In recent years, members of Amorphis have seemed to be taking the time in order to dabble in projects from time to time. From creating one of the most tragic one-off projects to convey grief (Hallatar) to creating a project that showcases something interesting from each of its guest singers (Esa Holopainen’s Silver Lake), they have clearly been busy in their duties outside of Amorphis. It’s also no secret that Amorphis is one of my favorite bands, and I tend to listen to whatever their members are doing if I hear about it. Thus, when it was announced that bassist Olli-Pekka Laine had created a new band called Octoploid and was due to release their debut album Beyond the Aeons, I knew I had to listen to it.

Before I begin, I want to briefly comment on how the band labels itself as “classic death prog”. While the genre label implies the death of prog (i.e. melodic experimentation) and more emphasis on traditional death metal, the music sounds more like stoner-esque blackened prog with death metal influences. This description may sound like the strangest word salad conceived by man, but it becomes easier to grasp once you dive into the album proper.

Beyond the Aeons starts off with the heavy and catchy “The Dawns In Nothingness”, a track steeped in folk tendencies and blackened death with this almost-psychedelic twinge that introduces the main themes that this album goes into. The band’s ability to seamlessly switch the haziness of the psychedelic to the straightforward nature of death metal is impressive, and it continues to build throughout the album. These transitions also do not impair the album’s pacing, which showcases the band’s instrumentality and penchant for experimentation. However, what truly caught my attention were the vocals. Although there is a number of vocalists that provide tracks on the record, it’s Mikko Kotamäki (of Swallow the Sun fame) who stands out. Featuring on three of the tracks, his vocal delivery gives the album an anchor even at its most experimental, and he also sounds like he’s giving Octoploid its own sonic identity. He sounds nothing like the entity he is on Swallow the Sun; instead, he’s more emotional, consistent, and, for the lack of a better word, animated. He’s one of the best features on this album, as he can adapt to any style thrown at him, effectively separating him from his other bands.

Now, if you are an astute listener – or if you have listened to a lot of Amorphis – you can’t help but think that this sounds a lot like an extension of Laine’s main band. There are moments where it sounds like Octoploid has ripped riffs and themes straight from Amorphis’ most recent albums, such as Queen of Time and Halo, and their earlier material, such as Tales from the Thousand Lakes and Elegy. Given that Laine has been with Amorphis for a long time, there’s no doubt that some of that sound has made its way to Beyond the Aeons. Songs like “Concealed Serenity” and “Shattered Wings” are the most overt in this regard; hell, even Tomi Joutsen makes a featured appearance. However, despite this, the music is still distinct enough from its main source that it’s still fun and interesting. For example, “Coast of the Drowned Sailors” is a catchy and melodic black metal-esque track that makes you want to bop your head, and it has this funky ending bit that just puts a smile on your face. After all, Octoploid sounds more like a stoner band with a death metal influence, not reinventing the wheel but making sure it still works, and they are having a great time doing it.

After numerous listens, Beyond the Aeons is a fantastic album whose superb production and instrumentation provides a fun listening experience. While the sonic similarities to Amorphis are unavoidable given who’s on the album, Beyond the Aeons is still distinct enough from its larger parent, creating a new offshoot in what I like to call the Amorphis Musical Universe. I personally enjoyed this immensely, and not only does it make me want to see what else the other Amorphis members are up to, but also explore some of the Amorphis albums I may have missed.

–Hera

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Beyond the Aeons is available July 5 on Reigning Phoenix Music. For more information on Octoploid, visit their official Facebook and Instagram.