Tuonela with, perhaps, more instrumentation
Dan Solera | Chicago, IL USA | 02/07/2005
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Imagine Tuonela's creative advances and enhance them. Such is Am Universum, the Finnish sextet's sixth studio album and next step in its sound progression. Tuonela saw the band abandoning its death-metal roots and moving towards a spacey, 70's prog-rock sound, incorporating saxophones and flutes into their already eclectic sound. Am Universum continues this change in sound but maintains the sound's footing anchored to the sound established in their previous album. Songs such as "Goddess (Of the Sad Man)" and "Grieve Stricken Heart" are examples of Amorphis' still-beating aggression, while "Crimson Wave" and the breathtaking "Veil of Sin", two saxophone-flaunting pieces, push Amorphis' limits away from metal and towards moodier, jazzy melodies. There is little else to be said about the difference between this album and its predecessor, which set the standard for the band's new sound. Equally lauded by critics and half-embraced by fans, Amorphis found a new audience (and a strong fidelity in its lifelong fans) with Am Universum. Fans of Tuonela are invited.
See also: Amorphis - Tuonela, Green Carnation - A Blessing in Disguise
"
Change is good
Justin Gaines | Northern Virginia | 05/10/2008
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I suppose if I was an Amorphis fan from their early death metal days I would hate Am Universum like so many folks seem determined to do, but I didn't discover the band until I picked up this very album, so I have a different perspective.
There's no denying that Am Universum is pretty far removed from the days of The Karelian Isthmus and Tales From the Thousand Lakes, but the absence of death metal growls is no reason to write off an album of this caliber. Amorphis has always been about innovation, pushing the boundaries of the traditional death metal sound and incorporating folk, psychedelic and progressive elements. I'll admit this album goes about as far towards the melodic and progressive side as it can and still be called metal, but as far as I'm concerned it works quite well. The guitars are still heavy, there are some amazing melodies, and the whole atmosphere of the album brings to mind something between Paradise Lost and Pink Floyd. I will admit that it is almost identical to the preceding album Tuonela, but that doesn't change the fact that it's still a good album.
If you can come into this album with an open mind, Am Universum should be a satisfying experience. Amorphis is a constantly evolving band, and I for one am happy to be along for the ride.
"
Green Andy Reviews: Amorphis - Am Universum
A. ZIATS | New York, NY, USA | 10/04/2009
(4 out of 5 stars)
"As a kid I owned this band's first album, THE KARELIAN ISTHMUS, on cassette, which is very straightforward European death metal, so when my friend Chris invited me to see Amorphis play live with Swedish death metal kings Opeth (at the I-Rock in Detroit), I thought I had a pretty good idea of what the evening held in store. Little did I know that Amorphis had switched their lineup and changed their sound drastically, and I was totally unprepared for the anthemic, atmospheric heavy rock that the band blasted out at the show, and while singer Pasi Koskinen had a silly "Jesus Christ Pose" complex onstage, I was totally hooked. So the next day I went out to buy an album, and I wasn't disappointed.
Am Universum isn't the first record to display Amorphis' tuneful new sound; that happened with 1996's ELEGY. I just picked this one because it had a few song titles I recognized from the show. Regardless, this is a very strong album which works as a great introduction to the band's current direction. The guitars in particular have shifted from their early years, and incorporate harmonics and acoustic folk, as well as massive hooks on the choruses. Standout songs include "Goddess of the Sad Man", where singer Koskinen rides a huge wave of hazy, atmospheric guitar work throughout, as well as the moody "Veil of Sin". On this record Amorphis took a lot of heat for incorporating warm saxophone work into several tracks, sounding for all the world like Kenny G joining a metal band, but I think it works rather nicely, and is unique and unexpected enough to be a boon rather than a detriment. "Veil of Sin" in particular opens with a jazzy sax solo and some ominous piano work, which rankled a lot of longtime fans who could accept the Scandinavian folk elements but apparently had their limits.
The Amorphis fans who jumped ship with ELEGY certainly aren't going to be lured back with this record, but for the rest of us there's a lot to enjoy here. "Grieve Stricken Heart", "Shatters Within" and "Crimson Wave", like the songs mentioned above, are all dynamic rockers with great singing, nuanced guitar work sweetened by European-sounding keyboards, and hooks large enough to anchor a boat. This is a very good album, and is totally worth your cash."
