AMORPHIS is a band that refuses to fall into stagnation. While they may never again attain the level of originality achieved by their sophomore effort, "Tales From The Thousand", they are still a force that continuously reinvents itself with each new release. "Skyforger", the ninth release from the Finnish group, is no exception to this trend.

Vocally, "Skyforger" is to "Silent Waters" as "Elegy" was to "Tales From The Thousand". There are very few harsh vocals to be heard throughout the album, but this does nothing to hinder their sound as Tomi Joutsen proves just how varied his arrangements can be. While the clean vocals are old territory for this band, Joutsen is nowhere near as messy or inconsistent as former vocalist Pasi Koskinen could often be. Of course, as in the past, where the music really shines is in the instrumental department. Esa Holopainen and Tomi Koivusaari come up with some of their most beautiful guitar compositions to date, while staying true to the nature of melodic progression they are known for. Many of the Folk-inspired elements remain intact, but much less so in comparison to older releases. The keys also contribute quite well to the new direction, offering more of a Progressive feel than that of Melodic Death.

"Sampo" perfectly sets the tone for the rest of the album, offering a mixture of heavy and soft, fast and slow, majestic and intense atmospheres throughout. Fans of the German band SUIDAKRA will instantly make the comparison, as Joutsen's rough chants are practically indistinguishable from those of Akadius Antonik. The chorus is where he departs, recomposing his voice to a leveled hum, integrating perfectly with the instruments. By far the most compelling track is "Sky Is Mine", a sufficient summation of their new style as a whole and a testament to their ingenuity. "Majestic Beast" is the most familiar offering of the work, a throwback to past works with an Arabian melody to accompany the softer melodies. This is also probably the only track able to quench the thirst of Death Metal enthusiasts.

"Skyforger" is as ambitious an effort as all others put forth by the band. After nine albums, they have not gotten lazy, tired, or boring, but continue to experiment in areas not previously traversed. It will make a fine addition to any AMORPHIS fan's set, and will also appeal to fans of a variety of Metal subgenres. Looking ahead to future musical iterations, it is quite clear that we are still a long ways off from containing the beast known as AMORPHIS!