Finnish progressive metal outfit AMORPHIS are still busy touring their recent album, “Halo.” While the 6-piece literally just returned from a North American tour, they took no rest for the wicked to heart. They played a sold-out show at Kulttuuritalo in Helsinki on October 18th, 2024, and, of course, we had to be there.
Kulttuuritalo is said to be one of the best venues in town, so expectations were running high. The show’s stage design looked quite promising thanks to a couple of risers that provided depth to the whole area. The stage was quite big, but that’s something I only ended up realizing during the concert, but more about that later.
The band members took the stage at 20:35, on the notes of an intro that turned into “Northwards,” from their most recent album “Halo.” Drummer Jan Rechberger and keyboardist Santeri Kallio took their places on their risers, then guitarist Esa Holopainen, bassist Olli-Pekka Laine, and finally guitarist Tomi Koivusaari, and vocalist Tomi Joutsen took their place. Everything was ready and the audience was visibly excited and impatient. “Northwards” was, predictably at that point, the opening tune. I realized I had not seen them play since Tuska 2022, and back then, this very same song was the opener. A suitable choice, as it kind of represents a good summary of their sound nowadays. The stage design was top-notch, which made the whole experience even more enjoyable, and the same applied to the lights.
“On the Dark Waters” followed, Tomi Koivusaari and Olli-Pekka went to the other side of the stage, and that was the exact moment when I realized just how big it was. They were also jumping up and down from the risers, making the best use of the depth of that big stage. The song is very demanding, but Tomi Joutsen delivered it as if it did not cost him any effort. He thanked us for selling out the event and joked about them still feeling jet lag-related symptoms, pointing out that Tomi Koivusaari had them, but Esa was totally fine, as the undisputed “master” of it. Tomi Joutsen announced “Bad Blood” as the next song and we reacted with enthusiasm. There was a girl next to me who knew every line by heart. Later that night I learned that it was her first time attending a concert in Finland, and I suddenly recalled how it felt: her genuine excitement made me a bit emotional, too.
The opening notes from the intro of “The Smoke” followed. Santeri was inciting us from his spot, a big smile on his face while playing that older tune, at the end of which Tomi Joutsen asked how many of us were seeing AMORPHIS for the first time. He announced “The Moon” as the next song. The strong dream-like ‘70s vibe of that tune, enhanced by the excellent drum work, made it one of the highlights of that night. That catchy chorus did not go unnoticed: everyone was singing along, and there were people of all ages in the audience. It might be normal in Finland, but it still amazes me to the point that I cannot help but point it out.
They all left the stage, and the instrumental tune “Thousand Lakes” was playing in the background. Their second album, “Tales from the Thousand Lakes,” just turned 30 years old, and more than likely many people in the audience got into the band thanks to that specific record. The Kalevala-inspired themes in the lyrics, along with the unique musical style the band has delivered since then, make AMORPHIS the most representative act in Finnish metal, in my opinion. This deep, inexplicable sense of national unity through music hits hard when songs from that album are played live, such as “Into Hiding,” which was the next one in line. Tomi Koivusaari provided some backing vocals and then Olli-Pekka delivered an outstanding bass solo. Tomi Joutsen thanked us and asked if it would be okay for us if they played another song from that album. Of course, the audience was excited, so “The Castaway” followed, with a quite long instrumental intro. He invited us to participate by shouting and clapping to the beat. The closing part saw Esa and Santeri delivering incredible solos, followed by a short drum solo, at the end of which Tomi Joutsen introduced Jan on drums.
A long bass solo followed, with Olli-Pekka under the spotlight. We immediately realized it was “Silver Bride,” while Tomi Joutsen was proudly introducing his bandmate: “Olli-Pekka Laine bassossa!” [Olli-Pekka Laine on bass]. Everyone was clapping to the beat again, and it totally felt like a party among the audience. Esa’s solo was unforgettable and was welcomed by a heartfelt round of applause. Tomi Joutsen then pointed out that it has been two and half years since “Halo” was released, and that they will be working on a new album soon.
Speaking of “Halo,” the following song was “The Wolf.” I was eager to hear it live, and it turned out even better than I expected. The thick riffing and evocative prog middle part sounded great. Tomi Joutsen’s vocals are reminiscent of grunge-era singers, which adds unexpected elements to the overall sound. He couldn’t help but introduce and praise his bandmate Esa Holopainen as the one on guitar right after the long intro he played for “Death of a King.” I was hypnotized by how easily Jan made it seem to play, while Tomi Koivusaari and Santeri appeared to be having a nice conversation. Tomi Joutsen encouraged us to sing along to the chorus in an epic call-and-response, which turned out very powerful. The atmosphere was both solemn and laid-back, and I genuinely believe that not many bands in the world can create such a feeling. Santeri played the outro from the song “Sampo,” followed by the rest of the band, and he was introduced by Tomi Joutsen, as it was “his” moment. The notes from “Amongst Stars” took over, which I believe is one of the audience’s favorites based on their reactions. The girl next to me, whom I mentioned before, was singing along loudly, and her joy was quite contagious. The song’s music video was displayed in the background, which made that moment even more special.
He recalled that time when they were in Norway, shooting the video for “Wrong Direction,” and did not miss the chance to praise the director, Vesa Ranta (former drummer in SENTENCED, who nowadays plays in bands like THE ABBEY and CEMETERY SKYLINE). That song was the next one in line. At that point, I closed my eyes and totally felt part of the scenario he mentioned. It’s amazing when music makes the listeners travel to the places the song talks about, no matter how far or unreal they are.
Tomi Joutsen left the stage while the others performed “Magic and Mayhem” as an intro for their legendary tune, “Black Winter Day,” which he promptly announced upon returning. Tomi Koivusaari delivered some excellent growls as backing vocals, and Santeri Kallio proved to be nothing short of a god on keyboards. This is the song in which I bet many Finns seek peace and comfort during the cold, dark winter days, and I felt somewhat blessed to share such a profound moment. “My Kantele” followed, featuring guitar solo moments for both Tomi Koivusaari and Esa Holopainen under the spotlight. Although I was quite far from Esa‘s spot, I thoroughly enjoyed how it sounded.
The concert was coming to an end, and there were only a couple of songs left to play: “House of Sleep,” during which we engaged in a heartwarming call-and-response with the band, and “The Bee,” the final track of the evening. After “House of Sleep,” the band left the stage, returning in complete darkness—a proper “peekaboo” for grown-ups, as some might say. “The Bee” was enriched by a long intro, which prompted us to clap along to the beat once again. Aware that it was the last tune, we enjoyed it to the fullest. They thanked us again, then left the stage on the notes of “My Name is Night” playing in the background.
Each band member was visibly grateful for the warmth and love they received from the audience, and I can assure readers that they truly deserved it—and always will. Their crucial role in keeping Finnish cultural heritage alive through their music means a lot, as do their professionalism and laid-back, friendly attitude on stage. Now, I am eager to see what they have in store for us with their next album, so hopefully, there will be an announcement soon…
Written by Licia Mapelli
Photos by Mirko Luparelli
Setlist
- Northwards
- On the Dark Waters
- Bad Blood
- The Smoke
- The Moon
- Into Hiding
- The Castaway
- Silver Bride
- The Wolf
- Death of a King
- Amongst Stars (with “Sampo” intro)
- Wrong Direction
- Black Winter Day (with “Magic and Mayhem” intro)
- My Kantele
- House of Sleep
- The Bee
