Band:	Amorphis
Album:	Eclipse
Style:	Melodic death metal, Folk metal, Progressive metal
Release date:	February 17, 2006
A review by:	KwonVerge

01. Two Moons
02. House Of Sleep
03. Leaves Scar
04. Born From Fire
05. Under A Soil And Black Stone
06. Perkele (The God Of Fire)
07. The Smoke
08. Same Flesh
09. Brother Moon
10. Empty Opening
11. Stone Woman [bonus]

After "Far From The Sun" Pasi Koskinen decided to leave the band. Many of their fans seemed disappointed with the fact that he was no longer the one standing behind the microphone of Amorphis. As for me, being an Amorphis fan for years, I saw this decision as something very positive and the right move for the band after the personal big disappointment of "Far From The Sun". To strengthen my positive views on the new Amorphis period that was slowly unfolding, all that was remaining was to find out how the new singer sounds like and, finally, bear witness of their brand new album, "Eclipse".

"Eclipse" is a slight step forward for their sound and a really strong come back for the renowned Finnish act. It might seem at times that it's nothing new but an album moving in standard Amorphis soundscapes in order to reclaim their throne, yet, if you listen carefully you'll realize that the band is trying to offer something a bit different this time, keeping always the Amorphis air alive. They succeed both in keeping their identity and showing a will to take their sound forward, something that will be more obvious from their next album I suppose because I see "Eclipse" as an album where the band tests its power with the new singer, gathering all of their good elements (the "Tuonela" touch is intense) but trying to offer some new ones as well.

Tomi Joutsen, the new singer, is a charismatic interpreter for sure, he doesn't have the most personal voice on earth but he knows how to sing wonderfully, dressing the lyrics with his vocal lines in a stunning way. Imagine a voice lying somewhere between Sentenced's Ville Laihiala and Pasi Koskinen and you'll get what I mean, nothing more to be added on the way the new singer sounds like and despite the lack of originality he's just awesome, emotional or more powerful when he has to! A few grunting vocals make their appearance as well, something positive making the whole interpretation more affected.

That slightly oriental traditional Finnish sound references Amorphis always had are present for one more time, especially through the guitar and keyboard passages and they lend one of those elements that make Amorphis' sound so beautiful, unique and recognizable. The keyboard melodies are just fabulous, whether they sound experimental and psychedelic, evoking a floating dreamy feeling in the air, or just atmosphere-evoking with creative parts here and there. No need to talk about the piano passages, they speak for themselves with their emotional and inspired sound, making the whole aesthetic more fragile. The guitars are heavy with the guitar work being well-executed and the ideas well-conceived, being in the Amorphis spirit, as they have to. Not to mention the inspired solos, especially that great one on "Under a Soil and Black Stone", and the beauteous acoustic guitar chords. Concerning the rhythm section the only thing I have to say is that it interprets its role in the most appropriate and unerring way.

"Eclipse" is an album every Amorphis fan should check out, it's heavy, emotional, inspired and takes you on a journey somewhere in the North, there where the thousand lakes drown in their infinite waters.

Highlights: The emotional "House Of Sleep", the touching and groovy "The Smoke" or the heavy and atmospheric "Empty Opening", "Leaves Scar" and "Two Moons".