I've known Amorphis for about as long as I've been listening to
extreme metal. Perhaps that explains why it was that despite their
trajectory remaining consistently disappointing for several years now,
I still had to give their new album _Eclipse_ a chance. I hoped that
_Far From the Sun_ would turn out to have been a low point from which
the band would be able to recover with this new record. Maybe
_Eclipse_ wouldn't reveal itself to be just another disappointment
shrouded in a pretty album cover.With Esa Holopainen and Tomi Koivusaari still in the band, Amorphis
have swapped the distinctive vocals of Pasi Koskinen for one Tomi
Joutsen (and also re-signed with Nuclear Blast, leaving Virgin behind).
Somehow, the result is the first Amorphis album in a long time that
isn't worse than its predecessor; in fact, it is actually
significantly better. To a considerable extent and within what could
be realistically expected, _Eclipse_ can be seen as a return to form
for Amorphis. Compared to its predecessor _Far From the Sun_, it is
certainly a much more inspired and enjoyable record. Furthermore, it
also challenges and for the most part beats the band's 2001 effort _Am
Universum_. I don't find it as good as 1999's _Tuonela_ -- and let's
not even compare this to _Elegy_ or their death metal years -- but as
far as I am concerned, _Eclipse_ is clearly a step in the right
direction for the band.
While second track "House of Sleep" sounds uncannily similar to
Paradise Lost, and the main riff on "Leaves Scar" is strongly
reminiscent of Moonspell's "Alma Mater" (_Wolfheart_), _Eclipse_ will
be mostly noted for its harkening back to the band's _Elegy_ and
_Tuonela_ days. This return to the past doesn't happen all the time,
but several melodies, riffs and arrangements do take you back a bit
(e.g. "Under a Soil and Black Stone") -- it's mostly details, but it's
pleasant nonetheless. There's none of the doomy tinge from those times
to be found, but Amorphis seem to have reencountered much of their
knack for creating memorable, engaging songs. Not every track is a
winner, but the aforementioned duo "Leaves Scar" and "Under a Soil and
Black Stone", and also "Born From Fire" and "The Smoke" are unlikely
to disappoint any fans. New vocalist Tomi Joutsen delivers a good
death growl, which is used much more often than on recent years: on
three tracks, no less. His clean vocals are a competent, often
slightly gruffer version of Pasi Koskinen's, so no real loss for
Amorphis there.
What Amorphis will take things from here remains to be seen, but I for
one will now be looking forward to their next record rather than
dreading it.