On the universe
| On the universe | ||||
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| Amorphis studio album | ||||
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Publication |
April 3, 2001 |
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| Label (s) | Relapse Records | |||
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Format (s) |
CD |
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Title (number) |
10 (Limited Edition: 11) |
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running time |
49 min 38 s (Limited Edition: 53 min 16 s) |
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Am Universum is the fifth studio album by the Finnish metal band Amorphis . It was released in April 2001 as the last Amorphis album on Relapse Records . At the universe is probably the most experimental album of Amorphis.
Creation and publication
Before recording Am Universum , bassist Olli-Pekka Laine left Amorphis and was replaced by Niclas Etelävuori. Santeri Kallio, who on his previous album Tuonela as keyboardist had acted is permanent band member. From October to December 2000, Amorphis recorded in the slightly different line-up Am Universum at Finnvox Studios . The saxophonist Sakari Kukko and Antti Halonen appeared as guest musicians with Singender Säge .
Am Universum was released on April 3, 2001 on Relapse Records, in Europe on Nuclear Blast and in Finland on Spinefarm Records . The single Alone was released on February 1, 2001 in advance of the album. On March 26, 2001, Am Universum was released on vinyl by Nuclear Blast.
In addition to the normal version, there is a Japanese edition of the album with the additional track Too Much To See , which was already published as the B-side on the single Alone .
style
music
On Am Universum , Amorphis continues the development of the previous albums. After Tuonela marked the departure from death metal by renouncing growl vocals , Amorphis continued to develop the psychedelic side of the previous albums on Am Universum . The progressive elements such as the saxophone and Hammond organ gain in importance. Some pieces contain jam sessions , the guitar tracks are often alienated with tremolo and flanger effects or underlaid with echoes . The web magazine Vampster writes: “Am Universum is not a metal record - but a wonderful rock album.” ( Andrea Veyhle in the review of Am Universum ) Christopher Kelter brought the melody and atmosphere close to in his review on the Roughedge.com website Pink Floyd .
Texts and covers
In terms of text, the development of the previous albums continues on Universum . While the Finnish kanteletar was still used directly as a source on Elegy and Tuonela was at least still inspired by Finnish traditional poetry, the band at Am Universum completely dispensed with any references to Finnish mythology.
Pasi Koskinen, who wrote all the lyrics, justified this development in an interview with the fact that the band did not want to be limited to the old text bases, neither in public perception nor in their own expression.
Successes and criticism
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Chart positions Explanation of the data |
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Am Universum entered the Finnish album charts at number 4, making it the most successful Amorphis album to date. Alone reached number 1 in the Finnish singles chart in the second week and held this position for two more weeks. Overall, the single is number 226 of the Finnish single "best-of-all-time" and thus the most successful Amorphis single.
While Tuonela often suffered from the fact that Amorphis was viewed as a death metal band, Am Universum made it clear to most fans and reviewers to turn away from death metal and thus opened up new fans and the old fans a new perspective on the band . The reviews are mostly positive, with particular emphasis on the vocals by Pasi Koskinen, the keyboard tracks and the melodies. Jason Hundey criticizes the saxophone parts for the All Music Guide and sums up:
"This album is phenomenal, yet [...] sometimes unbearable."
"The album is phenomenal, but [...] sometimes unbearable."
In summary, he states that "Amorphis [abused] their creativity and [pressured] untrained ears with tactless jazz elements in order to cement their status as a 'creative band'."
Track list
- Alone - 6:18
- Goddess (Of the Sad Man) - 3:59
- Night Is Over - 4:04
- Shatters Within - 5:19
- Crimson Wave - 4:45
- Drifting Memories - 4:24
- Forever More - 4:33
- Veil of Sin - 5:10
- Captured State - 4:27
- Grieve Stricken Heart - 6:39
- Too Much To See (bonus track) - 3:38
Individual evidence
- ↑ Am Universum LP at Amazon.de (German, accessed on August 8, 2007)
- ↑ a b c Andrea Veyhle: AMORPHIS: Am Universum on Vampster.com, March 22, 2001 (German, accessed June 17, 2007)
- ↑ a b Christopher J. Kelter: Am Universum (Relapse; 2001) on RoughEdge.com (English, accessed on June 17, 2007)
- ↑ Markus Veyhle: Amorphis: Prelistening-Session for Am Universum , December 8, 2000, Karlsruhe, Kulturruine auf Vampster.com, December 15, 2000 (German, accessed June 17, 2007)
- ↑ Christopher J. Kelter: What is the voice of AMORPHIS? on RoughEdge.com, May 3, 2000 (accessed June 17, 2007)
- ↑ Andrea Veyhle: The devil is always behind you and looks over your shoulder on Vampster.com, May 26, 2003 (German, accessed June 10, 2007)
- ↑ Charts DE Charts FI
- ↑ Rainer Raithel: Amorphis: Am Universum on PowerMetal.de, August 8, 2001 (German, accessed August 8, 2007)
- ↑ a b Jason Hundey: Am Universum> Overview in the All Music Guide (English, accessed on August 8, 2007)