Tales From the Thousand Lakes

Tales from the Thousand Lakes is the second full-length album by Finnish metal band Amorphis.

A monumental concept album, the lyrics are based on the Finnish national epic, Kalevala. It was their first departure from the more aggressive death metal sound of their debut album to a more melodic death/doom metal sound, with more influence from early doom metal bands like Black Sabbath. This album features a greater use of synthesizers and clean vocals than their previous release.

This was the first Amorphis album to feature Kasper Mårtenson on keyboards. It is often hailed as one of the better Amorphis records, and was very influential and historically significant in the development of the Melodic Death Metal and Doom Metal genres.

Album was later re-released in 2001 with all the tracks from the Black Winter Day EP and a cover of "Light my Fire" by The Doors added as bonus tracks.

Released: July 12, 1994
Genre: death doom metal / melodic death metal
Label: Relapse Records

Track listing:

1. "Thousand Lakes" (Holopainen) – 2:03
2. "Into Hiding" (Holopainen, Laine, Traditional) – 3:42
3. "The Castaway" (Holopainen, Koivusaari, Traditional) – 5:30
4. "First Doom" (Holopainen) – 3:49
5. "Black Winter Day" (Mårtenson, Traditional) – 3:48
6. "Drowned Maid" (Holopainen, Koivusaari, Laine, Traditional) – 4:23
7. "In the Beginning" (Holopainen, Laine, Traditional) – 3:34
8. "Forgotten Sunrise" (Holopainen) – 4:50
9. "To Fathers Cabin" (Holopainen, Laine, Traditional) – 3:47
10. "Magic and Mayhem" (Holopainen, Traditional) – 4:27
11. "Folk of the North"* - 1:17
12. "Moon and Sun"* (Koivusaari) - 3:39
13. "Moon and Sun Part II: North's Son"* (Koivusaari, Traditional) - 5:12
14. "Light My Fire"* (The Doors cover) - 2:53

All lyrics traditional, except "First Doom" and "Forgotten Sunrise" by Holopainen, and "Light My Fire" by The Doors.
Tracks 11 - 14 included on the 2001 re-release.

Personel:

* Tomi Koivusaari – vocals, rhythm guitar
* Esa Holopainen – lead guitar
* Olli-Pekka Laine – bass guitar
* Jan Rechberger – drums
* Kasper Mårtenson – keyboards

Additional musicians

* Ville Tuomi – clean vocals and speech