I saw Amorphis on tour for this album in 1994 or 1995, not too sure, but I saw them at a shitty little club in southeast Albuquerque with Entombed and got to meet one of the guitarists (I’m really straining my long-term memory here.) It was, despite the location, an incredible show.

When I think of great live albums I think of Iron Maiden‘s Live After Death, Judas Priest with the perfect Priest… Live and of course Kiss Alive 1&2. However, I can’t think of this as a “live” album. Why? Zero crowd noise, no between-songs banter, not even a “What the fuck is up, Tavistia?!” I realize it’s a soundboard recording (I’d bet my watch and chain) so I shouldn’t be expecting those things I suppose.

Anyway, Tales From The Thousand Lakes is my favorite Amorphis album. After the Karelian Isthmus album that was heavy as elephant balls, they go and make a Melodic Death Metal album that knew how to tell a story. But…

Without getting too much into the weeds and just reviewing Tales From The Thousand Lakes all over again. With a good live album, the band will change up something or make an intro last longer, but that’s not the case here as Amorphis play them exactly as they were originally recorded, and don’t get me wrong, this album sounds amazing ; like, the mix is fantastically done.

I’m really want to talk about the songs, I mean there might be someone who has never heard of them before, and then there’s the people who are familiar with these super talented Finns.

OK, so real quick it starts with the instrumental “Thousand Lakes” and it sounds crystal clear, each track on Tales From The Thousand Lakes segues perfectly into the next, so that could explain the lack of banter with the crowd. But what I was really looking forward to was “Black Winter Day” and when it comes on, that keyboard intro just picks you up and lets you soar with the eagles.

Before that is “First Doom” and after it “The Drowned Maid” comes raging in. “To Father’s Cabin” is another standout and another example of what made Amorphis the powerhouse they are today. We’re also treated to their Abhorrence cover of “Vulgar Necrolaty” from their Privilege of Evil Ep and “My Kantele” from their magnificent Elegy album from 1996.

As far as for fans of go… early Opeth, early Entombed; you probably know already (I’m going to assume, anyway). So I’ll recommend this for the lovers (like me) and for the OSDM fans who are still rotting after all these years. Hail!

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