Amorphis - Magic & Mayhem: Tales From the Early Years (2010)^{Release ID: 2471}

I really feel like I'm losing my touch with the more epic and melodic metal bands out there. Despite finally gaining enough full-time interest in Amorphis last year and enjoying many of their releases, the enjoyment didn't last long and I ended up back in square one, likely because I'm still hellbent on the more modern heavy bands. I decided that the best way to revisit this band is through this album, Magic & Mayhem - Tales from the Early Years, a 20th anniversary re-recording of songs from their first 3 albums.

The weird yet cool artwork of a gigantic Moby Dick-sized fish (somehow writing that sounds a bit dirty) is a sign of how monstrous the band's earlier material is that has been re-recorded. The songs from their underground debut The Karelian Isthmus are in greater detail. The band stay faithful to the original songs while adding some more guitar soloing, keyboards, and longer sections. Also enhancing the spirit of those tracks is the band's skillful current vocalist Tomi Joutsen. I enjoy his clean singing as well as his powerful growls that allowed the band to revisit some of their roots when he joined the band. And this helps with the mostly solid songs the band has chosen...

The title track of the compilation, which is also the last track of its original album Tales from the Thousand Lakes, focuses a lot on keyboards while keeping the heavy riffing going, fitting well with the name. "Vulgar Necrolatry" was originally a bonus track from The Karelian Isthmus, stemming from pre-Amorphis band Abhorrence. It is one of the most brutal Amorphis songs ever, fueled up by the typical death metal themes of death and rotting in Hell after completing a life of fear. The more doomy parts a bit flawed, but it's set aside by the heavier faster sections. "Into Hiding" comes to mind as one of the strongest songs in Finnish metal, complete with memorable riffs, pounding drums, solid bass, and groovy keyboards. Those enchanting keyboards are displayed the best in "Black Winter Day", as the heaviness lightens up a bit.

"On Rich and Poor" from Elegy has cool melodies and occasional key changes, but it can get tiring after a while, and the vocals can't really keep up with the melodies at times. "Exile of the Sons of Uisliu" still remains my favorite song of the debut. The references to Irish folklore fit perfectly with the Iron Maiden-infused harmonic leads. "The Castaway" is a more unique song with an Egyptian folk vibe. The awesome catchy "Song of the Troubled One" has the best of Amorphis' earlier melodeath sound. You can't miss the dissonant soloing later on in the song.

"Sign from the North Side" is more mid-paced and the riffing doesn't hook you enough, but it still has a great sense of deathly action. Some more of the memorable riffing comes in "Drowned Maid". Then "Against Widows" levels up the diversity. However, listening to that song again, it seems to be missing something. This is fixed in the grand finale "My Kantele". The sorrowful lyrics really detail the emotional magic from the Finnish instrument in question ("Its strings gathered from torments, and its pegs from other ills. Truly they lie, they talk utter nonsense... So it will not play, will not rejoice at all. Music will not play to please.") The vocals work well with the guitars and keyboards. The track is basically extended into an epic as the heavy version is combined with the acoustic reprise for a memorable climax of harmonic leads. Beautiful!

If we ignore the bizarre stinker cover of The Doors' "Light My Fire", we have a special album made for Amorphis fans curious about what their earlier material would sound like in the new era. The original charm can't be totally restored but they've done well in revisiting the earlier glory. Anyone new to the band can check this album out to see if they feel up to exploring their first 3 albums including what I once thought was the perfect duo Tales from the Thousand Lakes and Elegy. The die-hard collectors might also want this release too. For me, it's a nice throwback to their young wonder years. Not essential enough to fully return to listening to this band, yet something magical....

Favorites (two per original album): "Into Hiding", "Exile of the Sons of Uisliu", "Song of the Troubled One", "Sign from the North Side", "Drowned Maid", "My Kantele"