The Beginning of Times
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2022}}
{{Infobox album
| name = The Beginning of Times
| type = studio
| artist = Amorphis
| cover = The Beginning of Times (Amorphis) album cover.jpg
| alt =
| released = {{start date|2011|5|25|df=y}} (FI)
{{start date|2011|5|27|df=y}} (EU){{cite web|url=http://www.nuclearblast.de/en/products/tontraeger/cd/cd/amorphis-beginning-of-times.html |title=AMORPHIS | The beginning of times – Nuclear Blast |website=Nuclearblast.de |date= |accessdate=15 January 2012}}
{{start date|2011|06|07}} (US){{cite web|url=http://www.nuclearblastusa.com/nb/v2/bands/album_details.php?albumID=757&bandID=144 |title=AMORPHIS – Discography |publisher=Nuclear Blast USA |date= |accessdate=15 January 2012}}
| venue =
| studio = Sonic Pump Studios, Helsinki, Marco's CockPit, Kuopio
| genre = Progressive metal,{{Cite web |url=http://www.onemetal.com/2012/01/16/amorphis-the-beginning-of-times/ |title=Amorphis – the Beginning of Times – REVIEW : OneMetal.com |access-date=13 July 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121008041823/http://www.onemetal.com/2012/01/16/amorphis-the-beginning-of-times/ |archive-date=8 October 2012 |url-status=dead }} melodic death metal, gothic metal, hard rock
| label = Nuclear Blast
| producer = Marko Hietala (vocals), Amorphis
| prev_title = Magic & Mayhem – Tales from the Early Years
| prev_year = 2010
| next_title = Circle
| next_year = 2013
| misc = {{Singles
| name = The Beginning of Times
| type = Studio
| single1 = You I Need
| single1date = 20 April 2011
}}
}}
The Beginning of Times is the tenth studio album by Finnish progressive metal band Amorphis, released on 25 May 2011 in Finland, 27 May in Europe and 7 June in the United States. Like previous Amorphis albums, The Beginning of Times, is a concept album. The central character of the songs is Väinämöinen, described by the band as "the iconic hero of Finnish mythology".
Release
=Singles=
On 11 April 2011, Amorphis premiered the first single "You I Need" on their Facebook page.{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/amorphis/posts/100115743408201 |title=Listen to "You I... |publisher=Facebook |date= |accessdate=15 January 2012}} It was released digitally in Finland on 20 April 2011,{{cite web|url=http://download.mtv3.fi/album/Amorphis/You_I_Need/545BAB6E-29FA-4DEB-9741-DB54DF66839F/|title=You I Need Amorphis|website=Download.mtv3.fi, Bonnier Group|language=Finnish|accessdate=2 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721150609/http://download.mtv3.fi/album/Amorphis/You_I_Need/545BAB6E-29FA-4DEB-9741-DB54DF66839F/|archive-date=21 July 2011|url-status=dead}} and in other countries on 22 April 2011. Early the next month, the band released another new song, "My Enemy", again on Facebook.{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/amorphis/posts/158803857516071 |title=Listen to "My... |publisher=Facebook |date= |accessdate=30 September 2012}}
=Reception=
{{Album ratings
| rev1 = Allmusic
| rev1Score = {{Rating|3.5|5}} {{cite web|last=Rivadavia |first=Eduardo |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-beginning-of-times-mw0002132980 |title=The Beginning of Times – Amorphis : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards |publisher=AllMusic |date=30 May 2011 |accessdate=30 September 2012}}
| rev2 = Jukebox:Metal
| rev2Score = {{Rating|5|5}} {{cite web|url=http://www.jukeboxmetal.com/2011/amorphis-the-beginning-of-times/ |title=Jukebox:Metal review |website=Jukeboxmetal.com |date= |accessdate=30 September 2012}}
| rev3 = PopMatters
| rev3Score = {{Rating|7|10}} {{cite web|last=Begrand |first=Adrien |url=http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/142434-amorphis-the-beginning-of-times |title=Amorphis: The Beginning of Times < PopMatters |website=Popmatters.com |date= |accessdate=30 September 2012}}
| rev4 = Metal-Temple.com
| rev4score = {{Rating|8|10}} {{cite web|url=http://www.metal-temple.com/site/catalogues/entry/reviews/cd_3/a_2/amorphis-the.htm |title=Metal Temple Review |website=Metal-temple.com |date=18 May 2011 |accessdate=30 September 2012}}
| rev5 = Rockfreaks.net
| rev5Score = {{Rating|7.5|10}} {{cite web|url=http://www.rockfreaks.net/albums/4308 |title=review |website=Rockfreaks.net |date=30 May 2011 |accessdate=30 September 2012}}
| rev6 = MetalUnderground.com
| rev6score = {{Rating|4|5}} {{cite web|url=http://www.metalunderground.com/reviews/details.cfm?releaseid=4811 |title=Metal Underground Review |website=Metalunderground.com |date= |accessdate=30 September 2012}}
| rev7 = Sea of Tranquility
| rev7score = {{Rating|4.5|5}} {{cite web|url=http://www.seaoftranquility.org/reviews.php?op=showcontent&id=10851 |title=Sea of Tranquility Review |website=Seaoftranquility.org |date=9 June 2011 |accessdate=30 September 2012}}
}}
The Beginning of Times had a strong sales debut week, charting at No. 1 on the Finnish Albums Chart and No. 16 on the German Media Control Charts.{{cite web|url=http://www.ifpi.fi/tilastot/virallinen-lista/artistit/amorphis/the+beginning+of+times|title=Amorphis: The Beginning Of Times|website=Ifpi.fi|language=Finnish|accessdate=2 June 2011}}[http://www.pitriff.com/news/modern-metal/item/871-new-amorphis-cracks-german-top-20]{{dead link|date=September 2012}}
In a professional review for PopMatters, Adrien Begrand praised the album, going so far as to say that Amorphis have never sounded better with their current line-up and describes the album as "a slick, classy blend of death metal and melodic hard rock". Amateur reviews have also been positive, with Craig Hartranft of DangerDog proclaiming "The Beginning of Times finds Amorphis in grand form, doing what they do best".{{cite web|url=http://www.dangerdog.com/2011-music-reviews/amorphis-the-beginning-of-times-review.php |title=Review : Amorphis – The Beginning of Times :: New Music Review :: Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, Progressive Metal, Progressive Rock :: CD Album Music Review : Craig Hartranft |website=Dangerdog.com |date=23 May 2011 |accessdate=15 January 2012}}
Track listing
{{tracklist
| all_lyrics = Pekka Kainulainen
| title1 = Battle for Light
| music1 = Santeri Kallio
| length1 = 5:35
| title2 = Mermaid
| music2 = Kallio
| length2 = 4:24
| title3 = My Enemy
| music3 = Tomi Koivusaari
| length3 = 3:25
| title4 = You I Need
| music4 = Kallio
| length4 = 4:22
| title5 = Song of the Sage
| music5 = Kallio
| length5 = 5:27
| title6 = Three Words
| music6 = Esa Holopainen
| length6 = 3:55
| title7 = Reformation
| music7 = Holopainen
| length7 = 4:33
| title8 = Soothsayer
| music8 = Koivusaari
| length8 = 4:09
| title9 = On a Stranded Shore
| music9 = Kallio
| length9 = 4:13
| title10 = Escape
| music10 = Kallio
| length10 = 3:52
| title11 = Crack in a Stone
| music11 = Holopainen
| length11 = 4:56
| title12 = Beginning of Time
| music12 = Holopainen
| length12 = 5:51
| total_length = 54:42
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = Bonus track
| title13 = Heart's Song
| music13 = Holopainen
| length13 = 4:07
| total_length = 58:49
}}
Personnel
{{col-begin}}
{{col-3}}
=Amorphis=
- Tomi Joutsen – vocals
- Esa Holopainen – lead guitar
- Tomi Koivusaari – rhythm guitar
- Niclas Etelävuori – bass guitar
- Santeri Kallio – keyboards; synthesizers; piano; organ
- Jan Rechberger – drums
{{col-3}}
=Additional personnel=
- Savotta Choir – additional male vocals
- Netta Dahlberg – additional female vocals
- Iikka Kahri – flute, clarinet & saxophone
- Marko Hietala - vocals production
- Mikko Karmila - mixing
- Travis Smith - cover art
- Pekka Kainulainen - lyrics
{{col-3}}
=Additional personnel 2=
- Erkki Virta - lyric translation
- Sami Koivisto - engineering
- Thomas Ewerhard - layout
- Svante Forsbäck - mastering
- Stefan de Batselier - photography
{{col-end}}
Charts
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" |
| scope="col"| Chart (2011)
! scope="col"| Peak |
|---|
| scope="row"|Finnish Albums Chart
| style="text-align:center;"|1 |
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Amorphis}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Beginning Of Times, The}}