Skyforger (album)
| Skyforger | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by Amorphis | ||||
| Released |
May 27, 2009  May 29, 2009  June 16, 2009  | |||
| Recorded | November 2008–January 2009 | |||
| Genre | Progressive metal,[1][2] Heavy metal | |||
| Length | 47:42 | |||
| Label | Nuclear Blast | |||
| Producer | Mikko Karmila, Marco Hietala, Amorphis | |||
| Amorphis chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Skyforger | ||||
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| Professional ratings | |
|---|---|
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| About.com |   [3] |
| Allmusic |  [4] |
| Revolver | [5] |
Skyforger is the ninth studio album by Finnish heavy metal band Amorphis. Like the previous album, the lyrics to Skyforger are English translations of Finnish poems based on the Kalevala and written by Pekka Kainulainen. Unlike the two previous albums, it is based on different parts of several episodes, but all told from a single character's point of view. In this sense it is a return to Tales from the Thousand Lakes which told stories from different parts of the Kalevala. The last two albums focused on Kullervo and Lemminkäinen, respectively, and this one focuses on Ilmarinen.
Like Amorphis's previous two albums, Eclipse and Silent Waters, Skyforger is a concept album and was recorded at Sonic Pump Studios in Helsinki.[6]
In addition to a regular edition, the album was also released in a limited digipak edition which included the bonus track "Godlike Machine". Initially, this digipak edition caused controversy because of sound level fluctuations during the tracks "My Sun" and "Skyforger", but Nuclear Blast has since remedied the problem by promising replacement CDs.[7]
On April 22, 2009, "Silver Bride" was released as a Finland-only single, peaking at number 1.[8][9] The music video for the single premiered on May 11, 2009.[10]
Track listing
- All Lyrics By Pekka Kainulainen. All Music As Noted.
| No. | Title | Music | Length | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Sampo" | Kallio | 6:08 | |
| 2. | "Silver Bride" | Holopainen | 4:13 | |
| 3. | "From the Heaven of My Heart" | Kallio | 5:20 | |
| 4. | "Sky Is Mine" | Kallio | 4:20 | |
| 5. | "Majestic Beast" | Holopainen | 4:19 | |
| 6. | "My Sun" | Koivusaari | 4:04 | |
| 7. | "Highest Star" | Holopainen | 4:44 | |
| 8. | "Skyforger" | Holopainen | 5:15 | |
| 9. | "Course of Fate" | Kallio | 4:15 | |
| 10. | "From Earth I Rose" | Joutsen | 5:04 | |
| 11. | "Godlike Machine" (Digipak Bonus Track) | Koivusaari | 5:18 | |
| 12. | "Separated" (Japanese Bonus Track) | Koivusaari | 4:17 |
Chart positions
| Chart (2009) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Austrian Albums Chart[11] | 48 |
| Finnish Albums Chart[12] | 1 |
| Swiss Albums Chart[13] | 74 |
| Top Heatseekers[14] | 33 |
Personnel
Amorphis
- Tomi Joutsen – vocals
- Tomi Koivusaari – rhythm guitar
- Esa Holopainen – lead guitar
- Santeri Kallio – keyboards, synthesizers, piano, organ
- Niclas Etelävuori – bass guitar
- Jan Rechberger – drums, percussion
Session musicians
- Jouni Markkanen - backing vocals
- Marco Hietala - backing vocals
- Peter J. Goodman - backing vocals
- Tommi Salmela - backing vocals
- Iikka Kahri - flute and saxophone
Production
- Arranged By Amorphis
- Produced By Amorphis, Marco Hietala & Mikko Karmila
- Recording Engineered By Sami Koivisto
- Mixed By Mikko Karmila
- Mastered By Mika Jussila
References
- ↑ http://getmetal.org/progressive-metal/29100-amorphis-skyforger-2009.html
- ↑ http://united-metal.ru/632-amorphis.html
- ↑ "Amorphis Skyforger Review - Review of Skyforger by Amorphis". Heavymetal.about.com. 2009-06-16. Retrieved 2012-03-09.
- ↑ Skyforger (album) at AllMusic
- ↑ Aykroyd, Lucas (August 2009). "Skyforger review". Revolver (Future) (83): p. 74. ISSN 1527-408X.
- ↑ "Cover Artwork For Amorphis' "Skyforger"". smnnews.com. February 11, 2009. Retrieved 2009-03-06.
- ↑ "Skyforger – Error on digipak version". Nuclear Blast. May 29, 2009. Retrieved 2009-05-29.
- ↑ "Amorphis: New Single Announced". blabbermouth.net. March 16, 2009. Retrieved 2009-03-31.
- ↑ "Finnish Singles Chart". Retrieved 2009-05-12.
- ↑ "Amorphis: 'Silver Bride' Video Released". May 11, 2009. Retrieved 2009-05-12.
- ↑ "Austrian album charts" (in German). austriancharts.at. Retrieved 2009-09-04.
- ↑ "Finnish album charts" (in Finnish). finnishcharts.com. Retrieved 2009-09-04.
- ↑ "Swiss album charts" (in Dutch). hitparade.ch. Retrieved 2009-09-04.
- ↑ "Skyforger at billboard.com". Billboard.com. Retrieved 2009-09-04.
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