This band from Finland started out as your basic gutter-death metal outfit, but has evolved so completely from their origins, it's hard to believe that all their CDs are by the same five guys. (I can't think of ANY other band that has changed their style so much in such a short amount of time.) Incidentally, the drummer used to be in the thrash-metal band Stone.

"Privilege of Evil"

1. "Pilgrimage from Darkness" (4:32)
2. "Black Embrace" (3:25)
3. "Privilege of Evil" (3:50)
4. "Misery Path" (4:17)
5. "Vulgar Necrolatry" (3:58)
6. "Excursing from Existence" (3:06)

Long ago, when Amorphis was just a band name I'd run across on the Internet a couple times, I found this CD in the used bins and gave it a quick listen...and quickly put it back. What a load of utter crap!! Actually, it turns out that the band was rather pissed off that the record company released this collection of early rough demos right after their debut CD was released. It doesn't sound so bad now, but mostly it's just a collection-filler.

Oh yeah, this disc comes in one of those skinny CD-single style cases, but the guy who sent it to me stuck it in a regular-sized jewel case, which of course didn't look right -- and by God, you can't find those damn cases ANYWHERE!!! I finally had to pick up some cheap rap single from the 49¢ bin, just for the case.

"The Karelian Isthmus"

1. "Karelia"--instrumental (0:45)
2. "The Gathering" (4:15)
3. "Grail's Mysteries" (3:04)
4. "Warriors Trail" (5:06)
5. "Black Embrace" (3:42)
6. "Exile of the Sons of Uisliu" (3:45)
7. "The Lost Name of God" (5:34)
8. "The Pilgrimage" (4:41)
9. "Misery Path" (4:19)
10. "Sign from the North Side" (4:56)
11. "Vulgar Necrolatry" (4:21)

Like many bands from the "Scandinavian Melodic Death Metal" scene, Amorphis started out as just another generic doom/death gutter-metal band. The songs here really aren't that bad, and show flashes of inspiration at points with numerous time signature changes and a few orchestral bits. It could have become tedious, if they'd stuck with this sound...but of course, they didn't. (Current pressings of this CD include the six songs from Privilege of Evil as bonus tracks.)

"Tales from the Thousand Lakes/Black Winter Day"

1. "Thousand Lakes"--instrumental (2:04)
2. "Into Hiding" (3:45)
3. "The Castaway" (5:33)
4. "First Doom" (3:52)
5. "Black Winter Day" (3:51)
6. "Drowned Maid" (4:23)
7. "In the Beginning" (3:38)
8. "Forgotten Sunrise" (4:54)
9. "To Father's Cabin" (3:50)
10. "Magic and Mayhem" (4:28)
11. "Folk of the North"--instrumental (1:17)
12. "Moon and Sun" (3:39)
13. "Moon and Sun Part II: North's Son" (5:12)
14. "Light My Fire" (2:53)

Though often lumped in with all the other melodic-death-metal bands from the Gothenberg scene, this is the only Amorphis album that falls squarely within that category. Brilliant music here, ranging from straightforward, in-your-face metal compositions ("Into Hiding", "Black Winter Day") to more folksier, progressive tunes ("Magic and Mayhem"). The reissue adds the three bonus tracks from the "Black Winter Day", plus a hilarious cover of The Doors' "Light My Fire" -- worth getting just for that one song!!

"Elegy"

1. "Better Unborn" (5:52)
2. "Against Windows" (4:06)
3. "The Orphan" (5:17)
4. "On Rich or Poor" (5:19)
5. "My Kantele" (5:02)
6. "Cares" (4:29)
7. "Song of the Troubled One" (4:08)
8. "Weeper on the Shore" (4:52)
9. "Elegy" (7:21)
10. "Relief"--instrumental (4:09)
11. "My Kantele (acoustic reprise)" (5:55)

Abrupt style change here from melodic death to "psychedelic death", with lots of Eastern-sounding guitars, and vocals that switch from clean to a death growl (often in the middle of songs.) Good music, quite unique, but kind of samey throughout -- really hasn't gripped me yet.

"My Kantele" (digipack EP)

1. "My Kantele (acoustic reprise)" (5:57)
2. "The Brother-Slayer" (3:37)
3. "The Lost Son (The Brother-Slayer Part II)"--instrumental (4:35)
4. "Levitation" (5:52)
5. "And I Hear You Call" (4:40)

Ironically, I had just acquired this entire EP on mp3 from an ICQ friend (in his words: "Listen to it continuously, with no interruptions, feel free to close your eyes...") just DAYS before finding the original CD in the used bins. Damn, what an awesomely psychedelic, avant-garde masterpiece. In fact, "Levitation" is a Hawkwind cover, and that's basically what the whole EP sounds like. ("And I Hear You Call" is originally by Kingston Wall, can't say I've ever heard of 'em but it's pretty psychedelic as well.) HIGHLY recommended recording!

"Tuonela"

1. "The Way" (4:35)
2. "Morning Star" (3:50)
3. "Nightfall" (3:52)
4. "Tuonela" (4:32)
5. "Greed" (4:17)
6. "Divinity" (4:56)
7. "Shining" (4:24)
8. "Withered" (5:44)
9. "Rusty Moon" (4:56)
10. "Summer's End" (5:37)

Except for a burst of growly vocals in "Greed", and the line "The devil has shown me the way" in the first song, you never would know this band was once pure death metal!! Strictly progressive, somewhat psychedelic, very technical...very AWESOME as well! The vocals remind me of another band that I've been wracking my brain to think of ever since buying this, but I CAN'T THINK OF IT....

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