Headliner #2 Confirmed:

[Harvester]

I have deleted several posts as a warning.

Ascension: Regardless if you did not curse, you actually took the first shot at someone this time with the "forum member" comment (which I also consider a shot at everyone here). It was very arrogant & elitist. Your call for the moderator afterwards ..well I just had to laugh. Anyhow, I left your other negative comments as there is no problem with you not liking Amorphis or second guessing me for the 2,000th time.

Everyone else: Let me handle Ascension. If you start taking shots at him on a personal level, you only lower yourself to the standard you are accusing him of.

 

[AMBR]

Anyone who doubts that Amorphis ever was pure death metal needs to hear Privilege of Evil.

For my money, Amorphis' best work is Tales from the Thousand Lakes, Elegy, and The Karelian Isthmus, in that order. Not really interested in anything else, although the only one that's bad is Far from the Sun... and that one's complete shit.

I've seen Amorphis live in 1994 (Atlanta), 2001 (Chicago), and 2006 (Vaasa). Only the 1994 performance was particularly impressive to me, and that may be because I didn't know who the hell they were and had never heard anything like that and was mesmerized. 2001 was just awful, Pasi sounded bad, nobody on stage looked interested, and they looked strained when performing the old material. but my problem with 2006 performance was more atmosphere... those early songs were not happy, and totally unsuitable for typical "rock band stage presence" antics. (There's an appropriate medium between their 01 and 06 performances. I've seen other bands pull it off right!)

I saw Amorphis live at the Bang Your Head festival in Germany this past summer. I thought they put on a helluva show. Both older and newer songs came off great and Tomi was an engaging front man. I didn't see "rock band stage" antics, but more of an intense absorption that drew in the crowd as opposed to keeping them at a distance. More of a "prog band type" of stage presence with a great deal of energy. Have no idea how they'll play out at indoors at ProgPower, but this has moved up to the top 3 must-see performances for me.

As for the "death metal argument," this band has gone through a number of style changes and even more personell changes since they began at the start of the 90's. While their earlier stuff was more doom laden and thick with growls, they've brightened up considerably and it would be impossible to consider hit songs like "Alone," "The Brother," and "Two Moons" in that genre. The new CD, Silent Waters is an excellent mix of their heavier former style and their lighter side. Granted, the first song "Weaving The Incantation" starts off with one kick ass growl (I love how it roars in after the soft trickling water sound), but there are way too many clean vocals and clever, yet catchy melodic passages to be labeled "death metal."

As for Far from the Sun, it is one of my least favorites. On their site, they describe it as, "heavier, more straightforward and also once again more folk-oriented," but to me it just lacked in the complexities of many of their other CD's, my favorites being Universum, Tuomela, Tales From A Thousand Lakes, Eclipse, and the new one, Silent Waters. For those new to Amorphis, you really have to listen to a variety of their music to even begin to classify them due to the great amount of experimentation they've incorporated into their discography over the years. They're not going to appeal to everyone, but I'm confident they'll earn more than a few new fans.

 

[DarkOne]

I have to say... I'm shocked. For starters, this is the first time I've been a fan of both headliners since PPII. <SNIP>. All that said, it's a great selection. Kudos of a great, diverse line-up.

Zod

Zod,

Please be kind to the Vinyl bartenders and let them know that you'll be watching the headliners this year. We don't want to give them heart attacks or worry them unnecessarly when you don't show up at the bar at your usual time.

Steve in Philly

 

[VenomGA]

I am looking forward to learning about this band more. I have their early stuff when they were a slow death band or doomy death band. I need to listen to their stuff released in the last 10 years or so.

 

[Cheiron]

Yeah. Listening to one album and classifying them is about as much of a mistake as listening to one Ulver album and classifying that band (hmmm Ulver for PP X??).

This band won't be for everybody. But so what. I'm glad they are on the roster. This festival isn't for everybody, nobody is ever going to be entirely pleased with the headliners. Hell, I'd probably rarely make a decision to attend based on headliners. I could hate both of them, but if I liked a couple other bands on the lineup I'd go. Sure I have less expenses to go too =p

And Zod, I remember asking you a while back if you could list headliners which would actually keep you around. You weren't sure. I guess this is it =)

 

[General Zod]

C'mon, let's not scare people away now! I haven't done the math, but I'd say their last "majority-growled" album was "Tales From the Thousand Lakes", seven albums ago.

I saw them in Philly, a few years back, with the new singer, and then again in Germany this past summer. Felt like more growls than clean singing.

As for scaring folks away, I'm thinking most people can either deal with growls or can't. And regardless of the split, be it 50/50, 60/40/ or 70/30, in either direction, that's going to be too much for those who can't cope with them.

Zod

 

[VenomGA]

most diverse lineup ever. Kudos to Glenn for putting this together. It is obvious he is stretching the boundaries of the festival, which is fine to me, to bring us the best show possible every year. This can not possibly be an easy job that Glenn does year in, year out. No 10 to 12 bands are going to make everyone happy. I do think the amount of bitching about Amorphis in this thread is unwarranted. Don;t base this band on one album or a few. Plus give the band a chance live. I was NOT a fan of Epica or After Forever on cd but live they both were awesome.

 

[General Zod]

Please be kind to the Vinyl bartenders and let them know that you'll be watching the headliners this year. We don't want to give them heart attacks or worry them unnecessarly when you don't show up at the bar at your usual time.

I'll let them know about my revised schedule. However, with the exception of Riverside and the two headliners, there's plent of drinking time.

Zod

 

[Dark One]

I'll let them know about my revised schedule. However, with the exception of Riverside and the two headliners, there's plent of drinking time.

Let's get that HC like buzz going for Riverside/Amorphis and then Iced Earth. I love the way it's shaping up this year.

Jason

 

[nailz]

Now THAT's funny. And, I suspect, a total, contemptible lie.

No no, he actually called me up in tears because he wanted to be Piet's bitchboy the entire weekend.

 

[spiralcharlie]

Amorphis was good back in the day....but now they really dont interest me much....and with Riverside playing right before them...i ll have more time to mingle
but other than these two bands i think its gonna be an awesome fest...thanks Glenn
and looking forward to whats gonna be on the preshow roster

charlie

 

[pollution]

Ahhh.. what an awesome, unexpected choice! For sure one of the bands out there who REALLY have progressed a lot during their career. During the last two years I have been lucky to have seen them live 7 or 8 times and they have always been great. Bringing Tomi to the band really got the rest of the band more active and to be into it live.

What a day Amorphiswise for me, just today they announced a headlining gig here in Helsinki for March too

BTW, this question is for anyone that has seen them live recently, are they playing Into Hiding live? If so, i will prepare to wear some "Depends" that night.

I think your chances are very good, at least most (if not all) the shows I have seen with the "new" singer included it, this goes for Black Winter Day too. They're always playing a very nice selection of the old 90s stuff and Tomi can really deliver the goods with the growls on those, perfect (well I guess better than perfect) singer replacement for these guys.

 

[Ascension]

I have deleted several posts as a warning.

......

Everyone else: Let me handle Ascension. If you start taking shots at him on a personal level, you only lower yourself to the standard you are accusing him of.

So...calling someone an asshole & an idiot only gets your posts deleted and not a ban...check...thanks.

 

[skyrefuge]

Yeah. Listening to one album and classifying them is about as much of a mistake as listening to one Ulver album and classifying that band

I don't really hear this great diversity in Amorphis's catalog that people are talking about. Yes, from 'Privilege of Evil' (1991) through 'Elegy' (1996), they certainly changed a lot from album to album, but since then, everything has basically been just a variation on the 'Elegy' theme: mid-tempo melodic metal with atmosphere, mixing clean and growled vocals, and psychedelic and folk influences.

And since it sounds like all but one or two songs from their set will be from the 'Elegy'-onwards period, I say that listening to any single album from that period would in fact give someone a good idea what to expect in general.

Neil

 

[TheWhisper]

Nah its not them. Last year, I wanted to see every band but VS, this year, the only bands I want to see are Iron Savior, Iced Earth and Volbeat(sorta), just dont think its worth it at the moment.

Dude, I'm lucky if I like more than a couple of bands in any given year. This year...three. But the only thing that will stop me from going is some unforeseen thing like what happened last year. Though, I go to hang out with my people as much as for the music.

 

[rms]

I don't really hear this great diversity in Amorphis's catalog that people are talking about. Yes, from 'Privilege of Evil' (1991) through 'Elegy' (1996), they certainly changed a lot from album to album, but since then, everything has basically been just a variation on the 'Elegy' theme: mid-tempo melodic metal with atmosphere, mixing clean and growled vocals, and psychedelic and folk influences.

And since it sounds like all but one or two songs from their set will be from the 'Elegy'-onwards period, I would say that listening to any single album from that period would in fact give someone a good idea what to expect in general.

Neil

I knew I wasnt the only one to feel that way

 

[rms]

Dude, I'm lucky if I like more than a couple of bands in any given year. This year...three. But the only thing that will stop me from going is some unforeseen thing like what happened last year. Though, I go to hang out with my people as much as for the music.

I'm not like the majority of the crowd, I don't go for people. I go for bands, I even met some ppl ive fucked around with on the forum for a year or so, was it fun? fuck yeah but 80% of me going to PPUSA for IX is the bands, 10% other shit. Just can't do it =/

 

[Harvester]

So...calling someone an asshole & an idiot only gets your posts deleted and not a ban...check...thanks.

With your posting history, that is correct. I'm willing to let isolated incidences go with just a warning. You are far beyond that.

I noticed you glazed over the part where I pointed out that you elevated the situation by taking a shot at the "forum members."

 

[Greykiller]

Ahhh.. what an awesome, unexpected choice! For sure one of the bands out there who REALLY have progressed a lot during their career. During the last two years I have been lucky to have seen them live 7 or 8 times and they have always been great. Bringing Tomi to the band really got the rest of the band more active and to be into it live.

What a day Amorphiswise for me, just today they announced a headlining gig here in Helsinki for March too


I think your chances are very good, at least most (if not all) the shows I have seen with the "new" singer included it, this goes for Black Winter Day too. They're always playing a very nice selection of the old 90s stuff and Tomi can really deliver the goods with the growls on those, perfect (well I guess better than perfect) singer replacement for these guys.

Remember the setlist from the shows you have seen?

 

[pollution]

And since it sounds like all but one or two songs from their set will be from the 'Elegy'-onwards period, I say that listening to any single album from that period would in fact give someone a good idea what to expect in general.

The last setlist they played here when headlining had 14 songs total and it had 4 pre-Elegy songs on it (and two from Elegy, if someone's interested to know). None from the bit uninspired and dull (imo) Far From The Sun album so I think even the band would agree that one wouldn't be a good idea to check out to get an idea how they are

Greykiller: I'll PM you a recent setlist, don't want to spoil it for the people who don't want to know.