Following the announcement of their 15th studio album Borderland, Finnish metal icons AMORPHIS release the first single from their forthcoming opus today. "Light And Shadow," which can also be interpreted as a metaphor of the album title in the sense of counter-play between two parties close to each other, wins over listeners right away with an uplifting piano intro, enriched by an electronic sound tapestry. As the song unfolds, it transforms into a driving, mythic anthem of self-discovery, a powerful reminder of why AMORPHIS remain unrivalled in crafting melancholic majesty.
Santeri Kallio, who wrote the music, adds: “I threw my brain into the closet and went with the flow - without stressing about opinions. I didn’t want to repeat the old nor copy what we’ve already done before. When I heard Tomi’s final vocal parts, I realised that ‘Light And Shadow’ would be the perfect introduction to our new album!”
Watch the lyric video below:
Stream "Light And Shadow": https://amorphis.rpm.link/lightandshadowPR
Arriving on September 26, 2025 via Reigning Phoenix Music, the group’s new album can be pre-ordered in a wide range of formats and pre-saved here: https://amorphis.rpm.link/borderlandPR
After recording four albums in a row in Sweden, Hansen Studios (Jacob Hansen, Denmark; VOLBEAT, AMARANTHE, PRIMAL FEAR etc.) were the destination of choice in late 2024 and early 2025. The album artwork was designed by Dutch artist Marald Van Haasteren (METALLICA, BLACK SABBATH, KVELERTAK, ALCEST etc.) this time.
Besides newly collaborating with Hansen and Van Haasteren, AMORPHIS still rely on the lyrical craftsmanship of Pekka Kainulainen, who’s been courageously writing for the band since their 2007 offering Silent Waters. About his inspiration for Borderland Kainulainen comments: “The generations that came here before us, our ancestors, also had to face death and destruction. Honouring the mythologies of mankind, as well as the listeners of AMORPHIS, I wrote lyrics that hopefully convey some of the humility and strength that mankind has always depended on.”
With Borderland, the title of the album couldn’t have been chosen more fittingly. Throughout their career, spanning over more than three decades, AMORPHIS -- Tomi Joutsen (vocals), Esa Holopainen (guitars), Tomi Koivusaari (guitars), Olli-Pekka Laine (bass), Santeri Kallio (keyboards) & Jan Rechberger (drums & percussion) -- have been an ever-evolving act, wandering on an exciting boundary-pushing path. From their sinister death metal debut Karelian Isthmus over genre-defining mid-90s melodic death works like Tales From The Thousand Lakes andElegy as well as the melodic 2000’s grandeur of Eclipse or Skyforger to records combining the very best of all prior eras to refreshing new soundscapes (f.e. Under The Red Cloud or Queen Of Time): Whatever this group works on promises long-range success.
With 2022’s Halo, the Finn’s were rewarded for their researching musical approach once again: The album marked AMORPHIS’ sixth no. 1 album in Finland, even cracked the top 3 of the official German album chart, and last but not least the sextet took home two awards from the prestigious Emma Gaala (“Band of the Year” & “Export of the Year”).
The impact of Halo became a driving force for what’s to come. Rather than rushing into a follow-up, the band chose to step back from live performances and focus fully on their next chapter. The result is Borderland - a meticulously crafted opus that builds on their celebrated recent era, while seamlessly weaving in new, timely elements. It’s a bold, organic continuation of their journey, shaped by experience and guided by vision
AMORPHIS are:
Tomi Joutsen | vocals
Esa Holopainen | guitars
Tomi Koivusaari | guitars
Olli-Pekka “Oppu” Laine | bass
Santeri Kallio | keys
Jan Rechberger | drums & percussion
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