23 November 2024

Amorphis – Live at Helsinki Ice Hall

Release date: 21.05.2021
Label: Nuclear Blast Tonträger Produktions- und Vertriebs GmbH

Intro

Finnish metal legends Amorphis just released a double-disc digipack called “Live at Helsinki Ice Hall” that is recorded in their hometown, the Finnish capital. The performance was recorded on their very last tour in December, 2019 before the pandemic hit. Little did they know, this would also be their last live show in a long time now that it has been over 2 years since the pandemic happened and all the live concerts got cancelled/never happened. However, this live record holds such exuberance that it almost feels like it has been recorded very recently and feels like we could catch them live anytime soon. The album has given me hope for this summer and 2022 shows, so it kind of serves as a last minute hope and deliverance.

Review

Amorphis performs 15 greatest hits of theirs in this live album but the hits being mainly from the “Queen of Time” record because this was recorded literally on the last leg of their Queen of Time tour. The record kicks off with the glorious The Bee, it definitely sets the right mood with its gigantic sound. From their latest album, they perform the orchestral Heart of the Giant, extremely melodic Wrong Direction, Daughter of Hate (of which you can find the newly released live video on YT), the mystic-oriental with strings The Golden Elk and finally victorious Pyres On The Coast.

They also performed a few of their classics such as; Sampo, My Kantele, Silver Bride, Black Winter Day and the closing Amorphis anthem House of Sleep.

I’m immensely impressed with the live recording quality and the mixing of the tracks, even though crowd sounds are silenced most of the time, you can hear every single instrument and the sound effects. If you are a fan of the mighty Amorphis or a Finnish metal fan in general, do not miss out on this one.

Line up:

  • Tomi Joutsen (vocals)
  • Esa Holopainen (guitar)
  • Jan Rechberger (drums)
  • Tomi Koivusaari (guitars)
  • Santeri Kallio (keyboards)
  • Olli-Pekka Laine (bass)
  1. Intro & The Bee – Live
  2. Heart of the Giant – Live
  3. Bad Blood – Live
  4. The Four Wise Ones – Live
  5. Into Hiding – Live
  6. Sampo – Live
  7. Wrong Direction – Live
  8. Daughter of Hate – Live
  9. Against Widows – Live
  10. My Kantele – Live
  11. The Golden Elk – Live
  12. Pyres on the Coast – Live
  13. Skyforger Intro & Silver Bride
  14. Black Winter Day – Live
  15. House of Sleep – Live

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