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│ METAL CLASSICS ARCHIVE │
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│ P R E S E N T S │
│ │
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│ + Amorphis - Circle + │
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│╔═════════════════════╗ │
│║ Release Information ║ │
│╠═════════════════════╩══════════════════════════════════════════╗ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Release Date.Jul-07-2013 Encoder......L3.97 -V2 --vbr-new ║ │
│║ Genre........Metal Graber.......EAC ║ │
│║ Year.........2013 Khz/Bitrate..44,1/ Br ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Ripper.......anthem Songs........10 ║ │
│║ Covers.......Yes Url... www.amorphis.net ║ │
│║ ║ │
│╚════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ │
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│╔═════════════════════╗ │
│║ Release Notes ║ │
│╠═════════════════════╩══════════════════════════════════════════╗ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Artist : Amorphis Rating : You Decide! ║ │
│║ Album : Circle Label : Nuclear Blast ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ ║ │
│╠════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╣ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Description : ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Man oh man. Can this band do no wrong? Since ║ │
│║ vocalist Tomi Joutsen joined in '05, Amorphis ║ │
│║ has retained a consistent line-up and released ║ │
│║ consistently entertaining albums. Some are ║ │
│║ slightly weaker than others, but they're all ║ │
│║ quite energetic and mostly headbangable. When a ║ │
│║ band finds a niche as strong as Joutsen-era ║ │
│║ Amorphis has, one must mark the quality of the ║ │
│║ individual albums by observing the little ║ │
│║ things. And this album has a large array of ║ │
│║ little details that put it a cut above pretty ║ │
│║ much every other post-Koskinen release (save ║ │
│║ for, in my opinion, Skyforger, but damn close). ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ The sound of Circle, at its roots, is indeed not ║ │
│║ far removed from the previous 4 efforts. For the ║ │
│║ uninitiated, Amorphis' signature sound is a ║ │
│║ rather crisp, guitar-driven-yet-keyboard- ║ │
│║ accentuated approach to melodic heavy metal. ║ │
│║ This is, though, a band that one really should ║ │
│║ hear rather than trying to glean their musical ║ │
│║ approach from descriptive text. Their music ║ │
│║ oozes atmosphere and the members all write ║ │
│║ highly infectious melodies. Expect a mix of ║ │
│║ clean and harsh vocals, in varying amounts ║ │
│║ depending on the album. Now, let's get on to ║ │
│║ what's new and what's (thankfully) returned. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ First of all, this is unquestionably the ║ │
│║ heaviest offering Amorphis have served up since ║ │
│║ Tomi Joutsen joined. Compared to its ║ │
│║ predecessors, it's almost unrelenting in its ║ │
│║ high-energy, pounding rhythms and dazzling ║ │
│║ keyboard interjections. Fans of Joutsen's harsh ║ │
│║ vocals will be pleasantly surprised, as most ║ │
│║ tracks have at least some harsh vocals. Hell, ║ │
│║ the very opener pretty much only uses cleans on ║ │
│║ the chorus. I have to say - he is in truly ║ │
│║ amazing form on this album. He doesn't just ║ │
│║ throw in the usual low death-ish gutturals we've ║ │
│║ heard in the past - on a few tracks, he uses a ║ │
│║ higher, raspier growl that has an almost black ║ │
│║ metal bent to it (check out the varied vocal ║ │
│║ performance on "Nightbird's Song" - just ║ │
│║ inspiring). The cleans are what we've come to ║ │
│║ expect, but coupled with the somewhat more ║ │
│║ high-octane songwriting, he shines a little ║ │
│║ brighter. And that's just what's new with Tomi. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Remember the folksy leanings of older stand-outs ║ │
│║ like Brother Moon and Shaman? Those are back, ║ │
│║ too. This is especially prevalent in part of the ║ │
│║ closer and on "Narrowpath", which utilizes a ║ │
│║ recurring, blazing woodwind melody underlining ║ │
│║ the winding guitar leads and chunky rhythm ║ │
│║ section. Definitely have to give extra credit to ║ │
│║ drummer Jan Rechberger, he stepped up on this ║ │
│║ one. In addition to Santeri's (beautiful as ║ │
│║ always) soaring, starry-eyed keyboard riffs, Jan ║ │
│║ contributed some keyboard sections of his own. ║ │
│║ Moreover, his drumming is very crisp, a little ║ │
│║ more adventurous at times (pay heed to tracks ║ │
│║ like "Mission") and mixed very well. In fact, ║ │
│║ the whole album is. If you like the mix on the ║ │
│║ previous album, Circle does sound quite similar, ║ │
│║ just a little bit beefier. As a bassist, it's ║ │
│║ nice to hear Niclas so clearly - not that we ║ │
│║ couldn't before - in this case I mean it more-so ║ │
│║ in reference to certain sections where he plays ║ │
│║ a larger role than straight riffing, like in in ║ │
│║ the intro to the previously-mentioned standout ║ │
│║ "Mission". Sprinklings of his backing vocals are ║ │
│║ a nice textural touch, as in the past. Tomi ║ │
│║ Koivusaari is rocking harder than he has in ║ │
│║ years, but also gets in a nice acoustic intro on ║ │
│║ the closing track. And finally, Esa's lead ║ │
│║ riffage is like a fine wine - better with age ║ │
│║ and very tasteful. Work like that found on "Into ║ │
│║ the Abyss", particularly the solo (which ║ │
│║ immediately follows a spirited keyboard solo) is ║ │
│║ what being a lead guitarist is all about. It's ║ │
│║ all designed to perfectly fit the song - no ║ │
│║ wanking around, no technicality for the sake of ║ │
│║ it, just smooth-fitting, concise lead work that ║ │
│║ really catches the ear. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ If I had to sum this album up in one word - and ║ │
│║ yes, I realize my writing is rather verbose - ║ │
│║ it'd be "well-crafted". I was surprised by this ║ │
│║ one, for 2 reasons - firstly, I was unaware ║ │
│║ they'd been working on it and merely happened to ║ │
│║ be reading up on Amorphis the day before the ║ │
│║ album's release date. It seemed very soon after ║ │
│║ The Beginning of Times, to me. Secondly, and ║ │
│║ most importantly, it caught me by surprise in ║ │
│║ how intricately written and energetic it is. Big ║ │
│║ highlight in metal for 2013, and it's only April ║ │
│║ as I write! What an album. Fans won't be ║ │
│║ disappointed, newcomers will be floored by it. ║ │
│║ Which is a hard place to headbang from. Get back ║ │
│║ up and take it all in, stranger. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Tomi Joutsen - Vocals ║ │
│║ Jan Rechberger - Drums, Keyboards ║ │
│║ Esa Holopainen - Guitars (lead) ║ │
│║ Tomi Koivusaari - Guitars (rhythm) ║ │
│║ Santeri Kallio - Keyboards ║ │
│║ Niclas EtelΣvuori - Bass ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ ║ │
│╚════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ │
│ │
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│╔═════════════════════╗ │
│║ Release Tracklist ║ │
│╚═════════════════════╩══════════════════════════════════════════ │
│ │
│ 01 - Shades Of Gray [05:29] │
│ 02 - Mission [04:34] │
│ 03 - The Wanderer [04:44] │
│ 04 - Narrow Path [04:24] │
│ 05 - Hopeless Days [05:09] │
│ 06 - Nightbird's Song [05:01] │
│ 07 - Into The Abyss [05:37] │
│ 08 - Enchanted By The Moon [05:33] │
│ 09 - A New Day [06:01] │
│ 10 - Dead Man's Dream (Bonus Track) [04:04] │
│ │
│ Total Length : [50:36 minn │
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│ ╔═════════════════════╗ │
│ ║ Greetings To: ║ │
│ ╚═════════════════════╝ │
│ │
│ Too all people who contributes to make this │
│ archive of good music in a exceptional conditions │
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│ │
│■ ■│
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