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Amorphis is a Finnish progressive metal band that was formed in 1990 by Jan Rechberger, Tomi Koivusaari, and Esa Holopainen. Originally playing death metal, they later incorporated other genres such as progressive metal, folk metal, and melodic death metal. The band often draws inspiration from the Kalevala, Finland's epic poem, for their lyrics.
Initially, Rechberger was part of a thrash metal band called Violent Solution, and Koivusaari had left that band to join another group, Abhorrence. After both bands dissolved, Rechberger and Holopainen created Amorphis, with Koivusaari joining as the vocalist. They recorded a demo tape titled Disment of Soul in 1991 and were later signed by Relapse Records, leading to the release of their debut album, The Karelian Isthmus, and an EP called Privilege of Evil.
In 1994, Amorphis released their second album, Tales from the Thousand Lakes, which was a concept album based on the Kalevala. This album featured a shift in their sound, introducing melodic clean vocals and winning them a loyal fanbase due to its blend of death metal with folk and progressive elements.
Their third album, Elegy, came out in 1996, incorporating lyrics from Finnish folklore. The lineup saw changes, with the introduction of new members and a deeper exploration of their sound. Following the tour for Elegy, the band took a break.
In 1999, they released Tuonela, which featured a softer style and introduced new instruments such as the sitar and saxophone, while focusing solely on clean vocals. A tenth-anniversary compilation, Story, was also released around this time.
Am Universum, released in 2001, leaned more on experimental sounds and psychedelic elements. The following year, they contributed to the soundtrack for a Finnish film and started recording their last album with Relapse Records named Far from the Sun. In 2003, they released a retrospective compilation and welcomed back original drummer Rechberger.
After Pasi Koskinen left the band, Amorphis searched for a new vocalist and found Tomi Joutsen, who joined in 2005. His first album with the band, Eclipse, was released in 2006 and was celebrated as a significant comeback, achieving gold certification in Finland. Shortly after he joined, Amorphis performed a special gig under the name Amorjens in Finland.
Amorphis released their album Silent Waters on 3 September 2007, achieving gold certification in Finland. This marked the first time the band recorded an album with the same personnel as the previous one. They supported the album with a headlining tour in North America along with supporting acts Samael and Virgin Black.
In November 2008, Amorphis began recording their ninth album, Skyforger, which was released on 27 May 2009 in Finland and later in Europe and the United States. Initial pressings had mastering errors, leading to replacement CDs being issued. Skyforger earned gold certification in Finland on 7 July 2011, their third consecutive album to achieve this. During a tour for Skyforger, they filmed a performance in Oulu, Finland, which became their first live DVD, released alongside another concert and a documentary in June 2010.
On 15 September 2010, Amorphis released Magic & Mayhem – Tales from the Early Years, a reworking of twelve songs from their earlier albums featuring their current lineup, plus a cover of "Light My Fire. " This tour included performances with past members to play older songs.
In September 2010, they announced they were working on a new album. Recording for The Beginning of Times was nearly complete by January 2011, and the album was released on 27 May 2011 in Europe. The cover art was created by Travis Smith.
Amorphis announced a new album on 21 August 2012, revealing Circle as the title, which was released on 19 April 2013 in Europe. The album was well-received, winning Metal Hammer's "Album of the Year" award in September 2013. In August 2014, they announced special anniversary shows for their album Tales from the Thousand Lakes, performing it in full at various festivals.
In 2015, they began demoing new songs, announcing the recording of Under the Red Cloud in March. The album, reflecting themes of nature and human emotions, was released on 4 September 2015, followed by a world tour starting in Finland.
On 22 February 2018, Amorphis finished recording their thirteenth studio album, Queen of Time, released on 18 May 2018. This album featured the return of their former bassist Olli-Pekka Laine. The first single, "The Bee," was released in March 2018.
On 24 February 2022, they released their fourteenth album, Halo, which also marked their 30th anniversary since their debut album in 1992. Despite challenges due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the album was well-received, topping charts in Finland and ranking in the top-10 in several other countries. Songs from Halo, such as "The Moon" and "On the Dark Waters," have been released with music videos. The album draws on Finnish folklore, particularly referencing Tuonela, the underworld in Finnish and Estonian mythology.
Amorphis's 15th studio album, Borderland, was officially released on September 26, 2025, via Reigning Phoenix Music. The Finnish metal band announced the album in May 2025, with singles like "Light And Shadow" preceding the full release, and it marked their first album with producer Jacob Hansen.
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Alone
Amongst Stars
Dancing Shadow
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