Sorry, edited because it doesn't work. It's some knockoff website, real one shut down last year 
AMORPHIS SURVIVOR 2015: Results -> Sampo wins!
- Thread starter Night Prowler
- Start date
MrKnickerbocker
clap hands
I've procured all of the albums through means of sorcery, so I'm making my own playlists here.
Being the first album I've listened to in full, Skyforger is a really strong album! The last four tracks and even the bonus songs are awesome. I don't know if this is a common opinion, but I seem to enjoy this band a lot more when they mix clean and harsh vocals. The music just fits that style better, IMO. Without the guttural stuff, the songs sometimes veer too far into the gothic hard rock vibe for me. Still enjoyable, but a little more generic to my ears.
Also, I'll be voting for:
Moon & Sun, Part 2
Weaving the Incantation
Silver Bride
From the Heaven of My Heart
Majestic Beast
My Sun
Being the first album I've listened to in full, Skyforger is a really strong album! The last four tracks and even the bonus songs are awesome. I don't know if this is a common opinion, but I seem to enjoy this band a lot more when they mix clean and harsh vocals. The music just fits that style better, IMO. Without the guttural stuff, the songs sometimes veer too far into the gothic hard rock vibe for me. Still enjoyable, but a little more generic to my ears.
Also, I'll be voting for:
Moon & Sun, Part 2
Weaving the Incantation
Silver Bride
From the Heaven of My Heart
Majestic Beast
My Sun
MrKnickerbocker
clap hands
Silver Bride and Majestic Beast were the only songs that I rated as either a 7 or 8/10 after 3 listens, the others that I voted for were lower and all that I didn't were higher. Based on what else is left, these were the weakest. Although Silver Bride is still a solid song.
We're into album nine already and still have 5 songs from 1994/'95 (2nd album & EP), which is in the non-clean (or hardly clean) vocal era. How cool is that?
From what I've heard, that 1994 album is wonderful. Considering I see nothing from the second singer period and can only assume it was eliminated very quickly, am I to expect the middle of Amorphis' discography to be a bit of a slog?
Forostar
Ancient Mariner
On the second singer period (4 albums: 1996-2003):
Perhaps a bit, but I think some albums from the Pasi Koskinen era really need more than one chance. Some of that era leans more on atmosphere (and psychedelia?), rather than having a more direct approach (e.g. strong melodies). On some songs, the use of sax and flute added something special.
Elegy, the first album with Pasi is probably considered as the best effort. I'm pretty sure you'd like it the first time you hear it.
But for now, in this game I'd entirely focus on individual songs that have survived, when we speak of albums you have missed, and later you can always delve deeper. Like this (imo) the remaining material is as free as possible from any judgement.
Let yourself be surprised with what is left!
Perhaps a bit, but I think some albums from the Pasi Koskinen era really need more than one chance. Some of that era leans more on atmosphere (and psychedelia?), rather than having a more direct approach (e.g. strong melodies). On some songs, the use of sax and flute added something special.
Elegy, the first album with Pasi is probably considered as the best effort. I'm pretty sure you'd like it the first time you hear it.
But for now, in this game I'd entirely focus on individual songs that have survived, when we speak of albums you have missed, and later you can always delve deeper. Like this (imo) the remaining material is as free as possible from any judgement.
Let yourself be surprised with what is left!
Last edited:
Elegy is great. Tuonela has some solid songs. Am Universum and Far From The Sun are really really boring. IMO Pasi is a horrible singer that really can't carry a whole album by himself. Maybe it would've worked out better if they didn't give up on growls after Elegy.
I haven't decided on a full ranking of albums, but approximately last 6 albums + Tales > Elegy > debut > Tuonela >>>>> AU/FFTS.
Either way, I think Amorphis in general should be right up your alley: they are one of the most melodic bands I can think of.
I agree. They still relatively restrained themselves on Eclipse/SW/Skyforger, next 3 albums have growls + cleans on almost every song
MrKnickerbocker
clap hands
I'm looking forward to hearing some of the Pasi stuff, even if it's not the best.
Yeah, I'm definitely only listening to the songs currently in the survivor. While that means I'll be hearing full albums moving forward, it'll be awhile before I go back and listen to the older ones in full.
From everything I've heard so far, I agree. Tons of melody, lots of folk elements without being incredibly cheesy, the right amount of heaviness and keyboards!
But for now, in this game I'd entirely focus on individual songs that have survived, when we speak of albums you have missed, and later you can always delve deeper. Like this (imo) the remaining material is as free as possible from any judgement.
Let yourself be surprised with what is left!
Yeah, I'm definitely only listening to the songs currently in the survivor. While that means I'll be hearing full albums moving forward, it'll be awhile before I go back and listen to the older ones in full.
Either way, I think Amorphis in general should be right up your alley: they are one of the most melodic bands I can think of.
I agree. They still relatively restrained themselves on Eclipse/SW/Skyforger, next 3 albums have growls + cleans on almost every song
From everything I've heard so far, I agree. Tons of melody, lots of folk elements without being incredibly cheesy, the right amount of heaviness and keyboards!
Unknown One
I see the ghost of navigators.
Servant, Shaman, Highest Star, Last 4
Forostar
Ancient Mariner
But there are hardly any growls on Elegy.* And still the album is strong. So Koskinen's voice didn't hurt it much, did it?
The songwriting consisted of a different team, Olli Pekka-Laine & Kim Rantala were also there. And I estimate that this is probably the difference with later albums in the Koskinen era. On Tuonela, Pekka-Laine is still present, but afterwards Holopainen needs to do the most. Okay, the whole band gets a credit, but in the non-death metal style, Holopainen is the only real good/important songwriter left.
What's interesting is this: On Tuonela, Kallio is already present as a guest musician, but he probably did not co-write. Seven years later, when Joutsen arrives, we see that Amorphis does not have one important songwriter anymore but two: Kallio has joined and contributes a great deal, writes about as many as Holopainen. On Skyforger the same amount and on The Beginning of Times even more than Holopainen. Afterwards, Holopainen continues with doing the most writing but Kallio still does a lot.
*EDIT:
Alright, I just counted and indeed: most songs do have grunts, but I do not think they are that dominant. The music, that is what I think rules on Elegy. Lots of strong instrumental stuff. And Pasi's vocal lines are pretty nice too. The main point I want to make is that the songwriting carried Elegy. And I do not think grunts would help much on the (same) albums that were done afterwards.
Last edited:
Moon, Servant, Crimson, Shaman, Highest, Course, Godlike, Separated.
This is starting to get impossibly tough.
Moon & Sun, Weaving, Towards, Sky is Mine, My Sun, Highest Star, Course of Fate, Separated
Moon & Sun, Weaving, Towards, Sky is Mine, My Sun, Highest Star, Course of Fate, Separated
Eliminated:
Highest Star - 5 votes
Separated - 5 votes
My Sun - 4 votes
Godlike Machine - 4 votes
Moon, Servant, Crimson, Shaman, Heaven, Skyforger, Course, Earth.
MrKnickerbocker
clap hands
+ Towards & Against
Forostar
Ancient Mariner
Such a haunting track!
Last edited:
Moon & Sun, Weaving, Towards, Heaven, Sky, Fate.
Unknown One
I see the ghost of navigators.
Servant, Shaman, Course of Fate, From Earth I Rose
Towards and Against and From the Heaven are going out?
Towards and Against and From the Heaven are going out?