The Karelian Isthmus

The Karelian Isthmus
Studio album by Amorphis
Released	1 November 1992
Recorded	April 1992 (The Karelian Isthmus) May 1991 (Privilege of Evil)
Studio	Sunlight Studios (The Karelian Isthmus) TTT Studio, Helsinki (Privilege of Evil)
Genre	Death metal, death-doom
Length	44:34
Label	Relapse
Producer	Amorphis, Tomas Skogsberg
Amorphis chronology
Disment of Soul (1991) The Karelian Isthmus (1992) Privilege of Evil (1993)

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]

The Karelian Isthmus is the title of the third release\first full-length studio LP album of Finnish metal band Amorphis, released in 1992.

Although The Karelian Isthmus took its name from a historic Finnish battleground, Karelian Isthmus, its lyrics focus on Amorphis's well known epic themes from the history of Finnish warfare and religion, but drawing more from celtic mythology rather than the later traditions of Amorphis's own native land. The epic side is sometimes broken up by the occult lyrical themes in tracks including "Pilgrimage", "Misery Path" and "Black Embrace". In recent years, songs from this album have been receiving more play during Amorphis' live performances, despite being of a different style than their later works.

This release was the last recorded release to have the original lineup of the band as later on the band would have either additional members or original members quitting. Privilege of Evil was the last release with the original lineup, but it was recorded before this album. Both releases were combined in a 2003 reissue.

Track listing

No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Length
1.	"Karelia"	(instrumental)	Tomi Koivusaari, Esa Holopainen	0:43
2.	"The Gathering"	Holopainen	Koivusaari	4:12
3.	"Grail's Mysteries"	Holopainen	Holopainen	3:02
4.	"Warriors Trial"	Holopainen	Koivusaari, Holopainen	5:04
5.	"Black Embrace"	Jan Rechberger	Koivusaari, Holopainen	3:38
6.	"Exile of the Sons of Uisliu"	Holopainen	Holopainen	3:43
7.	"The Lost Name of God"	Rechberger	Holopainen, Koivusaari, Rechberger	5:32
8.	"The Pilgrimage"	Holopainen	Koivusaari	4:39
9.	"Misery Path"	Holopainen	Holopainen, Koivusaari, Rechberger	4:17
10.	"Sign from the North Side"	Holopainen	Holopainen, Koivusaari, Olli-Pekka Laine	4:54
Total length:				44:34

Bonus Track
No.	Title	Length
11.	"Vulgar Necrolatry (Abhorrence cover)"	4:21

2003 Reissue (Privilege of Evil EP)
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
12.	"Pilgrimage from Darkness"	Amorphis	4:32
13.	"Black Embrace"	Holopainen, Koivusaari, Rechberger	3:25
14.	"Privilege of Evil"	Amorphis	3:50
15.	"Misery Path"	Holopainen, Koivusaari, Rechberger	4:17
16.	"Vulgar Necrolatry"	Koivusaari, Ahlroth	3:58
17.	"Excursing from Existence"	Amorphis	3:06
Total length:			23:10

Personnel

Amorphis Tomi Koivusaari − vocals, rhythm guitar Esa Holopainen − lead guitar Olli-Pekka Laine − bass guitar Jan Rechberger − drums; keyboards

Additonal personnel Tomas Skogsberg - mixing and engineering Dave Shirk - mastering Scott Hull - remastering (at Visceral Sound) Miran Kim - cover art Jukka Kolehmainen – vocals on "Vulgar Necrolatry" Timo Tolkki - recording, engineering and mixing on Privilege of Evil EP

References

1. "Allmusic review". Allmusic. All Media Guide. Retrieved 2011-06-16.