Am Universum
Occupation
- Guitar: Tomi Koivusaari
- Guitar: Esa Holopainen
- Drums: Pekka Kasari
- E -Bass: Niclas Etelävuori
- Keyboard: Santeri Kallio
- Vocals: Pasi Koskinen
Production
- Production: Simon Efemey
- Mastering: Mika Jussila
- Mix: Mikko Karmila
Am Universum is the fifth studio album by the Finnish metal band Amorphis. It appeared in April 2001 as the last Amorphis album to Relapse Records. Am Universum is probably the most experimental album from Amorphis.
Creation and publication
Before the recording of Am Universum left the bassist Olli -Pekka Laine Amorphis and was replaced by Niclas Etelävuori. Santeri Kallio, who had already worked on the previous album Tuonela as a keyboard player, was a permanent member of the band. From October to December 2000, Amorphis took in the slightly different cast on the universe at Finnvox studios. As a guest musician, saxophonist Sakari Kukko and Antti Halonen occurred with singing saw.
Am Universum released on 3 April 2001 at Relapse Records, in Europe on Nuclear Blast and in Finland with Spinefarm Records. The single standalone was published on 1 February 2001 in advance of the album. On 26 March 2001 appeared on the universe on vinyl record with Nuclear Blast.
In addition to the normal version of a Japanese edition of the album exist with the added piece of Too Much To See, which has already been published on the single standalone as a B- side.
Style
Music
On Am Universum Amorphis continues the development of the previous albums. After Tuonela with the waiver of Growlgesang marked the departure from Death Metal, Amorphis Am Universum developed on the psychedelic side of the previous albums on. The progressive elements such as saxophone and Hammond organ are becoming increasingly important. Some pieces contain jam session guitar tracks are often alienated with tremolo and flanger effects, or covered with echo. The web magazine Vampster writes: " Am Universum is not a metal record - but a very wonderful rock album. " (Andrea Veyhle in the review to Am Universum ) Christopher Kelter moved the melody and atmosphere in his review on the website Roughedge.com in the near Pink Floyd.
Text and Cover
Am Universum lyrically continues the development of the previous albums. While the Finnish Kanteletar served on Elegy nor directly as the source and Tuonela was at least still inspired by traditional Finnish poetry, the band did not pursue on Am Universum entirely on references to Finnish mythology.
Pasi Koskinen, who wrote all the lyrics, explains this development in an interview with the fact that the band was going to be limited either in the public perception, or in its own expression on the old textual basis.
Successes and criticism
Am Universum debuted at # 4 on the Finnish album charts and was the most successful so far Amorphis album. Alone reached in the second week # 1 on the Finnish singles chart and held that position two more weeks. Overall, the single is at No. 226, the Finnish single " best-of -all- time" and the most successful Amorphis single.
While Tuonela had often to suffer that Amorphis was viewed as a Death Metal band, most fans and critics made on the universe moving away from the death metal Amorphis thus clear and opened new fans and old fans a new perspective on the band. The reviews fall largely positive, are particularly emphasized the vocals of Pasi Koskinen, the keyboard tracks and melodies. Jason Hundey criticized the saxophone parts for the All Music Guide and summarizes:
" This album is phenomenal, yet [ ... ] sometimes unbearable. "
"The album is phenomenal, but [ ... ] sometimes unbearable. "
In summary, he notes that " Amorphis their creativity [ abused ] [ have beset ] and untrained ears with tactless jazz elements to their status as, creative tied to consolidate. '"