Review: Amorphis – Halo
Amorphis new record “Halo” is a a logical conclusion to their Kalevala-inspired trilogy, From the very first minute, “Halo” brands itself unmistakably Amorphis: warm, layered choruses, Esa Holopainen’s nimble and melodic riffing, Santeri Kallio’s subtly adventurous keys, and a persistently thunderous yet tasteful rhythm section all mark their territory. Songs like “When the Gods Came” and “War” restore a weightier dimension that’s been slowly creeping back since “Queen of Time,” and they’re bolstered with some of the gnarliest riffs since the band’s 90s heyday. The use of ethnic elements ties back to records like “Elegy,” lending a nostalgic air while displaying maturity in their restraint. The album’s more progressive moments, particularly in songs like “Seven Roads Come Together” and the lush ballad “My Name Is Night”, underpin how special this lineup truly is when firing on all cylinders.
What elevates “Halo” just above mediocrity is the meticulous attention to detail: the bass work is more up-front and inventive than on recent releases, and the drumming grows subtly adventurous with each listen, best exemplified on “Windmane.”
Yet, “Halo”’s greatest vice is also its virtue: its uniformity and self-assured style sometimes slip into monotony. Several songs adhere so closely to the “modern Amorphis” template that their presence becomes indistinct, blending into a pleasant, unremarkable blur. This uniformity desaturates moments that could have soared, failing to provide the “wow effect”, a sense of real surprise that “Queen of Time” and “Under the Red Cloud” still retain. Songs like “Northwards” and portions of “Windmane” risk evoking not awe but a creeping sense of boredom, only rescued by scattered, inspired solos or unexpected embellishments.
In the end, “Halo” is the work of a seasoned band playing to its established strengths rather than breaking new ground. It’s an album brimming with craft and quality, one that will unfailingly please fans in search of another dose of the Amorphis sound—but it ultimately trades in boldness for reliability. “Halo” is as much a testament to their enduring class as it is a subtle reminder that the comfort of excellence sometimes comes at the cost of genuine adventure.
