Amorphis guitarist Esa Holopainen has decided it’s high time he mixed things up a bit. I guess 30 years in the same band can do that to a guy, but it’s not like Amorphis with their Dark Metal stylings are the most constricting of bands, it’s just a creative mind like Esa Holopainen eventually needs an outlet for all those musical moments that don’t quite fit into his main band. So that desire to do something just a little different and work with other vocalists means Silver Lake by Esa Holopainen is upon us, and what an interesting and compelling album it is too. Holopainen has done something that seems virtually impossible for a guitarist synonymous with a band who have distinctive sound to do. Yes, there’s plenty of that instantly recognisable Amorphis guitar style throughout this album, but it’s used in different and slightly more experimental ways, aided both by the arrangements and of course the fact that the songs have been written with each guest vocalist in mind.
For instance, Katatonia’s Jonas Renkse takes the lead on two tracks, both of which manage to take that Katatonia melancholy and make it slightly more upbeat, whilst at the same time almost giving an even darker edge to that underlying Amorphis-ness – as well as both tracks suiting his distinctive voice perfectly. Swedish vocalist Håkan Hemlin (Nordman) gives a moving, impassioned performance brimming with pride for his homeland and surroundings, so much so that you can almost see the crashing waves, imposing cliffs and towering mountains (actually, you really can see exactly that if you watch the video-clip for it…). There’s a doom-laden, native language spoken-word track, ‘Alkusointu’ (feat. Vesa-Matti Loiri) that even has a saxophone solo and let’s not forget the stellar performance (but then who could expect less) from bandmate Tomi Joutsen on ‘In Her Solitude’, which is naturally the most Amorphis-like track on here, but with an edge that means it fits perfectly with the rest of the songs on this album.
So, who else have we got on here? The always reliable Anneke Van Giersbergen fronts ‘Fading Moon’ which pitches itself somewhere around The Storm and her solo work. but sports more than a passing nod to Leaves’ Eyes. Einar Solberg of Leprous, brings a progressive, quirky edge to the already proggy ‘Ray Of Light’, with its skipping rhythms and choppy guitar-work, and then who could forget Björn “Speed” Strid (Soilwork/The Night Flight Orchestra), showing once more what a great singer he is in the style of The Night Flight Orchestra with a bit more punch behind him (for anyone who finds their 80’s Arena Rock leaning a little too commercial), to make this one of many stand-out tracks on this excellent project. The underlying feeling I have when hearing this album is how Holopainen has strived to make this release about the songs and the singers rather than using it as a vehicle to showcase his own considerable talents. It’s maybe even a bit more accessible and varied than Amorphis, but then that was probably the idea. There is just enough Amorphis in there to keep their fans more than happy, but so much more to give this project its own identity – a solo project every bit as fascinating and enjoyable as it promised to be.
(8.5/10 Andy Barker)
Leave a Reply