The 90's really were a wonderful time for metal. There were so many bands coming out with a hugely diverse sound. Many of the staple genres that we know and love now were in their infancy and were experimenting with what worked and what didn't. Many bands would continue evolving greatly with every album, and one of the bands at the forefront of that movement was Amorphis.
Tuonela was actually my first Amorphis album. Like so many other albums I picked it up at my local shop because I had heard good things about them through various online resources. As so many other albums back then I did not know what I was in for when I put the CD in my player... by the end of the first spin I learned that you can use a flute, saxophone, and even a sitar in metal effectively.
Amorphis' fourth album sees them fully embrace their progressive leanings with the incorporation of a ton of different influence, riffing styles, and song structures. The death metal of earlier releases is largely gone, except the excellent Greed. The songs have a calm majesty about them that really remind me of my early years exploring the metal genre and all the beautiful discoveries I made in those times.
Each song has it's own character, yet everything sounds like it belongs on the album. The Way sees the band explore delay on guitars, something that would become a somewhat staple later on in their career. A saxophone makes an appearance on Nightfall and the title track. It's use is so well done I longed for it to be on more of the album. Rusty Moon utilizes a flute giving it a strong folk feel. Despite the diversity, many of the songs blend together in very fitting ways and lends the album a wonderful flow and cohesiveness.
After listening to so many other albums from my youth earlier this week and being disappointment, I'm very happy to hear that Tuonela holds up over time. It doesn't have the element of surprise for me anymore, but it's still a wonderful listening experience.
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