Interview Amorphis

METAL CHOC





Can you tell us more about your new album called « Skyforger » ?

- It is our third album with new singer, Tomi Joutsen. It is kind of third part of trilogy we started from Eclipse and Silent Waters. We are very satisfied with it. I think we managed to have lot of elements from our career, and still found new dimensions.

 

How long have you been recording the album ?

- It took about 1 month to do all recordings. We recorded it at Sonic Pump Studios with Sami Koivisto. Marco hietala was doing great job as a Vocal-producer once again. Then mixing with Mikko Karmila about 10 days. It was very smooth and easy session.

 

How did you proceed for the composition ?

- Quite same than always, someone bring some ideas or riffs to rehearsing place, then everyone added own ideas and so on. This time we had little bit more time to think more arrangements over and over. We had like 18 songs in the beginning, so more than enough.

 

Can you tell something about the lyrics ?

- They are based on Kalevala, finnish mythology, again. Story is about Ilmarinen, the blacksmith. Pekka Kainulainen did his own version from story to us. But lyrics are working well individually as well, but basically it is a concept album.

 

Can you speak to us about your musical evolution ? For you, what are the biggest differences between this new album and the previous ?

- Well new songs of course. Music has been changing quite much since we started, being very natural evolution. Always done music what feels right and good for ourselves in a moment. From previous, I think sound is more dynamic, there is lot of space in sound-field, which make more diverse to sound, and you can hear lot more happening there. Band is tighter than ever, and Tomi's singing wider.

 

Who created the artwork ?

- Travis Smith again, like on 2 previous ones as well. He've done covers to bands like Opeth, Porcupine Tree etc before. He is great artist, and it is pleasure to work with him, as communication is very easy. It is not obvious with all artists..

 

Which songs from the album will you play live ? Why did you choose that ones ?

- I don't know yet, there is lot of potential songs to play live. Also we our back-catalog is quite big, so it's not easy to choose what songs to drop. We have already played Silver Bride, and for sure there will be Sampo, Majestic Beast, Sky is Mine, From the Heaven of my Heart, at least I think, we'll see..

 

Did you film a promotional video ?

- Yes we shooted video for Silver Bride, haven't seen it yet. We shooted band's parts at Helsinki, other stuff will be filmed at Sweden. Actually it should be ready at any moment now.

 

Are there certain songs on the album you want to mention or tell something about ?

- Majestic Beast is currently my favourite one, it is one of the heaviest songs we've made for a while. Also I think that title kick ass.

 

What are your touring plans for 2009 ?

- First we'll do summer festivals, then on autumn there will be couple shows in Russia, then quite long European tour which covers about 15 countries, then tour in Finland, Tour in South-America, then maybe couple of shows in Australia. So it will be busy year!

 

Can you tell us an anecdote which particularly marked the band ?

- A more pissed!

 

And as a conclusion, can you say some words for my radio show Metal Choc ?

- Hello listeners, rokrok, see you on tour!

 

Thanks again for the interview, and I wish you all the best for the future.

- Thanks to you, take care