Finnish metal legends Amorphis have recently shared the official video for The Lantern, a centrepiece of their critically discussed fifteenth studio album Borderland, out since September 2025 via RPM. The album marks a milestone in the band’s 35‑year evolution, blending melodic depth and dynamic storytelling with a refreshed creative spark borne from their first collaboration with producer Jacob Hansen. At this point I have to confess that Borderland somehow escaped our attention when released last year, so here is our belated Velvet Thunder review of said epic – better late than never!
A ground-breaking and genre-defying band that after 35 years still features its original line-up (with a few exceptionally talented additions)? Not many of those around, especially in heavy metal circles – but you could never accuse Amorphis of being orthodox. Since forming in Helsinki in 1990, the Finnish sextet has fearlessly explored musical frontiers, from raw death metal roots to melodic, progressive and folk-tinged heavy rock, and far beyond. Amorphis may not grab stellar headlines but with a devout fanbase, a consistent discography and a reputation for being a formidable live act, the band has earned both the plaudits bestowed upon them and their fanbase’s devotion. At every turn, Amorphis has expanded musical and lyrical boundaries without compromising their artistic identity. Check out our review of their 2022 epic Halo and you’ll see what we mean.
Now, after a long and distinguished journey, Amorphis (guitarists Esa Holopainen and Tomi Koivusaari, vocalist Tomi Joutsen, keyboardist Santeri Kallio, bassist Olli-Pekka Laine, and drummer Jan Rechberger) have delivered yet another compelling new chapter – in the shape of Borderland. Amorphis’ fifteenth studio album marks both a continuation and reinvention of the band’s legacy, with acclaimed Danish producer Jacob Hansen (Volbeat, Arch Enemy, Amaranthe) at the helm for the first time and a revitalized creative spark within the group. Borderland sees Amorphis fully embracing their melodic sensibilities while, as usual, venturing into fresh soundscapes.
Borderlands is more organic, catchier and more accessible than 2022’s Halo and has a modern and fresh feel. The result is a landmark addition to Amorphis’ legacy, Borderland being a cohesive yet adventurous album that successfully bridges innovation with tradition.
The Circle opens the songset, it’s a richly layered arrangement that is at once familiar to fans, where the band’s signature melancholy, melody and heaviness pulse through every note. This one is driven by Santeri Kallio’s pulsating keys, around which everything melds.
Bones is up next, written by Kallio, who was wanting to prove he could write something heavy and riff-based. It’s fair to say he’s achieved that – punishing riffs, eastern-tinged melodies, and hard-hitting rhythms create the heaviest track on the album, as the video below confirms. I love the superbly fluid lead guitar work on this one!
Dancing Shadow is packed with hooks and familiar Amorphis catchiness, but with a modern twist. A deliberately metallic tinge to the guitars, plus an ethereal vibe to the keys gives this track an energetic lightness of touch that does make it unashamedly bouncy – you can imagine this lighting up a metal dancefloor!
Fog to Fog is another track with a somehow “ice-cold” mood in the piano work to start with (that makes me think of Finnish compatriots H.I.M., actually), before the more “orchestrated metal” side of the band kicks in. It’s a really pacey, full sound, rattling along happily whilst our twin guitarists have a ball, while Tomi Joutsen remains in fine voice, that juxtaposition of growl and clean vocals proving him to be still one of the best in the business.
The Strange continues Tomi Joutsen’s demonstration of vocal virtuosity, above another driven arrangement that again does remind me hugely of Dark Light era HIM. Some might deride me for that but, at their best, HIM belted out melancholy for melodious Fin-Rock as well as anyone, and I do think the bands share a common heritage, call it what you will! And to further cement the comparison, Tempest continues where The Strange left off in that blend of delicate keyboards and chunky slabs of metal. Hugely tuneful with all five musicians by turns taking the spotlight, Tempest is a perfect blend of light and shade, only just over five minutes in length but conveying a sense of epic story-telling.
Light and Shadow is a song built around melody, groove, and a sense of freshness, crafted with a great deal of musical freedom. A shuddering yet hypnotic bass and keys powerbase forms its bedrock, allowing Joutsen’s vocals to swirl in and around the core. After the “lightness” of the last three tracks, The Lantern gets stuck into a dramatic and evocative take on a haunting journey along the “black river” of Finland’s mythological underworld. It blends cinematic textures with emotional depth, Tomi J’s vocals again bring the story to life with real emotion. The recent video of this being performed live is a cracker – see below.
The title track Borderland is simply classic Amorphis – drenched in layers of guitars, melodic keyboards, an incessant driving rhythm and again that interplay between clean and growled vocals. It tells the tale of a meeting of a father and son from two different worlds. To me it’s a Metal Finnish equivalent of Irish sagas as performed by my Celtic heroes Horslips, that tension within ancient wisdom interwoven with the struggles of modern life, all played out with consummate musicianship. Another epic creation, in which Tomi Joutsen’s performance is a career-defining vocal tour de force that ranks among his finest moments since joining the band 20 years ago (he admits this is the most demanding Amorphis album he’s been part of).
The album closes on a typically cheery Finnish note with a track called Despair. It blends profound beauty, unmistakable intensity, and a hint of melancholy and, as Tomi Koivusaaris says, “If movies usually end with hope, Despair does quite the opposite. If I had to sum up those album’s closing moments in two words, they’d be winter and ice.” Despite those gloomy sounding words, the track positively shimmers with wonderful lead licks, mighty keys, mesmerising rhythms, and always that voice….so there you have it – with a deep respect for the past and eyes firmly on the future – and with extensive touring ahead – Amorphis continues to shape their heavy metal landscape with grace, finesse and integrity. “After three and half decades, we still follow our instincts,” Tomi Koivusaari concludes. “And honestly, Borderland might be the most Amorphis-sounding album we’ve ever made. After such a long and successful career, that feels pretty damn great!”
What’s more, if this is the shape of further things to come in the same mould, these guys are cresting the waves and loving it! Meanwhile, coming full circle back to the recent release of the live video of The Lantern, the live footage underscores that cinematic pulse, transforming raw performance into a visual odyssey.
Play It Loud!
And here’s the heavyweight beast that is Bones…
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