AMORPHIS' 'Skyforger' Certified Gold In Finland

"Skyforger", the new album from Finnish metallers AMORPHIS, has been certified gold in Finland for sales in excess of 15,000 copies. (Note: The sales requirement for albums to reach gold status in Finland was recently lowered to 10,000, but because "Skyforger" was released before this change took effect, the old rules still apply.) The bandmembers were presented with their gold plaques last night (Tuesday, July 6) at a release party for their first-ever live DVD, "Forging The Land Of Thousand Lakes", at Cinema Andorra in Helsinki.

A photo of the gold-plaque presentation can be viewed below.

"Skyforger" was honored in the "Metal Album Of The Year" category at this year's Emma Gaala (Finnish Grammy equivalent).

AMORPHIS was nominated in two categories at the Emma Gaala — "Metal Album Of The Year" and "Domestic Artist Of The Year".

"Skyforger" sold around 1,300 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD landed at position No. 33 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200.

"Skyforger" entered the official chart in the band's home country at position No. 1. Released in May 2009 via Nuclear Blast Records, the follow-up to the "Eclipse" and "Silent Waters" LPs, both of which were certified gold in the band's native Finland, was recorded at Sonic Pump Studios in Helsinki.

On June 2, Petri Silas of Finland's Soundi magazine conducted an exclusive interview with AMORPHIS guitarist Esa HolopainenAMORPHIS about the band's upcoming collection, "Majestic Beasts - Tales From The Early Years", and the group's plans for the next studio album. Among the new bits of information that were revealed were the following:

* After the release of the new live DVD set, "Forging The Land Of Thousand Lakes", AMORPHIS will issue a special collection in the fall. "Majestic Beasts - Tales From The Early Years" contains newly re-recorded versions of the songs from the band's first three albums (1992's "Karelian Isthmus", 1994's "Tales From The Thousand Lakes" and 1996's "Elegy") with slightly different arrangements, better audio quality and featuring the band's current lineup. According to Petri, Esa was especially happy with how "My Kantele" and "Song Of The Troubled One" turned out. The collection will also include such gems as "Vulgar Necrolatry" and the band's cover of THE DOORS' "Light My Fire". The latter song was previously recorded by the band and was included on the reissue of the "Tales from the Thousand Lakes" LP, but the new collection will feature a all-new version that was tracked in early 2010.

* AMORPHIS and Nuclear Blast are currently contemplating giving the next three albums in the band's discography — 1998's "Tuonela", 2001's "Am Universum" and 2003's "Far From The Sun" — similar treatment.

* AMORPHIS started rehearsing material for the band's next album in mid-May and will enter the studio in October. Artist Pekka Kainulainen will once again write the lyrics.

* AMORPHIS has just re-signed with Nuclear Blast Records for an additional three albums.

"Forging The Land Of Thousand Lakes" will be released in the rest of Europe on July 9 via Nuclear Blast, in time for the band's 20th anniversary. The filming of the main concert took place on November 20, 2009 at Club Teatria in Oulu, Finland, where AMORPHIS was supported by STRATOVARIUS and BEFORE THE DAWN. In addition to the full-length live show, the anniversary DVD includes plenty of bonus material documenting the band's impressive career.

(Thanks: fireangel / Night Elves)