Amorphis just released another great album, Halo, and now they are promoting the album on the road. The stop at Joliet was very impressive. The band sounds creatively at the top of their game, and their show was also very inventive, and intense.
Amorphis opened with two tracks from the latest album. Northwards and On the Dark Waters were delivered to enthusiastic Joliet crowd. The band came across very tight, well rehearsed, and ready to smoke. Their music was very nicely illustrated by a great light show. There were different shades of blue and red, the two colors dominated the show completely. It was an ideal match between the music and the visuals.
Singer, Tomi Joutsen, worked the crowd with all his might, navigating between all of his vocal registers. Guitarists, Esa Holopainen, and Tomi Koivusaari, enjoyed a very creative dialog through their instruments. It was a joy to watch these two players in action. Oli-Pekka Laine played solid bass rhythms, and drummer, Jan Rechberger, added the aggression. Santeri Kallio provided a lot of color on his keyboards. His playing definitely sets Amorphis apart from other bands. At times, his keyboard parts were reminiscent of those from Tony Carey of Rainbow. All six players from Amorphis create one powerful unit.
The band played a number of older tracks, and they do have a large catalog to draw from. I liked how the old songs worked well with the newest material. There is definitely the band’s style that connects it all together. Amorphis played a very well-balanced set, but clearly promoting the new album, and rightfully so.
There were so many musical highlights taking place on the Joliet stage. Heart of the Giant from the excellent Queen of Time album, was definitely a turning point of the show, as was the title track of the current album. Some amazing guitar harmonies were played on top of very catchy melodies. Into Hiding went back into the 1990s, and reminded everyone of the great beginnings of this band. Amorphis gave a great overview of their long career through this set.
Amorphis is definitely one of the more original band on the death metal scene. Their combination of folk themes, melodic lines, and progressive rock influences creates a winning formula. There isn’t anyone quite like Amorphis, and they prove it with each album released. They are a pride of Finland, and this evening they brought that to Joliet.
Mark Kadzielawa
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