Amorphis

Privilege of Evil (1993)

Privilege of Evil is death metal pure in form and emotion and raw in its impetus. A low-fi, trebly production, with added reverb gives these short compositions room to breath, often making the ideas within seem larger than they actually are in context. These songs take three or four simple rhythmic ideas, and this provides a basic framework that allows the band to overlay melodic ideas within segments. The drum beat is often used as a driver of 'space' in that it adds intensity to the faster parts but often backs off to highlight a melodic idea or central theme. Solid chord selection provides great harmony to the melodic lines and helps add to the gloomy atmosphere. Whilst not as developed as Karelian Isthmus (the songs are often faster than their full-length counter-parts and lack a bit of polish) the work on this EP is honest and a brief summary of the ancient spirit that later followed.

The Karelian Isthmus (1992)

Simplistic and rigorous death metal, carved from the spirit of the 80s greats, especially the epic contemplation of Bathory. Thunderous rhythmic patterns meet simple and slumbering but highly intuitive melodic lead guitar lines. The Karelian Isthmus is distinguishable through it's elegiac feel, crafting songs from basic melodic patterns and chord harmonies. One way of looking at these songs is as mini-epic stanzas. This compact style allows the band to work within a framework that induces the feelings of battle, much like how the folk music of yore inspired heroism and bravery. The music sticks to the reality of war, often with foreboding passages, or even of sadness or loss. This is most discrete when the music slows down, and in these passages, it slowly grates along like a pestilence sweeping over the land, oppressive and all-consuming.