17.04.2016 Amorphis

Matrix at Bochum (Germany)

The highlight of this truly fantastic evening was the Finnish band Amorphis, led by frontman Tomi Joutsen. The venue was packed, humid, and warm, but the audience gave it their all one last time. After 40 days in 33 different locations, the tour for their latest album, “Under the Red Cloud”, was set to conclude here tonight. However, there was no sign of exhaustion from their long and surely grueling journey across Europe. Each member was brimming with energy, making it clear from the start that they were going to give everything they had.
The band has had a long and eventful history since its formation in 1990. Originally founded as a death metal band, Amorphis has undergone several lineup changes and stylistic shifts, ultimately settling into their signature melodic death metal sound with progressive elements. From the original lineup, guitarists Tomi Koivusaari and Esa Holopainen, as well as drummer Jan Rechberger, remain. They were joined by Niclas Etelävuori on bass and Santeri Kallio on keyboards. The night kicked off with the epic opener “Under The Red Cloud”, leading into a journey through the band's extensive musical history, including “The Sky Is Mine” from their 2009 album “Skyforger” and “The Wanderer” from their 2013 predecessor “Circle”. Throughout the entire set, the musicians continuously encouraged the crowd to participate and sing along. Tomi Joutsen, shirtless and quickly drenched in sweat, gave an electrifying performance. Given the venue's setup, the stage design was kept simple. Just the musicians, their instruments, a few platforms, and small banners. This stripped-down arrangement only intensified the experience, ensuring that nothing distracted from the music.
Time flew by. Soon, they played classics like “My Kantele” from their 1996 album “Elegy”, which was, as always, outstanding, followed by “House of Sleep” from their 2006 album “Eclipse” before leaving the stage. Fortunately, only for a moment. They returned for three encore songs before finally concluding the night after over 90 minutes of sheer musical brilliance.
I’ve seen Amorphis live on multiple occasions and in various settings. Whether in small clubs like this evening at the Matrix,at the Rosenhof in Osnabrück, or outdoors at Wacken Open Air. But it's the intimate, tight-knit performances that stay with me the most and felt the most intense. I think it's no surprise when I say that Amorphis is one of my favorite bands, and I wholeheartedly recommend experiencing them live at least once. This evening was yet another one to remember, especially with the fantastic atmosphere both on and off stage.