Halo adding the shades of gloominess or melancholy, excitement or hope. You can naturally express any feelings using guitar and even making special tricks to that due to its lasting versatility. To illustrate that, I can give the example of On The Dark Waters that has truly beast-like riff with the capturing dynamics and ripped up sound astonishing with its heaviness. Both Tomi Koivusaari and Esa Holopainen did their job perfectly.
The most breathtaking instrument driving overall song mood and creating decisive atmosphere of the composition is undoubtedly keyboards. Already in the beginning of the album when Northwards slowly opening the chapter of the new Amorphis records, I feel the strong keys dominance expressing any shades of mood appearing across the album. Those predetermine the song to be dark and gloomy or fresh and airy, also keys work perfect to surprise with the rapid mood change adding catchy shades.
The following statement needs repeating:
Halo is the album you can't listen to once. It aims to inspire with complexity and power in all means reflecting different shades inherent to Amorphis music.
Thank you so much for reading this detailed review. I can only say this is the longest one I've ever written. Actually you can't write little when it comes to your favorite music and for me it's always Amorphis. Thank you.
Amorphis line-up:
Tomi Joutsen - vocals
Santeri Kallio - keyboards
Esa Holopainen - lead guitar
Tomi Koivusaari - rhythm guitar
Olli-Pekka Laine - bass
Jan Rechberger - drums
Halo album was released on 11.02.2022 via Atomic Fire Records.
The album tracklist:
Northwards
On The Dark Waters
The Moon
Windmane
A New Land
When The Gods Came
Seven Roads Come Together
War
Halo
The Wolf
My Name Is Night
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