Melody, thy Finnish name is AMORPHIS! With their fifteenth studio offering in their 35-year long career, “Borderland,” – which is set for release on September 26th, 2025, via Reigning Phoenix Music – the melodic death metal giants have dialed their melodic sensibilities up to eleven in order to once again reinvent, revitalize, and modernize their sound and, in the process, try their hand at a more minimalist approach to their music.
Boasting a softer, smoother soundscape and being drenched in captivating keyboard melodies and layers of vocal harmony, “Borderland” offers an easy and very entertaining listening experience, continuing on the same path of dialing down on the death metal elements started with 2022’s “Halo.” Nonetheless, the album is still heavy enough with plenty of distorted riffs and growled vocals to give it a metal edge and appeal to melodeath fans; it’s just that the songs feel much more melody-driven than before. Moreover, the album puts Tomi Joutsen’s clean vocals in the spotlight, though at times they feel a bit muddled with the rest of the instrumentals, instead of soaring above (which is the weirdest thing to say about a Jacob Hansen production). On the plus side, the guitar melodies are exquisite, the rhythm section is responsible for some very great grooves, and some songs make great use of the interplay of cleans and harsh vox, giving the album’s sound design some extra bite. So, there are silver lightings to be had here.
The singles released in anticipation of the album – “Light and Shadow,” “Dancing Shadow,” and “Bones” – offer a good insight into what “Borderland” has to offer being incredibly melodic numbers with a neat balance between pop sensibilities and a harder, metal edge, and this is where the interplay of cleans and harsh vox comes into play best, elevating the chorus of the otherwise poppy “Dancing Shadow” into melodeath territory, while “Bones” thrives on that superb melodic hook and groovy, middle Eastern rhythms; “Light and Shadow” uses the true and tested formula of juxtaposing the two vocal styles for maximum effect. Santeri Kallio’s lush keys are such an integral part of this album’s sound design as they create a rich atmosphere and add texture and nuance to the songs. If the singles present the more melodic aspect of the album, some deep cuts like “Fog to Fog” are where things get really interesting. This particular track starts off on keys only to build up momentum as more instruments join the fold carried by a folky rhythm but soon it meshes together growls, cleans, and folk melodies into one captivating chorus that elevates everything to the stratosphere.
Another interesting deep cut is the mid-tempo “Tempest” which not only puts Tomi Joutsen’s beautiful clean vocals on full display backed wonderfully by some subdued keys and deep bass tones, but also has an intense mid-section spearheaded by harsh vocals and thundering drums that should feel out of place in a song like this, but it actually works well because of the carefully constructed build-up, their craftsmanship shining through. In the same vein the melancholy closing track, “Despair,” balances between some emotional passages and harsher, more intense sections, but everything flows very well together because of the tight songwriting. There are some thrilling dynamics at play throughout “The Strange” as it grows and morphs from a keys-driven intro into a true melodeath anthem with sharp guitars, thundering drums, and a soaring chorus, while the juxtaposition of cleans and harsh vox gives it an extra edge. However, it’s the keyboard melody breaking through the layers of aggression that makes this one such a delight. The album’s greatest strengths are its strong melodies and rich atmosphere, and the opening track, “The Circle,” acts as a great gateway into the album with its layers of keys, vocal melodies, and rousing chorus.
On the other hand, this emphasis on melody and ambiance makes “Borderland” feel much more accessible yet with a modern feel to it, and some brows may be raised at how catchy and straightforward a band like AMORPHIS sounds these days. As a lover of anything melodic metal, songs like the poppy “Dancing Shadow” or the melodeath numbers “The Lantern” and the title track “Borderland,” with their melodic lines, cinematic textures, thumping bass lines, flurry of keys, and vocal trade-offs between cleans and harsh, are right up my alley. Another plus for this album is how cohesive and fluid it is in the way the songs flow together and how the melodies work in tandem to create a lush soundscape. From this perspective, the album is really rich, detailed, and layered despite its almost minimalist approach to the sound design.
Bottom line is that if you prefer a batch of songs that are melody-driven first and foremost, then this album is definitely for you. However, if you expect AMORPHIS to have more of a metallic and heavy edge, then chances are you might find yourself a bit disillusioned with what “Borderland” has to offer. Nonetheless, considering this is AMORPHIS trying to reinvent and reinvigorate their sound, the album does retain many of their trademark elements; it’s only that their usual heaviness is skillfully disguised in melody. So, manage your expectations regarding this album, as some may like it while others may have mixed feelings about it.
Written by Andrea Crow
Tracklist
- The Circle
- Bones
- Dancing Shadow
- Fog to Fog
- The Strange
- Tempest
- Light and Shadow
- The Lantern
- Borderland
- Despair
Lineup
- Tomi Joutsen – vocals
- Esa Holopainen – guitars
- Tomi Koivusaari – guitars
- Olli-Pekka Laine – bass
- Jan Rechberger – drums
- Santeri Kallio – keyboards
Label
Reigning Phoenix Music
