Amorphis - Elegy (1996) - A visionary work of classic, folk and prog stuff - 84% (27/04/11)

Even if this third album of Amorphis is one of my less favourite ones of the band, it's still a highly interesting and unique record that one must see as a transitional album between the early works in the vein of experimental and atmospheric death metal and the later progressive and melodic metal trend. Let's underline that every album Amorphis made got at least an eighty percent rating from me which isn't the case for any other band I know. This speaks for a high quality and brilliant constance over two decades.

On this album, one hears a lot of unsual instruments a long time before the so called folk metal genre truly gained popularity. There are electric sitars, accordions and tambourines mixed with mystic lyrics about traditional tales. But one can't reduce this record as a simple folk metal album as there is a strong and absorbing progressive and sometimes even psychedelic touch in each song. The origins of atmospheric death metal have only remained in fragments and clean vocals now domiante the songs but those heavier passages are welcome changes in style to wake you up from those hypnotizing voodoo incantations.

"Better unborn" is already a courageous opener and something completely usual that unites almost everything Amorphis does on the entire record. Asian folklore and psychedelic passages are interrupted by angry growls and hypnotizing clean vocals. If you like this opener, you will easily adore the entire record.

Out of this structure, there are still some more experiments to find on this record. "Cares" mixes hard rock guitar solos with electronical passages and technoid influences and could be the official follow up of the brilliant "Magic and mayhem" from the previous masterpiece. "Song of the troubled one" includes decent but epic orchestra passages a long time before neoclassical power metal and symphonic metal emerged and the band proves that they are once again very visionary. The complexe title track "Elegy" introduces some really smooth and soft notes and surprises with a dreamy piano introduction. "Relief" is dominated by amazing keyboard effects and a truly inspiring and deeply relaxing instrumental track. The true highlight of the album and its catchiest tune comes along in the end and that's the acoustic reprise of "My Kantele" where the instrument of the same name and chilling acoustic guitars create a magic atmosphere that is underlined by an amazing and hypnotizing vocal performance. Both versions of the song are completely different and show the high range of technical skills Amorphis can use.

This album has a very unique style and approach but presents many enjoyable little experiments within a constantly equal song and style structure that is presented in the first couple of songs. The further the album gets, the more absorbing, detailed and courageous it turns out to be. The only true reason why I gave this album is a lower rating is the brilliance of the entire Amorphis back catalogue and the fact that the songs in here request multiple tries and are not as catchy and easy to digest as the songs on the previous record and not yet as absorbing and profound as they would be on the two upcoming albums. Sometimes, there is an overflow and it's difficult then to open up your mind for such an album that demands a lot of concentration. Nevertheless, this record should without the glimpse of a doubt be in the collection of any open minded metal fan.