Finnish progressive metal pioneers Amorphis are making a highly anticipated return to Australian shores this week, marking their first headline tour down under in 13 years. The four-date trek kicks off on September 22 at The Croxton Bandroom in Melbourne, before hitting Brisbane, Sydney, and Canberra over consecutive nights.
Fans can expect a career-spanning set list that showcases the band’s signature blend of melodic death metal, progressive soundscapes, and mythic storytelling. In addition to delivering early classics and long-time crowd favourites, the Finnish quintet will perform tracks from their latest album, Borderland. Melbourne’s own dark metal veterans, The Eternal, are locked in as the primary support act for the entire run, ensuring an unforgettable night of heavy music.
HEAVY managed to track down Amorphis‘ long-time keyboardist SANTERI KALLIO to answer a few questions.
It’s been 13 years since Amorphis last toured Australia what does returning now, with a new album and a new era, feel like for the band?
It is awesome to be able to perform in Australia again since a while, okay “only” thirteen years. Last time we had lots of fun with those four shows we did – indeed. This time we got lucky that the Australian dates could easily to be added in between Japan and South American tours. I know there’s a good metal following going and I’m sure there will be awesome shows for us and for the audiences. Let’s hope Aussie fans have checked out our new album Borderland thus we have added good amount of new songs to the setlist from the latest Borderland album not forgetting classics throughout our whole career. Let’s have some fun there!
Borderland expands your mythic storytelling in a fresh direction. What themes or emotions from the album do you feel will resonate most strongly with Australian audiences?
Well, there is lots of mythological atmospheres including deep poetic stories and metaphorical animal characters from the North. I don’t see any problem why these exotic animals nor stories could not be seen part of any environment wherever you live, just switch moose to kangaroos, bears to koalas and pikes to crocodiles. They’re all mythological stories and figures after all. Our lyrics in general are universal – talking about the present colliding with the past and real worlds contradictions between the dreamworld. There is also lots of spiritual modern thoughts which don’t choose any location where you happen to live in a particular time. So, no worries there.
Your setlist spans early classics through to modern favourites. How do you balance nostalgia with evolution when crafting a show for a country you haven’t visited in over a decade?
It is quite challenging to keep everybody happy after 15 albums I must say on the other hand because of the very early success what happened to Amorphis in the 90s we have never disbanded or forgotten our past nor some must do songs. So, to speak our setlist will surely include some latest material to promote the new album, classics from the past not to forget some specials thee “black sheep” like we call the specials. It’s a tricky thing after 15 albums to put down a setlist for approximately 15 songs. We just try our very best to keep the band excited as possible and the audience satisfied and surprised.
Amorphis has always blended heaviness with atmosphere. How do you translate that duality into a live environment, especially for fans experiencing it again after such a long wait?
We try to add songs throughout from our whole career to the setlist. We don’t want just to play the bangers thus there is so much more dimensions in our music. There is no magic trick, we just have to remember that after all we are there for the audience. I would personally like to think that your mindset has to be 70/30 on the audience’s side, haha. Sounds mathematical right? Well, there is luckily lots of songs to choose and lots of opportunities to put great setlist together. Luckily, we are too old to fight about all the personal favourites what somebody would love to play.
You’re touring with your label mates The Eternal, what kind of energy or dynamic do you expect this pairing to bring to the Australian dates?
Well, it is a great band and Mark and Richie have been to Finland many times, so it will be smooth ride for sure. I think they are releasing by far the best album they ever done so I am very happy to be able to get them with us on this tour. Their music in atmospheric and proggy, which fits perfectly to warm up people for the massive and colourful Amorphis performance.
Finnish mythology has shaped your music for decades. How does performing these stories in a place as geographically and culturally distant as Australia shift your perspective on them?
Haha, think even though the stories are kind of about ancient Finnish Northern vibes I see them pretty universal. Mostly they are about challenges what every human being faces in life in general and also, they discuss how we connect with the past generations and they’re thoughts. I don’t see any bridges why Australian fans could not connect and relate to these stories.
Borderland showcases new sonic textures and progressive elements. Which of the new tracks feel most powerful or transformative onstage so far?
So far with this first leg of the Borderland World Tour, we have only played half of the album. We must remember we cannot play three hours after all. The new addons seem to all flow smoothly with all the old classics we do, anyways for example at the moment my live favourites so far are Bones and Dancing Shadow. Maybe thus some extra angle they deliver across the set. I think the new album presents perfectly modern Amorphis strongpoints, melodic layer supported by solid rhythm base delivered by heavy metal riffing, still keeping the songs fresh and kind of new to the listener. Nowadays we seem to have pretty clear roles after 30 years of playing together. Jan, Olli and Tomi on the bottom, me and Esa layering on top, and finally Tomi‘s vocals put the whole cake together wondering somewhere sky high.
After 13 years away, what do you hope Australian fans walk away feeling at the end of these shows and what do you hope to take back with you to Finland?
I hope they’re happy and satisfied after haha. Think we are in a best shape than ever before, and we have already done something like 80 shows for the Borderland Tour, so if we don’t deliver you can just blame us. Okay, jokes aside, just saying, we will not disappoint Australia, it is just so rare treat for us to be able to come over and rock the Aussie-house so failure is just not an option for us. See you in the shows, let’s have a blast!
Dates
Wednesday 23/09 The Croxton, MELBOURNE
Thursday 24/09 The Triffid, BRISBANE
Friday 25/09 Liberty Hall, SYDNEY
Saturday 26/09 The Baso, CANBERRA
Tickets: GA and VIP Tickets Onsale now from www.yourmatebookings.com
