AMORPHIS: Changing The Face Of Modern Metal

Finnish metallers AMORPHIS have set a May 20 release date through EMI subsidiary Virgin Records for their sixth studio album, "Far From The Sun". The album's first single, "Day Of Your Beliefs", will surface later this month.

"Far From The Sun" marks the beginning of a new era for the band, who have opted to return to a more band-oriented concept on their first CD since their split with Relapse Records. "'Far From The Sun' is heavier and more guitar-driven and band-oriented an album than its predecessors," explains guitarist Esa Holopainen. "It is AMORPHIS 2003."

Having used several guest musicians and outside producers on their albums over the past years, the band has this time around trusted only in themselves. The follow-up to 2000's "Am Universum" was self-produced and was mixed by Hiili Hiilesmaa (H.I.M., SENTENCED, MOONSPELL) and mastered in Stockholm, Sweden. Frontman Pasi Koskinen recorded all vocals for the CD at Seawolf studio in Suomenlinna under the guidance of Hannu Leiden (ex-singer of HAVANA BLACKS),who has previously worked with HANOI ROCKS, among others.

Says Holopainen, "Having had to go through all the contractual differences in the past, the future does really look bright at the moment. The process of making the album was easy and the schedule for the summer and autumn live dates is developing steadily. We aim to play European festivals over the summer and hit the road on our own in the fall."

The complete track listing for "Far From The Sun" is as follows:

01. Day Of Your Beliefs
02. Planetary Misfortune
03. Evil Inside
04. Mourning Soil
05. Far From The Sun
06. Ethereal Solitude
07. Killing Goodness
08. God Of Deception
09. Higher Ground
10. Smithereens

Things have not always been this peachy for AMORPHIS. Starting out in late 1990, AMORPHIS, band members still in their teens, were quickly signed, with no help of managers or any other advisors by an American label to a long-term contract that, despite its obvious fallbacks business-wise, saw AMORPHIS release five albums that changed the face of modern metal. From the death metal origins of their debut, "Karelian Ishtmus", to their progressive and highly-influential second album, "Tales from The Thousand Lakes" and through the soon-to-be released "Far From The Sun", AMORPHIS have been at the forefront of modern metal like very few bands before them. Mixing their metal roots and their love for classic rock and Finnish folklore the band has created its own unique and distinctive sound of strong melodies and aggressive metal that has won them fans all over the globe and helped the band sell over 500,000 albums in the process.