Source: Promo Image/ Facebook
Amorphis are not a band that are particularly well-known in the UK, even within the metal scene. That’s why, after 25 years in the business, they’re still only playing the Islington O2. What they lack in mass-market appeal though, they make up for in sheer brilliance, and judging by the scores of people already wearing t-shirts sporting the cover of their phenomenal album last year From Under The Red Cloud, it seems that those who like Amorphis, really, like Amorphis.
First on were Greek rockers Poem. Although their cool prog-y mix of Deftones and Tool might not seem the most natural bedfellows with the other two bands on the bill, a large portion of the crowd seem to love them. The intensity of their playing and the swing of some of their grooves goes down a treat, and although there was no crowd movement as such, Poem clearly make music for the music-appreciative, rather than those who just want to smash stuff.
Dutch tech-metal old hands Textures again might seem like an odd band for Amorphis to choose as their main support for the whole tour. However, their Between The Buried And Me-esque tech-based metalcore also goes down well with tonight’s crowd. Combine the excellent songs that Textures have in their 13 year-long arsenal with a light show that both impressed and blinded the crowd, and the band flinging themselves all over the stage, and you have a band who put on a very entertaining show.
You would have thought that after over twenty-five years in the business Amorphis would be able to put on a good show – and holy shit didn’t they just.
The crowd clearly belonged to Amorphis that night – mosh pits and other such movement were few and far between, but you didn’t need them to see that people were losing their minds. The entire venue, front to back, was hanging on Tomi Joutsen’s every word, headbanging, clapping along, and engaging with gusto when it came to signing choruses like ‘Wanderer’ and ‘House Of Sleep’.
Although a decent chunk of their set was given to playing songs off of last year’s absolute stunner of an album Under The Red Cloud, Amorphis delved deep into their extensive back catalogue, playing songs from all over their two-decade and four different vocal line-ups.
What was more, you could tell they were enjoying it. It clearly meant so much to them that when they came to a foreign country, faced with playing to strangers who don’t even share their native language, that people showed up and were so familiar with their music that even a London crowd managed to get clapping in time right more often than not.
