Style:
Progressive Metal, Progressive Death Metal, Melodic Metal
Primary emotions: melancholy, empowerment, balance
Thoughts: There are few progressive bands that I like more
than Amorphis. Under the Red Cloud ranks among one of the best albums they have
ever released.
Amorphis' 13th album is far more brutal than most of their discography.
There is a heavy focus on death metal vocals and riffs. Granted, this is not
going to be Morbid Angel or Suffocation levels of brutality, but the band brings
the heaviness with this release. This is especially potent since just a few
albums before this the band were essentially a progressive rock outfit.
As heavy as Under a Red Cloud is, this is still very much an
Amorphis record. The incredibly catchy melodies and Tomi's clean vocals are
still used liberally, just not as much as in earlier albums. The band continues
to flirt with a middle eastern sound as well as folk elements throughout the
album. Death of a King even has the band going back to using a sitar, a very
welcome surprise.
I've maintained for a long time that Amorphis could easily be
played on the radio. They are accessible enough to be accepted by a mainstream
audience, yet they are also heavy enough to appeal to metalheads. It’s one of
the few bands that I’m aware of that these two paths intersect perfectly.
Under the Red Cloud is the album I’ve wanted Amorphis to make
for a long time. One of my favorite songs from the band is Greed off of Tuonela.
Under the Red Cloud takes that sound and expands it into an entire album. Not
their best album, but damn close.
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