Eclipse by Finnish Dark Metal Masters Amorphis Celebrates 20 Year Anniversary
There must be something about the frigid cold in Finland. Bands from there are driven to produce some of the best music, and Finnish band Amorphis is no exception. Since their beginnings in 1990 (with mostly the same members), this progressive metal sextet has continued to produce album after album of stunning music – and the band has only gotten better with time. The band went through a major sound change in 2005, when a new vocalist joined the band, prior to 2006’s Eclipse.
Amorphis Releases Eclipse
Far from the Sun was the sixth album released in 2003 by Amorphis. This was the last with a different singer, Pasi Koskinen. It was, by all standards, “fine.” Most bands that stumble after a “classic era” usually just fade into the background noise of the festival circuit, playing their old hits while the crowd politely ignores the new stuff.
However, every once in a while, the stars align (pun intended), and a band manages to pull off the impossible. On February 15, 2006, Finnish melancholy masters Amorphis didn’t just release an album; they resurrected their entire career. They released a juggernaut album. That was Eclipse – with much of it inspired by the poetry of Paavo Haavikko.
Tomi Joutsen Was a Game Changer
Prior to the release of Eclipse, things were a bit shaky for Amorphis. For a band that had revolutionized death-doom with Tales from the Thousand Lakes and then reinvented themselves with the psych-rock brilliance of Elegy, “fine” felt like a death sentence. Their vocalist, Koskinen, was gone, and Amorphis was at a crossroads: fade away or reinvent themselves yet again. Enter powerhouse vocalist Tomi Joutsen.
A New Voice, A New Era
When Joutsen stepped up to the mic, nobody knew what to expect. Replacing a frontman is usually a recipe for disaster (just ask Iron Maiden about the Blaze Bayley years). But from the moment the opening track “Two Moons” kicks in, it’s obvious that Joutsen wasn’t just a replacement – he was the missing link the band didn’t realize they needed. The guy possesses a set of pipes that can shift from a guttural, earth-shaking growl to a soulful, soaring clean vocal in the blink of an eye. He brought the grit of the early days back while adding a layer of emotional depth that fit perfectly with the band’s new direction.
Eclipse isn’t just a collection of songs; it feels like a statement of intent. The band, drawing inspiration from the tragic tale of Kullervo from the Finnish epic “Kalevala,” managed to weave a sonic canvas that felt both ancient and modern. (Fun fact: “Kalevala” inspired much of J.R.R. Tolkien’s work, including “The Silmarillion.”)
The Tracks That Defined a Generation
Let’s talk about “House of Sleep.” If you lived in Finland in 2006, you couldn’t escape this song. It was everywhere. Yeah, maybe we all got a little sick of it after the 500th listen on the radio, but revisit it today, and try not to sing along. It’s a total earworm of the highest order, simple yet devastatingly effective. But the real magic of Eclipse lies deeper in the tracklist.
“Under a Soil and Black Stone” is the sleeper hit here. It’s got those psychedelic, Kingston Wall-esque vibes that Amorphis flirts with so well, mixed with a dark, melancholic beauty that hits you right in the feels. Then you have “Perkele (The God of Fire),” which is just straight-up fire (pun there is absolutely intended). It’s heavy, it’s aggressive, and it proves that the band hadn’t lost their edge, even with more melody.
Why Eclipse Still Matters Today
Looking back two decades later, Eclipse stands as the blueprint for “New Amorphis.” It was the proof of concept that launched a golden era that is still going strong today. Without this album, we wouldn’t have Finnish dark metal masterpieces like Skyforger or Queen of Time. It was the moment the band stopped chasing their own sonic tail and forged a new path forward – one that honored their roots without being shackled by them.
So, if you’ve been sleeping on this album or dismissed it back in the day because “it wasn’t Tales,” do yourself a favor. Dust off that CD (or open Spotify), crank up the volume, and let Eclipse remind you why Amorphis is one of the most consistent and vital bands in the game. It’s not just a nostalgia trip; it’s a lesson in how to savor a legacy.
